A homophobic far-right supremacist mob chanted ‘f*** you faggots’ at a rally in Charlottesville yesterday.
Journalist Christopher Mathias caught the harrowing scene on video and uploaded it to his Twitter account.
The college town in Virginia has seen hundreds of protestors take to the streets over the planned removal of a Confederate statue of Robert E. Lee in Emancipation Park.
You heard that right. They're chanting "Fuck you faggots." 2017. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/pMwbSXZ3wW
— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) August 12, 2017
The Unite the Right rally was comprised of several far-right groups. Among them were alt-right, neo-Confederate, neo-Nazi, militia, white nationalist, white supremacist and Ku Klux Klan members.
Peaceful counter-protestors included clergy members and also Black Lives Matter activists.
A state of emergency
The protests have led to conflict, violence and one death so far. Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency on Saturday.
After the original protest was declared an unlawful gathering, a car ploughed into crowds of counter-protestors near the city’s downtown mall. The incident left a 32-year-old woman named Heather Heyer dead and injured at least 19.
Disturbing video shows car slamming into counter protesters of white nationalists in Charlottesville, VA as violent clashes continue. pic.twitter.com/2qwc8SdP71
— ABC News (@ABC) August 12, 2017
James Alex Fields Jr. of Ohio has been arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and one count of hit-and-run, according to the city.
Update on Fatal Charlottesville Traffic Crash pic.twitter.com/UM1HQdy3CK
— Charlottesville City (@CvilleCityHall) August 13, 2017
Furthermore, two state police officers have also died in a helicopter crash on the outskirts of town.