At least 3 dead after violence erupts in white nationalist rally in Virginia

People receive firstaid after a car accident ran into a crowd of protesters in Charlottesville VA on August 12 2017 A picturesque Virginia city braced Saturday for a flood of white nationalist demonstrators as well as counterprotesters declaring a local emergency as law enforcement attempted to quell early violent clashes PicsAFPAt least three people died and 19 others were injured after violent clashes erupted between white supremacists and counter demonstrators in a rally in the US state of VirginiaOne person died after a car plowed into a group of people peacefully protesting at the rally yesterday while two others died following a helicopter crash that took place near the protest site in Charlottesville VirginiaThe violence broke out ahead of the Unite the Right rally by white supremacists protesting against the planned removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E Lee from a park in the college town of Charlottesville 256 kilometres from VirginiaFollowing the clashes a state of emergency was declared by the authorities and police and security forces were deployed in riot gearsThe violence erupted between two groups in this university town some 120 miles south west of the national capitalUS President Donald Trump speaks to the press about protests in Charlottesville on August 12 2017 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster New Jersey A picturesque Virginia city braced Saturday for a flood of white nationalist demonstrators as well as counterprotesters declaring a local emergency as law enforcement attempted to quell early violent clashesUS President Donald Trump described this a terrible eventWe condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred bigotry and violence on many sides on many sides Trump told reporters at a news conference at his gold resort in New Jersey where he is currently on a working summer vacationIts been going on for a long time in our country Not Donald Trump not Barack Obama this has been going on for a long long time It has no place in America What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives he saidNo citizen should ever fear for their safety and security in our society And no child should ever be afraid to go outside and play or be with their parents and have a good time he saidTrump said he spoke to Virginia Governor Terry McauliffeWe agree that the hate and the division must stop and must stop right now he said as hundreds of white nationalists neoNazis Ku Klux Klan members gathered in Charlottesville which they described as one of their biggest rally in decadesPeople receive firstaid after a car accident ran into a crowd of protesters in Charlottesville VA on August 12 2017 A picturesque Virginia city braced Saturday for a flood of white nationalist demonstrators as well as counterprotesters declaring a local emergency as law enforcement attempted to quell early violent clashesThey clashed with another group of people who were opposing this rally of white nationalistsThe incident took place when a gray car accelerating into crowds on a pedestrian mall sending bodies flying and then reversing at high speed hitting yet more people The Washington Post reportedThe driver was arrested Virginia Police said two more people died when a helicopter crashed near protest siteThe cause of the crash remains under investigation at this time the police said in a statementAccording to local media reports demonstrators shouted and threw bottles at the opposing groupsI am heartbroken that a life has been lost here I urge all people of good will go home said Charlottesville Mayor Mike SingerIndian American Vanita Gupta president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights called on Trump to denounce what happened this weekend and the white supremacist hate behind itShe demanded the FBI open an investigation into the violenceThere can be no doubt that the appalling display of white supremacy and hatred on display in Charlottesville today was the precipitator of the violence said National Nurse Union executive director RoseAnn DeMoroVirginia Senator Mark R Warner said Virginians mourn the life taken in this mornings events and reject this hateful violence in CharlottesvilleWe condemn the intolerance behind it and those who would pass it off as a legitimate political movement he saidViolent acts of hate and bigotry have no place in America The attacks we are witnessing in Charlottesville are completely unacceptable and must not be allowed to continueViolence like this will solve nothing and will only beget more violence and sow more division said Senator Dianne FeinsteinThe Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez said the demonstrations by white supremacists this weekend have no place in the USThis vile display of racism is an attack on our democracy and an affront to humanity he saidAmerica is no place for bigots And to be silent in the face of their hatred is to condone it Thats why it is on all of us to stand up to these reprehensible acts and speak out against white supremacy We cannot allow a group of cowards instill fear in our communities Perez said