Condemnations have trailed the white supremacist protests that turned violent in Charlottesville, Virginia, in the USA after a 32-year-old woman was killed and dozens of people were injured.
The woman was killed when a car moving at speed crashed into anti-fascist protesters, leaving people lying injured on the ground. Police said they had opened a homicide investigation.
Clashes between white supremacists and anti-fascists ahead of a rally to protest against the removal of a statue of a Confederate general, saw a state of emergency declared in the state.
Police declared the “Unite the Right” rally an unlawful assembly and ordered the crowds to disperse.
In a reaction, President Donald Trump said it was a condemnable situation and there was no place for such hate in the country.
However, he too has come under criticism, with opposition leaders saying such hate was fuelled in his campaigns.
His key contender during the Presidential election, Hilary Clinton tweeted “the incitement of hatred that got us here is as real and condemnable as the white supremacists in our streets,” she said, hinting at the campaign strategy exhibited by Donald Trump.
But the incitement of hatred that got us here is as real and condemnable as the white supremacists in our streets.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 12, 2017
Every minute we allow this to persist through tacit encouragement or inaction is a disgrace, & corrosive to our values.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 12, 2017
Trump’s campaigns were smirked with hatred inducing comments, with pro and anti Trump groups clashing many times during the build up to the presidential election.
Bernie Sanders also wrote that the demonstration was reprehensible and a display of racism and hatred.
The white nationalist demonstration in #Charlottesville is a reprehensible display of racism and hatred. This has no place in our society.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 12, 2017
Joe Biden also called for calm and shared the hash tag Charlottesville.
There is only one side. #charlottesville
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 12, 2017
Some of the far-right group members carried assault rifles and wore paramilitary clothing, while others had large shields, helmets and gas masks.
During the demonstration against plans to take down the statue of General Robert E Lee from a local park, a police helicopter also crashed, killing two people.
Officials said the pilot of the helicopter died, along with a passenger. They said the crash was connected to the violence but didn’t give details.
Police said investigation into the cause of the crash, which occured while the aircraft was hovering low over some trees near a golf course was ongoing.
According to Hospital officials, at least 41 people were hurt in the violence, including 26 as a result of the car crash and 15 others from the fighting in the streets. Some were said to have life-threatening injuries.
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