So-called “alt-right” marchers in Charlottesville
By David Futrelle
What looked last night like farce has turned to tragedy: A speeding car crashed into a crowd of counterprotesters at the so-called #UniteTheRight neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville today, killing one woman and leaving many injured. Video of the incident makes pretty clear that this was an intentional act. The word for this is terrorism.
Details are still scarce, including the identity of the driver, who has apparently been taken into custody. Two police monitoring the protests died in a helicopter crash as well, the cause of which is still unknown.
Here are some tweets that may help to make sense of what has happened and what is happening in Charlottesville. I have put video of the car attack itself behind a content warning at the end of the post.
Pres. Trump says he condemns "egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides" in Charlottesville. https://t.co/FQUzBoy9b6 pic.twitter.com/VDANe8Nl8T
— ABC News (@ABC) August 12, 2017
Trump Refuses to Call Charlottesville Attack Terrorism https://t.co/HOgjqAm36A
— Gary Legum (@GaryLegum) August 12, 2017
Everyone: Surely you didn't mean to blame people protesting Nazis for Nazi violence?
White House: Oh hell yes we did. pic.twitter.com/7CN1vL15nQ
— Kaili Joy Gray (@KailiJoy) August 12, 2017
The president has been more directly critical of TV hosts, cable news, actresses, comedy shows, & the intelligence community than of nazis.
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) August 12, 2017
Trump condemning violence on "Both sides" was foretold when he whitewashed the holocaust into "all people who perished"
— Officer K. Radchaai (@RemingtonWild) August 12, 2017
6 weeks ago, Trump slashed funding for one of the nation's only groups devoted to combatting neo-Nazi gangs & radical white extremism. pic.twitter.com/Tee5QWbvPB
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) August 12, 2017
1. TWO DAYS AGO: Top White House adviser says we should stop blaming white supremacists for violence https://t.co/HWZipzcNmv
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) August 12, 2017
Video: Alt-right marcher shouting "Heil, Trump" while waving nazi salute
via @tomperriello #charlottesville #AMJoy pic.twitter.com/s3MMSxEhWe
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) August 12, 2017
Scariest image today was not of nazi salutes but of KKK in their new robes – full camo and long guns to appear like the National Guard. pic.twitter.com/IPX3YIZuUv
— Tom Perriello (@tomperriello) 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
Imagine if a group of black people anywhere showed up in public armed like this in a right to carry state or not. https://t.co/TZs62AoAIl
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) August 12, 2017
I was at Ferguson & Baltimore. Trying to imagine police response there if protesters had the artillery the #Charlottesville rioters have.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) August 12, 2017
The Nazis in #Charlottesville were literally beating people w/ torches, yet no police in riot gear. Hmm, wonder why. pic.twitter.com/wxuGGBEuML
— Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) August 12, 2017
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 12, 2017
And if he doesn't do that then Marco will furrow his brow VERY hard while voting for whatever Trump wants anyway. pic.twitter.com/pfxbOvkWYv
— shauna (@goldengateblond) August 12, 2017
David Duke today in #Charlottesville talking how how the hate rally "fulfills the promises of Donald Trump." pic.twitter.com/nvldJpykvA
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) August 12, 2017
Computer. Give me the stupidest take on #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/Q4ujbH01uW
— Truther Dare (@truther_dare) August 12, 2017
"Award winning journalist" and white supremacist Rage Furby Chuck C. Johnson jumps out there and misidentifies the Charlottesville attacker. pic.twitter.com/eAaBmBFubU
— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) August 12, 2017
The answer to this is to remove every single monument to the rebel traitors on public lands anywhere in the USA. https://t.co/7Hqeu7RnWH
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) August 12, 2017
CONTENT WARNING: THE VIDEO AND IMAGES OF THE CAR ATTACK AND ITS AFTERMATH BELOW ARE GRAPHIC.
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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
This disturbing incident was captured by @RyanMKellyPhoto in #Charlottesville today on one of his last days on the job. #photojournalism pic.twitter.com/L2CtTHoVxd
— Bill McKenna (@WM_BBC) 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