On Friday, August 11, hundreds of marchers descended on the University of Virginia carrying torches and yelling slogans "white lives matter" and "blood and soil".

Protests turned violent in Charlottesville on Saturday, as white supremacists clashed with counterdemonstrators and a car ploughed into a crowd of anti-racist and anti-fascist demonstrators.

Here is what we know.

What happened and when? 

• A "Unite the Right" rally was planned for Friday, August 11 to protest against the removal of a statue of Confederate icon General Robert E Lee.

   

• Described as one of the largest white supremacist events in recent US history, it was organised by Jason Kessler, a former journalist and a member of the Proud Boys, an ultra-nationalist group.

• Protesters gathered again on Saturday, August 12 and clashed with counter-demonstrators.

• At 11:28am (15:35 GMT) a local state of emergency was declared by the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle.

• At 1:42pm (17:42 GMT) a speeding car rammed into counter-demonstrators.

• The speeding car, a Dodge Challenger, fled the scene but was soon located and stopped by police.

• Later in the afternoon, a police helicopter crashed while en route to the rally, though officials did not elaborate on the details.

Where did it happen?

This took place in Charlottesville, a university town of 46,000 people, in the state of Virginia in the United States.

Charlottesville has become a focal point of the resurgent white supremacist movement after officials there voted to take down a statue of the Confederate General Robert E Lee.

Who was behind it?

• The driver of the car, 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr was arrested shortly after the incident and was charged with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one count of hit-and-run.

• In connection with the events at Charlottesville today, police made three more arrests.

• 21-year-old Troy Dunigan and charged him with disorderly conduct.

• 21-year-old Jacob L. Smith was also arrested and charged with misdemeanour assault and battery.

• 44-year-old James M. O'Brien was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed gun.

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How many casualties?

• 32-year-old Heather Heyer died following the car ramming.

• Lieutenant Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Bates, who were on board the crashed helicopter, died.

• 35 people were injured at the rally, 19 confirmed by the hospital in Charlottesville.

Is Charlottesville now safe? What is the latest on the ground?

Police intervened after clashes broke out and dispersed the crowd, and Governor McAuliffe declared a state of emergency.

The Governor’s office also urged all members of the community to stay home on Saturday evening.

What are people saying?

On August 12, US President Donald Trump condemned the clashes in Charlottesville in a Twitter post:

We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!

Senator Bernie Sanders also condemned the clashes and said, "it was a reprehensible display of racism and hatred".

The white nationalist demonstration in #Charlottesville is a reprehensible display of racism and hatred that has no place in our society.

Senator Cory Gardner a labelled them as "domestic terrorism": 

Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism. https://t.co/PaPNiPPAoW

What happened next?

• Local state of emergency.

• FBI launched its own investigation into the incident.

• A fundraising campaign for the family of a woman killed in a car-ramming attack in the US town of Charlottesville has raised tens of thousands of dollars.

• A "Moment of Unity" was held in Charlottesville, giving citizens a chance to offer prayers and support for the victims.

• Other gatherings spanned from a planned march to US President Donald Trump's home in New York to a candlelight vigil in Florida.

• Judge Robert Downer said during a bail hearing on Monday, August 14, that he would appoint a lawyer for James Alex Fields Jr. 

• In the meantime, Fields has been ordered to stay in jail.

• The next scheduled court hearing is on August 25, though Fields' attorney could request a bond hearing before then.

Photos

Far-right activists clash with counter-protesters at the rally [Joshua Roberts/Reuters]

Flowers and a photo of car ramming victim Heather Heyer lie at a makeshift memorial in Charlottesville [Justin Ide/Reuters]

Source: Al Jazeera News

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