Charlottesville anti-racism rally turns into protest against police
Massive security operation criticised, as city marks anniversary of last year’s chaotic and deadly demonstrations
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday as a rally to mark the anniversary of last year’s fatal white nationalist gathering turned largely into an anti-police protest.
With chants like, “Cops and Klan go hand in hand”, the protesters’ criticism of both police and the University of Virginia underscored the resentment that still exists a year after white supremacists marched through campus, shouting far-right slogans.
Several students said they were angry that the police response was far larger this year compared with last year, when those attending the white nationalist rally went mostly unchecked. This year, more than 1,000 law enforcement officers lined the streets.
At one point on Saturday, dozens of officers in riot gear formed a line near where the rally was taking place, prompting many protesters to rush over yelling, “Why are you in riot gear? We don’t see no riot here.” The stand-off ended without any clashes as organisers urged the crowd to move away and begin marching off campus. Police, who appeared to be avoiding a confrontation, rode bicycles ahead of the march to stop traffic.
