Posted on 08/14/2017 5:33:33 PM PDT by Mariner
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. A Virginia police chief said Monday that he "absolutely has regrets" about violence that erupted over the weekend when dozens of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members clashed with counterprotesters.
As the world watched pandemonium in Charlottesville unfold live on television Saturday, officers seemed to stand on the sidelines as fists flew, bats swung and objects soared through the air.
"We were hoping for a peaceful demonstration," Chief Al Thomas said at a news conference. "Gradually the crowd size increased along with aggressiveness and hostility of the attendees towards one another."
After police ordered everyone out of a small park where the rally was being held, protesters took to the streets. A man plowed his car into a group of counterprotesters, killing a woman and injuring 19 others.
On Monday, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said he directed his administration to conduct an "extensive review" of how police prepare and respond to rallies. The city's former police chief and law enforcement experts were critical of the way police responded, saying the ostensibly hands-off approach seemed to allow the violent fracas to grow.
Thomas said his officers were spread thin and had to make quick adjustments to their strategies when white nationalists began swarming the park and violence erupted.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Note to Charlottesville: I loved visting, but after this, I won’t be back.
A left wing media whore with big ambitions .
What’s interesting is that both protestors & counter-protestors are socialists, as are the council members who renamed the park and work to remove the statue.
This was street theater staged by socialists.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.