The battle of Charlottesville: At least two seriously hurt in clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters at massive march in Virginia as governor warns public to 'stay away'
Violence erupted ahead of a planned rally where thousands of white nationalists were expected to gather for an alt-right protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday.
Two people were seriously injured in the clash, Virginia State police reported. A video appears to show the altercation, as a man is being dragged away by officials while a woman screams: 'Don't allow them to do this!'
Another woman with blood streaming down her face also pushes the man away from the scene of the fight.
The Unite the Right rally was being held at Emancipation Park and hundreds were seen stomping through the city, wearing militia uniforms, waving flags and chanting 'Blood and Soil' as they made their way towards the event.
Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer denounced the 'cowardly parade of hatred, bigotry, racism, and intolerance march down the lawns of the architect of our Bill of Rights' and warned for residents to stay away from the rally.
Still, counter-protesters flocked to the march in retaliation against the white nationalists neo-Confederates, and alt-right activists, screaming: 'We're here, we're gay, we fight the KKK!'
The protest hadn't officially started but social media videos showed the rally was escalating as people were seen throwing objects, breaking out into fights and pepper spray being used, as officers watched from behind fences.
The violence, which erupted ahead of the rally's start time of noon, forced the city to declare a local emergency and determined the event was an unlawful assembly, using tear gas bombs to clear the unruly crowd.
Arrests were made after police in riot gear attempted to clear the park and a group of protesters pushed back against them.
Police were in position at Emancipation Park and downtown Charlottesville by 6am as they prepared for the rally.
Between 4,000 and 6,000 people from groups including white nationalists, neo-Confederates and alt-right activists are expected toPost too long. Click here to view the full text.