Posted on 08/13/2017 10:08:46 AM PDT by Altura Ct.
I am not a writer but will do the best I can. I arrived about 10:30ish. Was actually surprised that I was able to find a parking space relatively close to Lee Park. In fact I thought that perhaps the turnout wouldn't be as big as I was anticipating because I didn't see much at first and I was only 5 blocks from ground zero but I was wrong. By the time I had walked one block toward the park the police presence was strong. Many in riot type gear. They had most streets and walkways blocked off funneling everyone into two or three entrances to ground zero. As I got closer to the park you could feel the tension. The Antifa presence was strong as was BLM. Didn't see many 'alt-righters' till I got to the park. (One note here - I think some people were there just to watch. It also wasn't always clear who was who.)
E Market St was the only way the police were allowing entrance to the park. The park is not huge. I'm guessing, but maybe 1.5 acres or so. It also is on a mound/hill so you have take steps up from Market St to get to it. There are two sets of steps up to the park from Market St. I was coming from the south. The northern entrance was for those protesting the removal of the statue and had been cordoned off as best they could. The southern entrance was for everyone else although most people in the park were statue removal protesters (alt-right). As I got to the park the crowds were already pretty thick. The northern entrance had some priest/religious figure locking arms with antifa and blocking the entrance. The rhetoric and name calling was heavy from both sides. By the time I got to the park it was maybe 10:45 with the event slated to start @ noon. It looked to me there were about 300-400 alt-righters up top at the park and maybe 1000 -1500 others on the street being a mixture of the left and right but mostly left. By noon I would say the total number of people on all sides had swelled to 4-5,000. I position myself at the southern entrance on top of a retaining wall alongside 3 or 4 reporters/photographers. There were plenty of BLM signs, African Flags & various left supporting banners/flags. Of course many signs spouting about hatred and Nazi's too. The right had many Confederate Flags, various state flags & US flags, A Few Don't Tread On Me and a couple I didn't recognize. I've seen some pictures that show a few Nazi Flags/armbands but I didn't see them. Not saying there weren't there but again I didn't see them.
About 11:10 or so a group of about 50-75 statue supporters were making their way down Market street toward the park from the South. As they approached the southern entrance to the park is when the first violence started. Bottles of water, balloons of paint and bags of urine were thrown at them from the crowd. When that happen the shoving started, fist were flying and people hitting each other with sticks. Of course the right stood up for themselves. Now I'm not saying some on the right wouldn't be violent anyway BUT I can say for a fact they didn't start it. Also the police did nothing to quell the violence. Once it started it went on for at least 30-40 minutes or more with crap flying every which way. Also within this 30 + minutes a second group of about the same size also made there way down the street and this just exacerbated the chaos.
In looking at the pictures I took I see there aren't really any during this timeframe. I also wish I had taken more overall but all I know is if you weren't looking up and paying attention you were liable to be hit. Crap was being thrown in all directions but in a general direction without care to where it landed. I myself stopped 6 bottles coming in my direction, one from hitting the photographer next to me in the head.
As we approached noon the violence and shouting was prevalent. At this point the police started making the announcement on a bullhorn that the alt-right was having what had been declared an illegal gathering and that they must disperse or be arrested. They did nothing to contain nor restrain the left only the right. The right, who had legally obtain a permit to be there. They complied which I not sure if I was in charge I would have done, but that is another story. After this, while things continued to be chaotic people became more spread out and violence started to dissipate. As a side note I didn't see the vehicle thing.
I've never been in the middle of something like this. I found it fascinating & unnerving at the same time. In a split second things can escalate.
You can say what you want about those that were present on the right. They were there to speak to the removal of that statue and history. The MSM and politicians are railing on about the hatred and violence from the 'white supremacist' yesterday? But the left was full of vitriol & had no problem with violence even though you'd never know it from the press. I am not saying those on the right were all boy scouts but they had a right to be there and to have their right protected to assemble. Had the left not been there I am relatively certain no violence would have happened.
You missed my point completely.
We have ONLY 2 choices for leading the investigation.
1. AG Sessions
2. Gov of Virginia, Terry McCoullogh
I prefer option 1.
You obviously would go with option 2.
There is no 3rd option here. Investigation will occur.
Sessions did announce that DOJ was undertaking an investigation into the auto incident.
So then why did the white nationalist go through this and do a favor to the antifa crowd? If you can guess what was going to happen, why did the white nationalists failed to grasp it?
What exactly would the white nationalists have achieved if it turned out to be peaceful by fluke?
