A “Unite The Right” gathering taking place in Virginia has already amassed a large crowd carrying torches and performing some incendiary actions.
The White nationalists are marching through Charlottesville on to the University of Virginia Campus, while those in attendance claim that they are chanting “You will not replace us” in reference to other races in the area.
Furthermore, more pointed chants of “Blood and Soil” – a very famous Nazi slogan – and specific salutes are being used by those in attendance:
#UniteTheRight march chants "Blood and soil" pic.twitter.com/cX4O11jc35
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) August 12, 2017
If there are any mainstream #Republicans left should take a stand against this overt bigotry. This is the time.#charlottesville pic.twitter.com/QHp5o0E2Kz
— LadyBirdNiceAF (@purplehullpea) August 12, 2017
The Mayor of Charlottesville has since weighed in on the issue, releasing a statement via his Twitter account:
“Everyone has a right under the First Amendment to express their opinion peaceably, so here’s mine: not only as the Mayor of Charlottesville, but as a UVA faculty member and alumnus, I am beyond disgusted by this unsanctioned and despicable display of visual intimidation on a college campus.”
The full Unite The Right march isn’t due to take place until later on Saturday night, but the large crowds in attendance have apparently already warranted the use of pepper spray and there have been early reports of brawls and violence.
This afternoon, a full state of emergency was declared in the town following the mid-day rally:
https://twitter.com/TEN_GOP/status/896397469491372032
According to The New York Times, AirBNB have cancelled any bookings made in the area that are believed to be related to White Supremacist groups.
Some students returned the campus a week before classes were due to commence in order to protest the march, despite being massively outnumbered:
HEROIC #students were surrounded by torch-bearing neo-#Nazis, beaten NOT helped by #police #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/6lQlUmt3i7 @FBI
— Nancy Mitchell (@NancyWonderful) August 12, 2017
