Scenes From the Deadly Unrest in Virginia

Unrest in Virginia

Clashes over a show of white nationalism in charlottesville turn deadly

Samuel Corum—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Samuel Corum—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

A counter-protester strikes a white nationalist with a baton. Samuel Corum—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Violence erupted in the college town of Charlottesville on Aug. 12 after hundreds of white nationalists and their supporters who gathered for a rally over plans to remove a Confederate statue were met by counter-protesters, leading Virginia’s governor to declare a state of emergency.

Clashes broke out between the white nationalists and counter-protesters; the “Unite the Right” rally at a park once named for Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was deemed unlawful. At one point in the afternoon, a vehicle drove into a crowd of counter-protesters marching through the downtown area before speeding away, resulting in one death and leaving more than a dozen others injured. State police later reported the crash of a helicopter that was monitoring the events in Charlottesville, killing two troopers.

President Trump addressed the violence in televised remarks from New Jersey, condemning an “egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides” and calling for the “swift restoration of law and order.” Among his critics was Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon. “What happened in Charlottesville is domestic terrorism,” Wyden tweeted. “The President’s words only serve to offer cover for heinous acts.”

The night before Saturday’s violence, hundreds of white nationalists marched through the University of Virginia campus while carrying burning torches. — Andrew Katz

Warning: Some of the following images are graphic and might be disturbing to some viewers.

Jim Bourg—Reuters
Jim Bourg—Reuters

A woman wipes tears from her eyes at a vigil for those injured or killed after a vehicle slammed into a crowd of protesters. Jim Bourg—Reuters

Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

Police and members of the National Guard patrol near where a car plowed into a crowd marching through Charlottesville’s downtown. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

Rescue workers and volunteer medics tend to people who were injured after a car plowed through a crowd of counter-demonstrators. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

Samuel Corum—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Samuel Corum—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

A man embraces an injured woman after a car rammed into a crowd of anti-white nationalist protesters. Samuel Corum—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Jeremiah Knupp—Special to The News Leader-USA TODAY NETWORK/Sipa USA
Jeremiah Knupp—Special to The News Leader-USA TODAY NETWORK/Sipa USA

A car plows into pedestrians and vehicles as anti-“Unite the Right” counter-protesters march through downtown Charlottesville. The driver backed up and fled the scene. Jeremiah Knupp—Special to The News Leader-USA Today Network/Sipa USA

Ryan M. Kelly—The Daily Progress/AP
Ryan M. Kelly—The Daily Progress/AP

People fly into the air as a vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally. Ryan M. Kelly—The Daily Progress/AP

Steve Helber—AP
Steve Helber—AP

A man attending the “Unite the Right” rally walks into the Park. Steve Helber—AP

Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

White nationalist Richard Spencer and supporters clash with state police in Lee Park after the “Unite the Right” rally was declared an unlawful gathering. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

White nationalists are forced out of Lee Park after the “Unite the Right” rally was declared an unlawful gathering. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images

Go Nakamura—ZUMA Wire
Go Nakamura—ZUMA Wire

White nationalists clash with counter-protesters in Lee Park. Go Nakamura—ZUMA Wire

Zach D Roberts—NurPhoto/ZUMA Press
Zach D Roberts—NurPhoto/ZUMA Press

White nationalists attack a black man in a parking garage. Zach D. Roberts—NurPhoto/ZUMA Press

Steve Helber—AP
Steve Helber—AP

A counter-protester uses a lighted spray can against a “Unite the Right” demonstrator at the entrance to Emancipation Park. Steve Helber—AP

Joshua Roberts—Reuters
Joshua Roberts—Reuters

“Unite the Right” rally attendees gather near the Robert E. Lee statue in Lee Park. Joshua Roberts—Reuters

Andrew Shurtleff—The Daily Progress
Andrew Shurtleff—The Daily Progress

Counter-protesters against the white nationalists who gathered on the University of Virginia campus stand at the base of a Thomas Jefferson statue on Aug. 11. Andrew Shurtleff—The Daily Progress

Zach D Roberts—NurPhoto/Getty Images
Zach D Roberts—NurPhoto/Getty Images

White nationalists encircle counter-protestors at the base of a statue of Thomas Jefferson after marching through the University of Virginia campus with torches on Aug. 11. Zach D Roberts—NurPhoto/Getty Images

Andrew Shurtleff—The Daily Progress
Andrew Shurtleff—The Daily Progress

White nationalists lead a torch march through the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 11. Andrew Shurtleff—The Daily Progress

Andrew Katz, who edited this photo essay, is Time‘s Senior Multimedia Editor. Follow him on Twitter @katz.