Why the Charlottesville attack is not inclined, in the US president’s vision, to White Supremacy?

Terrorist attacks have found a new vehicle to drive innocent people into chaos.

Freedom, equality and justice for the oppressed tend to be the recurring cause why someone would be at a protest rally to not only show their support but stand up to the cause of change in society. On the 12th of August 2017 in Virginia a “Unite the Right” protest rally has been conducted for the removal of a statue of the confederate icon General Robert E Lee.

Robert E Lee, an accomplished military general, is known for his role in the civil war between the North and the South of America. He was a commander in the confederate army of Northern Virginia from 1862 to the surrendering, on the 9th of April 1865, to Ulysses S Grant at Appomattox. Robert E Lee rose to the position of Supreme Commander for his abrasive tactics which won battle but at the cost of a high number of casualties within his own army. Robert E Lee supported President Andrew Johnson’s program of reconstruction and intersectional friendship however opposing the idea by radical republican proposals to give freed slaves the vote and take the vote away from ex-Confederates. Lee became a post war icon for the confederate believers and fought for the reintegration of former confederates into nations of political life.

As whisper of the event spread throughout Virginia for this rally, everyone from supporters to counter-demonstrators decide to show up to share their ideology and participate in the demolition and anti-demolition of Robert E Lee’s statue.

The rally, organised by a former journalist, Jason Kessler, was described as one of the largest white supremacist events in recent US history.

Although the cause for this rally was clear “the removal of confederate commander Robert E Lee statue”, that certain individuals who did not agree with it decided to take to foot on the day before the rally (Friday, the 11th of August) outside the University of Virginia carrying torches and yelling slogans such as “White lives matter”. Those slogans were used to counteract the popular “Black lives matter” slogan which resulted in protesters clashing with counter-demonstrators on the day after at the rally.

On the 12th of August, at 11:28 am (15:35 GMT), a local state of emergency was declared by the city of Charlottesville and County of Albermarle with the slowly rising rate of violent breakout of feud between both sides of protesters. At 01:42 pm (17:42 GMT) a speeding Dodge Challenger car rammed into counter demonstrators, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring at least 19 others. The speeding car, driven by 20-year-old James Akex Fileds Jr. of Ohio, who was later arrested, made an escape from the victim’s and protester scene. He was charged with second degree murder and three counts of malicious wounding and one count of hit and run.

As the surge of criminal events happened, an increase of police force was drawn into the scene, including a helicopter, which also crashed while en route to the rally, on Saturday the 12th of August, killing two state troopers.

Three more arrests were additionally made by the police, respectively Troy Dunigan, 21, who was charged with disorderly conduct, James M O’Brien, 41, who was charged with carrying a concealed gun, and Jacob L Smith, 21, who was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.

A state of emergency was declared by the Governor McAuliffe following all the incidents and its victims. On the 12th of August, US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to condemn the clashes saying “We All must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one.” However, on the following Tuesday, the 15th of August, this statement was soon amended by the President himself saying that “blame on both sides” including by anti-fascist protesters.

The remarks made by the president were welcomed by former Ku Klux Klan leader Davide Duke, who tweeted “Thank you President Trump for your honesty & courage to tell the truth.”

Former US President Barack Obama also took to Twitter to say “no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion.”

The remarks of President Donald Trump became the catalyst for the trending topic over the weekend on Charlottesville, white supremacy and racism, which resulted not only on political responses, but also celebrities such as T.I and former L.A governor Arnold Schwarzenegger created plus more.

In the case of Charlottesville, the FBI has launched its own investigation into the incident, in order to see how to prevent further violence. On the other hand, fundraising campaign for the Charlottesville’s victim’s family has raised tens of thousands of dollars.

During a court bail hearing for James Alex Fields Jr. on Monday the 14th of August, the judge Robert Downer said that a lawyer will be appointed to the accused. The next court hearing was scheduled on the 25th of August, though Mr Filed’s attorney could request a bond hearing before then.

With this energy of racial tension surging Mark Dayton, who criticised President Trump, was thought to be stepping down from his position. However, on the 18th of August, he still remains in his position as the appointed council of Governor. This move by Trump’s camp will be in their favour to give the public the idea that Trump can work not only with people who share common ideas, but also that he can work with individuals who oppose him and that his camp is not a Nazi dictatorship. A PR move for to use in their political battle against the negative agenda there have deservingly received.

Following the recent events, a mass rally was held in North Carolina to fight racism and a confederate statue was toppled down.

These types of attacks have now also been replicated in Spain, Barcelona with a van driver running his vehicle into incoming pedestrians and injuring, killing several bystanders. In London, a terror attack with a van driver ran down pedestrians at London Bridge at a speed of 50 mph. This brings up the question – is driving a van, lorry or any vehicles into pedestrians the new form of terror attacks?