A white nationalist rally dubbed “Charlottesville 3.0” could provide a blueprint for future controversial protests across the nation even as livid political leaders struggle to halt the demonstrations they consider racist.
The rally on Saturday, featuring white supremacist leader Richard Spencer, was the third prompted by the Virginia city’s plans to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from its Emancipation Park.
The previous rally in August escalated into violence that left one counter-protester dead and ignited a political firestorm when President Trump cited “blame on both sides.”
The tiki torch-lit, 10-minute rally Saturday night drew 40 to 50 protesters, who listened to fiery speeches, sang Dixie and chanted slogans such as “the South will rise again.”
“You are going to have to get used to the alt-right,” Spencer said to applause. “You are going to have to get used to white identity.”
