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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Jason Kessler, organizer of "Unite the Right," a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, was unable to complete a press conference one day after the death of a counter-protester.
According to WVIR and other media outlets, Kessler's statement was immediately drowned out by the sound of protesters screaming "shame."
People chanting "say her name" as Kessler begins to speak pic.twitter.com/rWrArIhcJF
— NBC29 (@NBC29) August 13, 2017
Massive boos and cries of "Shame!" For Jason Kessler in Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/tDhhPvY9fy
— Blake Montgomery 💀 (@blakersdozen) August 13, 2017
Officers standing nearby escorted Kessler away after a few moments when a few protesters sought to confront him face-to-face:
Two men approached Kessler. Brawl broke out. Kessler has fled up street. Police blocking the street
— Ben Schreckinger (@SchreckReports) 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
After being tackled by counter protesters Jason Kessler slips out of press conference with help from police in #charlottesville @indystar pic.twitter.com/7nEfvGFtVp
— Mykal McEldowney (@mykalmphoto) August 13, 2017
Kessler arrived at 1:59; departed the area in front of city hall by 2:03
— Matt Kwong (@matt_kwong) August 13, 2017
Violent clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters escalated on Saturday when James Alex Fields, Jr., 20, of Ohio, allegedly drove his vehicle into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer, 32.
Two Virginia state troopers also were killed when their helicopter crashed on a golf course as they were going to assess the situation in Charlottesville.
Cox Media Group
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