Violent clashes have erupted between white nationalists attending a far-right march and counter-protesters in the US state of Virginia.
Several people were injured after a car rammed into a crowd of people who were against the rally in Charlottesville.
A state of emergency has been declared to enable police to mobilise resources.
The “Unite the Right” march is against plans to remove a statue of a US Civil War general. President Donald Trump condemned the violence.
On Twitter, he said: “We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!”
Video posted on social media showed a car ploughing at speed into several slow-moving vehicles, which were surrounded by a densely packed crowd. Emergency services were pictured treating a number of people who were injured.
A witness said one girl got “tore up” after the car “backed up and hit again”.
Earlier, police fired tear gas against demonstrators and said that arrests had been made after a declaration of unlawful assembly at Emancipation Park.
The state of emergency allows local authorities to request additional resources if needed, the police department said.
The far-right protesters, some waving Confederate flags, carrying shields and wearing helmets, are angry about the planned removal of a statue of Gen Robert E Lee from Charlottesville. Gen Lee commanded the pro-slavery Confederate forces in the US Civil War of 1861-65.
The New York Times reports that some of them were chanting “You will not replace us,” and “Jew will not replace us.”
Anti-racism organisations such as Black Lives Matter have also held marches.
Shiquan Rah, a 21-year-old demonstrator who had joined the counter-protest, said about the far-right groups: “These people don’t have a message, their message is hate and violence. This is a spiritual war we’re in.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe urged calm tweeting: “The acts and rhetoric in #Charlottesville over past 24 hours are unacceptable [and] must stop. A right to speech is not a right to violence.”
Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer had earlier called the rally a “parade of hatred, bigotry, racism and intolerance”.
- 1861-65 US Civil War between the northern and southern states was principally caused by slavery
- Southern Confederate forces, which backed slavery, eventually surrendered to Union army and slavery was abolished
- A number of cities have grappled with Confederate symbols that still exist today, with flags and monuments becoming key venues for alt-right groups in recent months
- Supporters say Confederate symbols represent freedom and liberty, but opponents say their roots are in slavery
- The alt-right is a disparate group of provocateurs who hate political correctness and love Donald Trump, but critics say they are bigoted white nationalists
On Friday, the white nationalists held lit torches – which some observers described as a reference to the Ku Klux Klan – and chanted “White lives matter” as they marched through the University of Virginia in the city.
Charlottesville is considered a liberal college town – and 86% of the county voted for Hillary Clinton in last year’s presidential elections.
However, the town has become a focal point for white nationalists after the city council voted to remove a statue of Gen Lee.
Some observers also argue that Mr Trump’s election to the White House re-energised the far right across the US.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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