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.
That’s it in a nutshell.
But don’t forget about McAuliffe and Signer, who cynically manipulated the protests to score political points. I think Signer has aspirations to higher office. Nothing more needs to be said about where McAuliffe’s loyalties lie.
The mayor of Charlottesville worked with/for Podesta & 0bama’s transition team, Kaine, McAuliffe, and for the Ctr. for Am. Progress.
From Wikipedia:
“In the 2008 elections, Signer was foreign policy advisor to the John Edwards for President campaign. He was later senior strategist on the 2008 Congressional campaign of Tom Perriello. Signer was senior policy advisor at the Center for American Progress and later that year worked with John Podesta on President-Elect Barack Obama’s State Department Transition Team.
In 2009, Signer was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, receiving 21% of the vote.
From 2009 to 2013, Signer was an appointee by Governor Tim Kaine to Virginia’s Board of Medicine. He was a member of the finance committee for Terry McAuliffe for governor and later served as chair of Governor-elect McAuliffe’s Transition Council on Homeland Security. Earlier in his career, he was legislative aide to then-Delegate Creigh Deeds.
Signer created an Advisory Council on Innovation and Technology to link stakeholders in the Charlottesville technology sector. Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed him to the Council on Virginia’s Future.
During Signer’s tenure as Mayor, Charlottesville was named by Entrepreneur as the #4 City in the U.S. for entrepreneurship.
During Signer’s tenure, the city council created an Open Data policy and required agencies to register voters to vote online.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Signer
To piss u off
True. Probably much more factual than half, but I am venting!
Bump
So do what?
At what point.
I think we’re past peacable resolution
The west in general
All in my lifetime
Truly tragic
Yeah... Remineds me of those posters from China (?) where the guy is carrying the commie flag and his head is held high in a very proad manner... :)
These commie bastards (the press) are going to be the end of us.....
“All in my lifetime.”
I used to marvel at new things.
Besides work and diner food as dinner out, I am down to old movies, Hallmark channel movie (nearly all the same plot), American History Channel, Military Channel type shows, and HGTV things. I know almost all Chopped episodes from the Food Network by heart, too.
News?
It’ snot now, so I don’t watch. Except Dobbs. Some Hannity.
Sad, really. All this tech and media of all kinds.
I did see “Wonder Woman” at a resort with the family. That was the 1st movie after “American Sniper,” though.
From new things to marvel at to preferring tried and true, almost schmaltz.
That should be “proud manner”
Thank you for sharing your first hand experience. I wondered who triggered the violence. I am not surprised by the response of the media. Sad to hear that the police did not act for 30-40 minutes.
I’m sick of cowardly, opportunist politicians who do or say anything to gain votes and the disgraceful media that has no problem pitting people against each other for the sake of sensationalism and ratings. And, those of us who love America have limited recourse...sending emails, tweets or calling media makes no difference and same goes for “our” political representatives.
You’re into this stuff, aren’t you?
Does WAR stand for White Aryan Resistance?
You’re just a nevertrump left wing agitator who’s polluted this forum using the same tactics the left does?
I just have a good memory
“You’re just a nevertrump left wing agitator who’s polluted this forum using the same tactics the left does”
You’re not the only one who remembers. ifinnegan barely disguises what he’s up to.
It sounds like Antifa and BLM protestors initiated violence, yet, neither the media nor politicians have issued any condemnations of either.
Why no answer? I will take your word for whatever you say.
FR rules are that FR is a non-racist site and is not a site to be used bt racists or racist groups nor neo-Confederates.
So I can understand why people here try to hide their associations, affiliations or beliefs.
From the FR home page:
Please enjoy our forum, but also please remember to use common courtesy when posting and refrain from posting personal attacks, profanity, vulgarity, threats, racial or religious bigotry, or any other materials offensive or otherwise inappropriate for a conservative family audience.
Free Republic does not advocate or condone racism, violence, rebellion, secession, or an overthrow of the government.
See post 235.
“Here’s a better idea: Don’t hold a rally.”
Out here in SoCal you were risking your safety just going to a mere Trump rally. You were nuts if you put a bumper sticker on your car. You still are unless you intend on having your car keyed.
We have cities here with officials who are in league with Antifa and BAMN. They order the police to stand down and it’s guaranteed that there will be violence.
Charlottesville looks to be the same. If you hold a rally that the Left hates you’ll get violence. This stuff is attracting zealots and crazies from both sides. I’m surprised we haven’t seen gunfire yet.
Not impressed with your attempt to justify yourself. I know your past.
Or the start of a revolt against the left.
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