Richard Spencer And Fellow White Nationalists Return To Charlottesville

Doha Madani
Updated

Less than two months after violence broke out at the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacists returned to Emancipation Park on Saturday evening to demonstrate in support of Confederate statues.

The rally in early August was purportedly organized to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate soldier Robert E. Lee from downtown Charlottesville. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) declared a state of emergency after the white supremacists clashed violently with counterprotesters, injuring at least 35 people and killing 32-year-old paralegal Heather Heyer.

On Saturday, white nationalist leader Richard Spencer led a group holding torches to the park and livestreamed the rally from his Twitter account. The images were reminiscent of the group’s previous rally in the city, when they held tiki torches and chanted “Blood and soil” as they marched.

“We have a place in this country,” Spencer told his supporters in a livestream. “We have a place in this conversation. We have the right to exist.”

The governor responded to the rally Saturday evening on Twitter.

“We are monitoring this situation as we continue to oppose these racists and their message of hate,” McAuliffe wrote.

The group sang the Confederate Civil War song “I Wish I Was In Dixie Land,” and chanted phrases like “the South will rise again” and “Russia is our friend.”

Spencer delivered a speech filled with his familiar rhetoric, and he claimed that the U.S. was founded by what he calls “white culture.”

“We define this country, not anyone else,” Spencer told his supporters.

The event brought out about three dozen white nationalists, reported NBC 29′s Matt Talhelm, who also said there was police presence at the rally.

The group disbanded after Spencer’s speech. “We will be back,” they chanted.

Spencer later tweeted a video proclaiming the event a success.

“We came, we triggered, we left,” he said, adding that he thought the “flash mob” model should be repeated in the future.

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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.