Federal And Civil Rights Investigations Opened After Virginia Rally Erupts In Violence

Carla Herreria
Updated
A white supremacist fights with counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday. (Photo: Joshua Roberts / Reuters)
A white supremacist fights with counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday. (Photo: Joshua Roberts / Reuters)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia has opened up a federal investigation into the violence that broke out at the white supremacy rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that U.S. Attorney Rick Mountcastle launched the federal investigation, with the full support of the Justice Department.

“The violence and deaths in Charlottesville strike at the heart of American law and justice,” Sessions said Saturday in a statement sent to HuffPost. “When such actions arise from racial bigotry and hatred, they betray our core values and cannot be tolerated.”

Three people, including two state troopers and one counter-protester, died Saturday as the scene in Charlottesville grew increasingly violent.

Anti-racist protesters were mowed down by a speeding vehicle during the white-supremacist gathering in Charlottesville on Saturday. (Photo: Ryan M Kelly/The Daily Progress)
Anti-racist protesters were mowed down by a speeding vehicle during the white-supremacist gathering in Charlottesville on Saturday. (Photo: Ryan M Kelly/The Daily Progress)

The FBI’s regional Richmond office, along with the U.S. attorney’s office, has also opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal car crash that killed one woman during the rally.

The investigation will look “into the circumstances of the deadly vehicular incident that occurred earlier Saturday morning,” the FBI and U.S. attorney’s office said in a joint statement. “The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence, and as this is an ongoing investigation we are not able to comment further at this time.”

Events reached a boiling point early in the day when a car plowed into a group of counter-protesters, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring 19 people.

Thousands of white supremacists, armed militia groups and Ku Klux Klan members attended Saturday’s so-called “Unite the Right” event with bats, chemical sprays and banners, including Confederate and swastika flags. Supporters of the white supremacy event clashed with anti-racist counter-protesters and fringe groups from the far left.

A man makes a slashing motion across his throat toward counter-protesters as he marches with white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" during Saturday's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)
A man makes a slashing motion across his throat toward counter-protesters as he marches with white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" during Saturday's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)

James Fields, 20, of Maumee, Ohio, was arrested after the car crash and charged with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and one count of failing to stop at an accident resulting in a death.

Fields’ mother, Samantha Bloom, told reporters on Saturday that she knew her son was going to an “alt-right” rally, but that she didn’t realize it was an event in support of white supremacy.

“I thought it had to do with [President Donald] Trump,” Bloom told The Associated Press. “Trump’s not a white supremacist.”

A state police helicopter responding to the riot on Saturday crashed seven miles from downtown Charlottesville, killing Lt. H. Jay Cullen, 48, and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates, 40.

Related Coverage

SAY IT: People Beg Trump To Clearly Denounce White Supremacy

Celebrities Speak Out Against White Supremacist Violence In Charlottesville

White Supremacist Rally Triggers Violence In Charlottesville

2 Killed When Police Helicopter Crashes While Responding To Charlottesville Riot

Donald Trump Blames 'Many Sides' For White Supremacist Clashes In Charlottesville

'Beautiful Moment Ripped Away' As Car Plows Into Anti-Racist Group In Charlottesville, 1 Dead

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Neo-Nazis and white supremacists encircle and chant at counter-protesters at the base of a Thomas Jefferson statue on Aug. 11, 2017, after marching with torches through the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Neo-Nazis and white supremacists encircle and chant at counter-protesters at the base of a Thomas Jefferson statue on Aug. 11, 2017, after marching with torches through the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Neo-Nazis and white supremacists take part in the "Unite the Right" rally.
Neo-Nazis and white supremacists take part in the "Unite the Right" rally.
The group marched through the University of Virginia campus with torches.
The group marched through the University of Virginia campus with torches.
A man wears Nazi regalia before the "Unite the Right" rally.
A man wears Nazi regalia before the "Unite the Right" rally.
Counter-protesters arrive at the "Unite the Right" rally.
Counter-protesters arrive at the "Unite the Right" rally.
White supremacists carry Nazi flags on Aug. 12, 2017.
White supremacists carry Nazi flags on Aug. 12, 2017.
A white supremacist carries the Confederate flag as he walks past counter-demonstrators.
A white supremacist carries the Confederate flag as he walks past counter-demonstrators.
White nationalists march through the street.
White nationalists march through the street.
A sign on a business in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia.
A sign on a business in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia.
Police arrive at the scene of protests after a state of emergency is announced in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Police arrive at the scene of protests after a state of emergency is announced in Charlottesville, Virginia.
A man is down during a clash between white nationalist protesters and a group of counter-protesters.
A man is down during a clash between white nationalist protesters and a group of counter-protesters.
White nationalists and counter-protesters clash.
White nationalists and counter-protesters clash.
A protester receives first-aid during a clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
A protester receives first-aid during a clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
A man makes a slashing motion across his throat toward counter-protesters as he marches with other white nationalists and neo-Nazis during the "Unite the Right" rally.
A man makes a slashing motion across his throat toward counter-protesters as he marches with other white nationalists and neo-Nazis during the "Unite the Right" rally.
A white supremacist stands behind militia members after he scuffled with a counter-demonstrator.
A white supremacist stands behind militia members after he scuffled with a counter-demonstrator.
Virginia State Police use pepper spray as they move in during a clash between white nationalist protesters and counter-protesters.
Virginia State Police use pepper spray as they move in during a clash between white nationalist protesters and counter-protesters.
Hundreds of white nationalists and neo-Nazis march down East Market Street toward Lee Park during the "Unite the Right" rally.
Hundreds of white nationalists and neo-Nazis march down East Market Street toward Lee Park during the "Unite the Right" rally.
A smoke bomb is thrown at a group of counter-protesters.
A smoke bomb is thrown at a group of counter-protesters.
Virginia State Troopers stand under a statue of Robert E. Lee. White nationalists descended on Charlottesville to protest the statue's removal.
Virginia State Troopers stand under a statue of Robert E. Lee. White nationalists descended on Charlottesville to protest the statue's removal.
Anti-fascist counter-protesters wait outside Lee Park to hurl insults as white nationalists and neo-Nazis are forced out after the "Unite the Right" rally was declared an unlawful gathering.
Anti-fascist counter-protesters wait outside Lee Park to hurl insults as white nationalists and neo-Nazis are forced out after the "Unite the Right" rally was declared an unlawful gathering.
A group of counter-protesters rally against white nationalists.
A group of counter-protesters rally against white nationalists.
A man is seen with an injury during a clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
A man is seen with an injury during a clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
Protesters and counter-protesters after being pepper-sprayed and/or maced.
Protesters and counter-protesters after being pepper-sprayed and/or maced.
David Duke (C), participates in the white nationalist rally.
David Duke (C), participates in the white nationalist rally.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.