(ANTIMEDIA) — A protest in Charlottesville on Saturday, the largest gathering of white nationalists in recent years, turned so violent the governor declared a state of emergency. Earlier in the day, the Virginia National Guard arrived as at least a thousand police officers were deployed to arrest those who refused to clear the area.
Around noon, a car drove straight into a crowd of anti-racist protesters, severely injuring numerous people with at least one fatality. It is still not clear how badly they were hurt, and several local hospitals have not returned phone calls from those seeking information on the victims.
The large white nationalist gathering, billed as a “Unite the Right” protest, was the climax of more than a year-long debate in Charlottesville over the fate of the Robert E. Lee statue.
Below are 16 highly disturbing scenes from the Charlottesville chaos of today that underscore the degree of tension and division currently plaguing American society:
Video of car hitting anti-racist protestors. Let there be no confusion: this was deliberate terrorism. My prayers with victims. Stay home. pic.twitter.com/MUOZs71Pf4
— Brennan Gilmore (@brennanmgilmore) August 12, 2017
GRAPHIC: Car just rammed through crowd of protestors in #Charlottesville. Heavy injuries. Potential fatalities pic.twitter.com/3xhyxeXe6c
— Drew Liquerman (@DrewLiquerman) August 12, 2017
Violence erupts #charlottesville pic.twitter.com/yf9qUeGzX2
— Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) August 12, 2017
To be clear, these are NOT national guard but racist private militias posing as state actors to protect nazis and provoke. pic.twitter.com/PuoHNmXRpg
— Tom Perriello (@tomperriello) August 12, 2017
Hard to watch. Raw footage of a car plowing into protesters in #Charlottesville. pic.twitter.com/aASpT2dfsT
— jordan 🌹🌹 (@JordanUhl) August 12, 2017
“A Challenger plowed into ppl about 40 mph. Hit 15-20 people” Witness says it was intentional & police did nothing. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/hzRzdOjKjv
— ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) August 12, 2017
Car plows into #antifascist protest in #Charlottesville Many people injured, some possibly dead #Defendcville #UniteTheRight #Antifa pic.twitter.com/0zEopA5B2b
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) August 12, 2017
And now these lovely fellas are throwing out homophobic slurs. White male fragility at it’s finest. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/qWIjzRHk3o
— Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) August 12, 2017
Unidentified militia has arrived at #EmancipationPark ahead of the #Charlottesville rally with guns in tow. pic.twitter.com/zCLCBU78PF
— Craig Stanley (@_CraigStanley) August 12, 2017
Video of driving through crowd of protesters in #Charlottesville
— Severin Jahn (@severin_jahn) August 12, 2017
Folks said counter protesters were hit by a vehicle as they turned the corner. Medics are here. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/qQAIRy7YSN
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) August 12, 2017
At least one person has died after car drove into a protest in #Charlottesville
Really horrific. Clearly deliberate.
There’s no excuse. pic.twitter.com/qxzHC9jqQp
— Harlan Z. Hill (@Harlan) August 12, 2017
This scene may seem surreal w/the music playing. But this is the future of America. Where it’s not already. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/hzwnV4pGCA
— ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) August 12, 2017
Fight breaks out between opposing crowds. White supremacist pulls gun. Multiple people injured #Defendcville #Charlottesville #UniteTheRight pic.twitter.com/xmj11IBdFZ
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) August 12, 2017
