President Trump Condemns Violence in Charlottesville as Car Plows Into Crowd of Protesters, 1 Killed, 19 Injured (Video)

By Reuters, Saturday, August 12, 2017

Rescue workers assist people who were injured when a car drove through a group of ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter counter protestors at a KKK rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 12, 2017.

First responders stand by a car that was struck when a car drove through a group of counter protesters at a KKK rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 12, 2017.

Rescue workers transport a victim who was injured when a car drove through a group of counter protesters at a KKK rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 12, 2017.

Rescue workers assist a victim who was injured when a car drove through a group of counter protestors at a KKK rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 12, 2017.

A man hits the pavement during a clash between white nationalist protesters and a group of counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 12, 2017.

Riot police protect members of the Ku Klux Klan from counter-protesters as they arrive to rally in opposition to city proposals to remove or make changes to Confederate monuments in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 12, 2017.

Counter-protesters lock arms in the middle of a street as police try to disperse them, after members of the Ku Klux Klan rallied in support of Confederate monuments in Charlottesville, August 12, 2017.

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Editor's note: Warning, the videos below contain graphic images and language.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — At least one person was killed after white nationalists clashed with ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter counter-protesters, prompting the governor to declare an emergency and halt a rally over removing a state of Civil War Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a public park.

Speaking from Bedminster, New Jersey, President Donald Trump asked Americans to rise above hatred and bigotry to silence violent protests like those seen in Charlottesville on Saturday.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides," Trump said.

Please avoid area of Water & 4th streets to allow medics access to the crash scene. More info will be released when available. #cvilleaug12 pic.twitter.com/sKdMJnVo8U
— Charlottesville City (@CvilleCityHall) August 12, 2017

Tensions in the city intensified hours after the melee when at least one vehicle plowed a crowd of people gathered in a street two blocks from the park. Multiple people were injured in the incident, the Charlottesville Police Department said on its Facebook page.

"I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here," Charlottesville Mayor Mike Singer said on his Twitter feed. "I urge all people of good will — go home.

Police on the scene were ordered to "not intervene until given command to do so," according to the ACLU.

#BREAKING: I just watched a car plow through dozens of protesters. Extremely heavy injuries #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/rE8DWUmrfD
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) August 12, 2017

Video of car hitting anti-racist protestors. Let there be no confusion: this was deliberate terrorism. My prayers with victims. Stay home. pic.twitter.com/MUOZs71Pf4
— Brennan Gilmore (@brennanmgilmore) August 12, 2017

The accident involved three vehicles, and there were multiple injuries, Charlottesville city spokeswoman Miriam Dickler said in a text message.

At least four injured people were spotted at the location where the vehicle struck demonstrators, including one person who was taken away on a stretcher by paramedics. Multiple ambulances were on the scene soon after the early-afternoon incident.

Charlottesville police said in a statement on Facebook that they and Virginia State Police were at the scene of the incident in the city's downtown.

Earlier in the day before the fatality, President Trump had condemned violence that erupted between white nationalists and counter-demonstrators.

"We must ALL be united & condemn all that hate stands for," Trump wrote in a Twitter message. "There is no place for this kind of violence in America."

Officials had approved the protest march in downtown Charlottesville but canceled the event and declared a state of emergency after outbreaks of violence.

Reporting by James Oliphant; Brandon Shulleeta; Writing by Frank McGurty; Editing by Mary Milliken; Lisa Von Ahn; Patrick Rucker.