Sometimes it is best to work via the silent majority knowing the media is never going to check your issues.
When that happens, anything goes, and will, don't care what side you are on.
If I were marching (putting the cause aside) and a bag of excrement or much of anything else is thrown from the crowd, I would likely be into the crowd as well.
I detest leftists. I despise and deplore what they do. But if they want to demonstrate, they have the right to do so, and even if I counter protest, I shouldn't be doing more then counter protesting...legally.
This is a one way thought process though, because it is certain that right is not respected for anyone that liberals don't agree with.
I have always found it deeply ironic that liberals don't sympathize with Nazis, much in the same way they sympathize with radical islam. After all, those two ideologies (Nazism and radical Islam) were (and likely are) kindred spirits.
Obviously you have a great logical mind.
There is something wrong with Nazi rallies.
On a final note in this thread, I admire your effort to attend the rally without any intentions of causing violence and thanks for posting a well written report.
Same thing here in Oregon with the Pro-Trump rally, the police were absolutely on the side of the anti-Trump protestors and shut down our march even though we had permits. They allowed them to hit us with sticks and looked the other way.
I find myself not caring to hear about this subject. Is it just me? I already know how it will be reported and who will be blamed.
I see other similarities.
The Weimar Republic had weathered the financial crisis and the economy was turning around.
Our economy is getting better just on the little that POTUS Trump is able to do by EO
The Jews stood silently by as their place in society was degraded.
Whites and conservatives have let the narrative slip away. The MSM controls the news, not as thoroughly as twenty years ago but there is control.
The difference is that the American citizenry are the best armed in the world. We will have the antifa SA, the police and most likely the army against us. Sooner or later a large enough group will decide enough is enough and things will explode.
At that point roughly half of the antifa/BLM crowd will melt away leaving only the true believers. Those true believers will fight, they will be overwhelmed, enter the police and in turn the military.
It will not end well for anyone.
Trumps only choice is take himself to the heartland like he has been doing. The more often the better.
No antifa/BLM turd will ever support him, but he can lose his base with the wrong moves.
Let's recall the order of events. The City Council is a racist, anti-white council and the vice mayor is a black, openly avowed racist.
They granted the permit for the rally. The rally organizers got the word out and signed up a crowd.
At the last moment the permit is revoked. At the same time the City Council gave two separate permits for rallies, one for Antifa and another for BLM. Antifa was organizing heavily for the event.
The media had a coordinated narrative already prepared.
Democratic governor declares a state of emergency just as the rally begins.
Cops and antifa immediately attack the rally-goers and drive them out.
Now, you don't have to be a super-IQ genius to understand what's going on here.
This was an own goal inasmuch as the right decided to play by the left's rule book.
Recall also that the governor -- who declared a state of emergency -- is none other than Clinton Slimbag Terry McAuliffe, who made millions on stock of Global Crossing, and who restore the rights of felons to vote in Virginia in time for the last Presidential election.
I notice that many if not most of the Antifa shows up in college towns. Having a university or two nearby used to be a draw. But that is also fertile ground for Far Leftists..
MEDIA RESPONSE TO ANOTHER LEFTIST OUTRAGE!
https://youtu.be/3AnF13ArWJs
The 3rd option might be the actual governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe.
“Well considering the Republicans, even the President refuse to acknowledge them, makes you wonder.”
I can understand the GOPE not calling them out, they ARE uniparty after all.
Trump needs to get ahead of this and paint them for what they are.
I read that the DOJ has announced an investigation into the C’ville mess. Hopefully that is the first shot at countering them.
If it is a whitewash then the fuse burns faster.
I’ve read repeatedly that the Unite the Right event had been planned for weeks, and had obtained a legal permit. On the other hand, AntiFa, Black Lies Matter, etc., had no permit. The police had the DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to protect those who were legally there. Any DoJ investigation into civil rights violations must examine the actions of the mayor, the police force, AntiFa and Black Lies Matter. It seems to me that those who had their constitutional rights violated were the Unite the Right group.
Many people who work in Charlottesville live elsewhere, where housing and taxes are much more affordable.
There are 2 governors in Virginia? lol
Sorry about the SIC.
Well I don’t see things turning around by what we have been doing. Taking it to the streets is not going to stop and every round is an escalation. The Antifa crowd is going to be bloodthirsty for revenge in the next round. Things are going to get really ugly and alienating these kids that are willing to get out there is not going to be helpful. They are to going to back down. They correctly IMHO see this fight for what it is, survival.
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