It is being said that the cops had disbursed the so-called "white nationalist" gathering and people were leaving the area while the so-called "anti-protesters" were gathered in the area. It was a set-up for many violent encounters and many took place, this is just the most dramatic.
We don't know what that driver had experienced as he was apparently leaving the area. He might well have had reasonable fear for his life with the streets lined and blocked with the anti-protesters wielding bats and clubs.
There is still not enough known to conclude very much and it'll probably be many more days before we do know enough.
I agree that the protesters on the left needed to disperse.
One, they did not have a permit. Two, they were told to leave before this incident. There is a lot wrong with that whole day. The gov should have revoked the permit or made better plans to control all sides of the protests. This responsibility falls on the governor and local government. The media hyped this into the frenzy it became and the governor & pd did not take charge as they needed to. I.e., blockades, street closures, etc
Blaming this on Trump is ridiculous tho. Earlier in the day, he said ‘both sides’ because both sides were behaving wrongly and provoking each other. The Obama did a lot to provoke conservatives tho. With statements such as ‘if they show up with a knife, we’ll bring a gun’. Or ‘the Leo acted stupidly’, not denouncing BLM’s role in Baltimore. Trump has not provoked anyone as the left has tried to state. Completely false. Obama created racial tension that has spilled over with a vengeance. It was manifested yesterday.