A timeline of the 2017 protests in Charlottesville and the political fallout that followed

Summary

On a Friday night, white nationalists stormed the University of Virginia to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, leading to violent clashes with counter-protesters. The situation escalated, with police in riot gear and a state of emergency declared. A deadly incident occurred when a car, driven by 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr., crashed into a crowd, killing one and injuring 19. The White House and public figures, including Senator Ted Cruz and John McCain, condemned the violence, while President Trump controversially stated that there were 'fine people on both sides.'

Takeaways

• 😀 Hundreds of white nationalists stormed the University of Virginia on a Friday night, protesting the removal of a Confederate statue.
• 😀 The violence escalated overnight, spilling into the following morning as marchers and counter-protesters clashed.
• 😀 Local and state police responded in riot gear, but tensions continued to rise throughout the morning.
• 😀 Virginia's governor declared a state of emergency just before 2 p.m. as the situation worsened.
• 😀 A deadly turn occurred when a car, driven by James Alex Fields Jr., rammed into a crowd, killing one person and injuring 19 others.
• 😀 The driver, 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr., was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
• 😀 The first response from the White House came from First Lady Melania Trump, condemning the violence and hatred displayed on both sides.
• 😀 President Trump's initial response was criticized for failing to directly condemn white nationalism and white supremacy.
• 😀 Senator Ted Cruz labeled the car attack a 'grotesque act of domestic terrorism', while Senator John McCain condemned white supremacists as 'traitors'.
• 😀 President Trump emphasized that there were 'fine people' on both sides of the conflict, despite the presence of neo-Nazis and white nationalists.
• 😀 The president suggested that job creation would improve race relations in the U.S.

Q & A

What event triggered the violent clash at the University of Virginia?

The violent clash was triggered by protests against plans to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

What escalated the violence between the marchers and counter-protesters?

The violence escalated when the marchers and counter-protesters clashed hours before the Unite the Right rally was set to begin.

What action did Virginia's governor take in response to the violence?

Virginia's governor declared a state of emergency just before 2 p.m. as the situation escalated.

What tragic incident occurred shortly before noon during the protests?

A silver 2010 Dodge Challenger drove into a crowd, killing one person and injuring 19 others, five of whom were in critical condition.

Who was arrested in connection with the deadly incident, and what were the charges?

The suspected driver, 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr., was arrested and charged in connection with the deadly incident.

What was the initial response from the White House regarding the violence?

The first response from the White House came from the First Lady, who condemned the violence and hatred, urging communication without hate.

How did Senator Ted Cruz describe the attack, and what term did he use?

Senator Ted Cruz described the attack as a 'grotesque act of domestic terrorism.'

What was Senator John McCain's reaction to the violence?

Senator John McCain tweeted that white supremacists are traitors, not patriots, and called those who cause violence in their name criminals and thugs.

How did the President address the situation, and what controversial statement did he make?

The President stated that there were 'fine people' on both sides of the protests, which was controversial and widely criticized for downplaying the presence of hate groups.

What solution did the President suggest to improve race relations in America?

The President suggested that creating more jobs at levels that he claims to be achieving would have a positive impact on race relations.