Washington D.C., Charlottesville Brace For Violence Surrounding White Supremacist Anniversary Rally
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Sun, 08/12/2018
Washington D.C. is bracing for violence at today’s “Unite the Right II” rally marking the one-year anniversary of last year’s deadly event in Charlottesville, VA.
Around 400 white nationalists are expected in D.C.’s Lafayette Square based on the event’s permit, however far fewer are actually expected to show up. Meanwhile, around 1,500 counter-protesters will be staging themselves at various downtown locations, including the same park as the white nationalists.
Police are enforcing a complete ban on firearms in and around the demonstration areas on Sunday, reports Fortune, including anyone with a concealed carry permit, said Washington Metro Police chief Peter Newsham.
“Every police action that you will see on Sunday will be done with the ultimate goal of ensuring the safety of everyone that attends,” said the chief.
Meanwhile, protesters gathered a little over 100 miles away in Charlottesville, VA to mark the anniversary of last year’s deadly event which resulted in the death of 32-year-old counter-protester Heather Heyer after a white nationalist drove his car into a crowd she was in.
In anticipation of violence, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency, stating “I am urging Virginians to make alternative plans” to avoid the event- while the Alt-Right Exposed blog noted that a left-wing “Resist” group called Shut It Down is planning to confront attendees.
With no white nationalists around to protest, participants have turned it into an anti-police event.
“Last year I was terrified of violence from the Nazis, and this year I’m terrified of violence from the police,” Black Lives Matter organizer Lisa Woolford, an English professor at the University of Virginia told the Daily Progress.
“Why are you in riot gear? We don’t see no riot here,” activists in Charlottesville chanted Saturday evening, while also becoming aggressive with a local news crew covering the protests.
Shortly before a pre-planned evening rally to mark the anniversary of a campus confrontation between torch-carrying white nationalists and counterprotesters, activists unfurled a banner that said, “Last year they came w/ torches. This year they come w/ badges.” -AP
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