‘Unite the Right’ organiser punched, forced to flee press conference in Charlottesville (VIDEOS)
Jason Kessler, organiser of Saturday’s ‘Unite the Right’ rally, at which a car driven by an alleged white supremacist plowed into a group of counter-demonstrators killing a 32-year-old woman, has been punched in Charlottesville.
Kessler, a former Daily Caller writer and far-right activist, was giving a press conference, during which he was drowned out by angry protesters chanting, “Shame, shame, shame,” as well as cries of “fascist” and “murderer.”
aaaaaand nothing but boos and shouts of "shame" when Jason Kessler arrives for presser in #Charlottesvillepic.twitter.com/s4wgaGZbzr
— Dean Seal (@JDeanSeal) August 13, 2017
Kessler response was to say that “the hate that you hear around you, that is the anti-white hate that fueled what happened yesterday.”
He then went on to blame police officers for the car attack by alleged white supremacist, 20 year old James Alex Fields, saying: “What happened yesterday was a result of the Charlottesville police officers refusing to do their job. They stood down and did not follow through with the agreed security arrangements.”
Just under three and a half minutes into Kessler’s speech, he was approached by two protesters, one of whom is heard shouting, “Indict for murder now.” Then more protesters gathered around Kessler and seconds later he was seen fleeing, following a punch by a large man in a checked shirt.
Jason Kessler, local to #Charlottesville and organizer of #UnitetheRight rally speaking in front of city hall https://t.co/76nqfsO0IH
— Maya Shwayder (@MayaErgas) August 13, 2017
Protesters chased Jason Kessler away from his own press conference in Charlottesville. Here's my view: pic.twitter.com/fTXctHgzsi
— Blake Montgomery (@blakersdozen) August 13, 2017
Jason Kessler rushed away from press conference and eventually brought to police station when his car wasn't reachable pic.twitter.com/JDG1OQ9Hxk
— Brook Silva-Braga (@Brook) August 13, 2017
#BREAKING: #UniteTheRight organizer Jason Kessler escorted by VSP into #Cville PD after being shouted down & swarmed by crowd at presser pic.twitter.com/HfBkRPIGz8
— Matt Talhelm (@MattTalhelm) August 13, 2017
Kessler was chased by a number of protesters before being protected by police, that he had just moments previously blamed for the Saturday’s violence.
READ MORE: What we know so far about deadly car rampage and violent Charlottesville rally
The 'Unite the Right' rally was organized to protest the removal of the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from Charlottesville’s Emancipation Park. It was canceled after a state of emergency was declared.
In total, three people died throughout Saturday. After the death of Heather Heyer, two police officers were killed when the helicopter they were monitoring the protest in crashed.
