ABC News: White nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia sparks violent clashes, turns deadly

Published Aug. 13, 2017. Updated Aug. 13 at 10:20 am

People gather near a makeshift candlelight vigil for those who died and were injured when a car plowed into a crowd of anti-fascist counter-demonstrators marching near a downtown shopping area Aug. 12, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The car allegedly plowed through a crowd, and at least one person has died from the incident, following the shutdown of the 'Unite the Right' rally by police after white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' and counter-protesters clashed near Lee Park, where a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is slated to be removed.

Photo by AFP

The usually quiet university city of Charlottesville, Virginia, erupted into chaos Saturday when far-right extremists gathering for a “Unite the Right” event clashed with counter-protesters, leaving more than a dozen injured and several under arrest.

The melee turned deadly in the morning when a car plowed into a group of counter-protesters, killing a 32-year-old woman and leaving 19 others injured, five critically. The driver was charged with murder in an incident a bystander described as “the most horrible thing I’ve ever witnessed.”