White Supremacists Plan Travel From Vienna Metro To Rally

VIENNA, VA — White supremacists traveling to the Sunday, Aug. 12, Unite the Right rally in Washington, D.C., plan on meeting up at the Vienna Metro Station first. The rally website indicates participants will have a "police protected transport" from the Vienna station to DC.

Participants will go from the Vienna station to Foggy Bottom station via buses and trains. They will arrive in a "police protected zone" at Foggy Bottom in DC. They will return to the Vienna Metro afterward.

The meetup point is subject to change due to controversy about the white supremacists traveling by Metro, organizer Jason Kessler said on Twitter. Fearing more violence in D.C., officials reportedly had considered running a separate train to escort white supremacists to their rally. That proposal has since been abandoned.

Metro said in a statement it will work with local law enforcement to prepare security. "To be absolutely clear, Metro is not preparing a 'special train' for the private use of any group, reads the statement. "As with any ridership-generating event (e.g. large sporting events, concerts, Fourth of July celebrations, and many First Amendment demonstrations), Metro will be prepared to add trains as needed to address crowding if necessary. Should platform crowding become a concern at any particular station, Metro Transit Police may temporarily restrict access for safety reasons, as they do routinely during large events."

The Vienna Police Department will increase staffing during the weekend in the case of "spillover issues." The department is coordinating with other local law enforcement agencies and emergency managers to prepare.

Unite the Right organizers received approval National Park Service to hold the rally in DC after the city of Charlottesville rejected a permit to hold one there. The rally will mark one year since the deadly Aug. 12, 2017 Charlottesville rally, where white supremacists clashed with counter-protesters and a white supremacist allegedly struck and killed a counter-protester with his car. Two Virginia state troopers died the same day after their helicopter crashed while monitoring the event.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, the white supremacist group will march along Pennsylvania Avenue to Lafayette Square in front of the White House. It's unclear how many Unite the Right attendees will show up, but counter-protest groups have applied for their own rallies to stand against white supremacy, according to WTOP. Unite the Right organizers tell participants on their website, "ALWAYS Be aware of your surroundings. Do not talk to the media. Do not engage in any fighting."

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