Unite The Right Rally Prompts States Of Emergency In Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and the City of Charlottesville have declared states of emergency ahead of Aug. 10-12 events marking one year since the white nationalist rally that turned violent and killed three. The Unite the Right rally will take place in Washington, D.C., across from the White House, and could affect Northern Virginia as participants and counter-demonstrators travel. Other events are taking place around Charlottesville.

Planning by state and local police and authorities has been going on since March, according to a press release from the governor's office. Virginia's state of emergency will mobilize and send resources from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Health, Virginia National Guard, and other state agencies to Charlottesville and Northern Virginia; activate the Virginia Emergency Operations Center to coordinate state resources and authorize the Virginia National Guard to send forces as needed for security. The state has allocated $2 million for the response.

"I am urging Virginians to make alternative plans to engaging with planned demonstrations of hate, should those arise," said Northam in a statement. "Declaring this state of emergency in advance of the anniversary and the related planned events will help us ensure that the state and the city have all available resources to support emergency responders in case they are needed."

The Unite the Right website states participants will meet up at the Vienna Metro Station and travel by train or bus with a "police protected transport" to DC. Officials reportedly had considered running a separate train to escort white supremacists to their rally, but that proposal has since been abandoned.

The city of Charlottesville expects other planned events will take place there and has announced downtown road closures and a security perimeter. The city has released a list of prohibited items in the security area and will bar anyone over 16 from wearing masks in public places, the Daily Progress reports. Numerous prayer services and other events will honor the victims of last year's Charlottesville rally and help the community continue to heal.

The original Unite the Rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017, erupted into violence between white nationalists and counter-demonstrators. Heather Heyer, 32, died when a white supremacist allegedly plowed his car into a crowd of counter-demonstrators. Two Virginia state troopers, Lt. H. Jay Cullen III and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates died the same day after their helicopter crashed while monitoring the event.

Jason Kessler, organizer of the white nationalist rally, originally planned to have "Unite the Right 2" in Charlottesville, but was denied a permit from the city. The National Park Service gave approval to the group to hold a rally in Lafayette Square in front of the White House. A "Still Here, Still Strong" rally will counter the white nationalist event.

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