The NBC affiliate in Charlottesville reported white nationalists marchers carried torches and shouted “white lives matter” at the University of Virginia campus.
The president of the University of Virginia said one person was arrested and several people, including a university police officer, were injured Friday night as hundreds of white nationalists ralliers clashing with counter protest groups in Chartlottesville, Virginia.
According to NBC29 in Charlottesville, white nationalists marchers carried torches and shouted "white lives matter" at the University of Virginia campus. A counter group of demonstrators showed up to protest a rally white nationalists and other extremists planned for Saturday.
UVa. President Teresa Sullivan strongly condemmed the demonstration on the college ground. She said law enforcement did not use pepper spray or any other chemical agents but said there were reports that pepper spray was used by the white nationist protesters.
Sullivan said UVa. police declared the torch-lit march an "unlawful assembly" and started breaking up the groups.
Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer said in a statement he was "beyond disgusted by this unsanctioned and despicable display of visual intimidation."
Groups began gathering early Saturday morning, and police were in position at Emancipation Park and downtown Charlottesville at 6 a.m.
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Earlier Friday, U.S. District Judge Glen Conrad issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed against Charlottesville by right-wing blogger Jason Kessler.
Kessler organized the Saturday rally to protest Charlottesville's decision to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park.
The city announced earlier this week that the rally must be moved out of Emancipation Park to a larger one, citing safety reasons.
Kessler sued, saying the change was a free speech violation.
The judge wrote that Kessler was likely to prevail and granted the injunction.
