Trump urges peace on Charlottesville rally anniversary

President Trump is urging ‘peace to all Americans’ as Virginia declares a state of emergency in anticipation of the anniversary of the Charlottesville rally. 

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the city of Charlottesville have declared a state of emergency as white nationalist parades and protests are planned to take place in  Charlottesville, Washington DC, and other towns this Sunday.

‘The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division. We must come together as a nation,’ Trump tweeted on Saturday morning. 

‘I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!’ he added.  

Learn from mistakes: Trump is urging peace for the upcoming Charlottesville rally anniversary

In DC a Unite the Right parade and rally is slated to take place with permits for protest granted in different parts of Capitol Hill.

The march will start at a Metro station near the Capitol and end with a demonstration in Lafayette Square Park that sits directly opposite from the White House. 

Black Lives Matter also have a permit for counter-protests. An individual who plans to burn a Conderedate flag in the park also reportedly received a permit. 

In Virginia, heightened security measures for this weekend’s events include State Police and Virginia National Guard presence in Charlottesvile.

The declaration that was issued on Wednesday will also allocate a whopping $2million to pay for response measures, according to ABC. 

Governor Northam urged residents to ‘make alternative plans to engaging with planned demonstrations of hate’. 

‘Virginia continues to mourn the three Virginians who lost their lives in the course of the demonstrations a year ago. We hope the anniversary of those events passes peacefully,’ he said.  

Last year's rally on August 12 say rally-goers bear flaming torches and clash with counter-protesters, resulting in the death 32-year-old Heather Heyer

Last year’s rally on August 12 say rally-goers bear flaming torches and clash with counter-protesters, resulting in the death 32-year-old Heather Heyer

White nationalists, neo-Nazis,  KKK members, and the alt-right attacked each other as counter protesters intervened outside Emancipation Park in Charlottesville last year

White nationalists, neo-Nazis,  KKK members, and the alt-right attacked each other as counter protesters intervened outside Emancipation Park in Charlottesville last year

The parades and rallies exploded in violence last year, leading to heightened safety measure to be added such as National Guard presence

The parades and rallies exploded in violence last year, leading to heightened safety measure to be added such as National Guard presence

Last year the purpose of the rally on August 12, 2017 was to protest city plans to remove a statue of General Robert E. Lee who led the Confederate army during the Civil War.

What resulted was hundreds of violent clashes between white nationalists, neo-Nazis, KKK members armed with flaming torches and counter protesters.

The violence led to the death of 23-year-old counter protester Heather Heyer who was struck by a car.   

Following last year’s heated rally, Trump spurred controversy saying ‘I think there is blame on both sides’ for Charlottesville’s deadly violence. 



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