Politics & Government
White Supremacists Rally Against Lee Statue Removal In Virginia
The white supremacist rally in Charlottesville incited a counter-protest and responses from most of the Virginia gubernatorial candidates.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — White nationalist Richard Spencer led a group of demonstrators in Charlottesville Saturday to protest the city's decision to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The alt-right movement leader carried a fiery torch at a rally promoting white power, while several candidates for governor, both Democrats and Republicans, condemned Spencer and his actions.
The Charlottesville City Council voted in April to sell the Lee statue in a city park, but the city cannot do so for six months since a judge issued an injunction earlier this month. The injunction does not apply to the city's decision to rename Lee and Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson parks.
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In two rallies at Jackson and Lee parks, white supremacist protesters carried torches and chanted, "You will not replace us," "Blood and soil" and "Russia is our friend," according to The Daily Progress in Charlottesville. “What brings us together is that we are white, we are a people, we will not be replaced,” Spencer said at the first of the two rallies, The Washington Post reported.
Spencer, who graduated from Charlottesville's University of Virginia and popularized the term “alt-right," posted a live video of the first rally. According to the video, other participants included Traditionalist Worker Party and Identity Evropa, both identified as white supremacist groups. Spencer was not shown speaking at the second rally but tweeted a picture of himself carrying a torch. The second rally only lasted about 10 minutes after police broke up an altercation between protesters.
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»SEE ALSO: Virginia Governor's Race: Guide to Candidates and Voting
A counter-protest gathered Sunday night, The Daily Progress reported. It brought together groups like Showing Up for Racial Justice Charlottesville, Black Lives Matter and more. But arguments ensued when right-wing blogger Jason Kessler showed up. Kessler and two counter-protesters were arrested, according to police.
The removal of the statue has sparked debate in the governor's race, and the Charlottesville demonstration evoked responses from most of the candidates.
Tom Perriello, who is originally from Charlottesville, traded jabs with Spencer on Twitter.
Get your white supremacist hate out of my hometown. https://t.co/KfkxHImvze
— Tom Perriello (@tomperriello) May 13, 2017
Actually, you lost. In 1865. 150 years later, you're still not over it. https://t.co/pVLyn3gAjB
— Tom Perriello (@tomperriello) May 13, 2017
Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, the other candidate vying for the Democratic nomination, said in a statement, “There is no place for hate, fear or intimidation in Virginia. The display in Charlottesville is the last gasp of a disgusting ideology. In this commonwealth, our doors are open, our lights are on and we are welcome to everyone who shares a love for it, no matter who you are or where you’re from.”
Republican frontrunner Ed Gillespie spoke out as well on Twitter.
does not reflect the thoughtfulness and tolerance I see in my fellow Virginians everywhere I go. (2/2)
— Ed Gillespie (@EdWGillespie) May 14, 2017
State Sen. Frank Wagner, another Republican nominee, said in an email, "These actions are totally unacceptable. These people are racists. They don’t represent Virginia values. I condemn their actions and beliefs. I call on all Virginians who are involved in efforts to advocate for or against Virginia’s history to act responsibly and honorably.”
Republican Corey Stewart, the chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, is the only candidate to not release a response. Stewart has made a central point of his campaign preserving Charlottesville's Lee Statue and other Confederate symbols. In March, he vowed to defund localities that removed Confederate statues if elected.
The primary election for Virginia governor is June 13.
What do you about Charlottesville's decision to move the Lee statue and the protests that followed? Let us know in the comments.
Watch: Statue of Jefferson Davis removed in New Orleans
Image via YouTube screenshot
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