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White Nationalists Return To Charlottesville Rally For Confederate Statues

White Nationalists Return To Charlottesville

Less than two months after violence broke out in Charlottesville, Virginia, white nationalists returned to Emancipation Park on Saturday evening to rally in support of Confederate statues.

Charlottesville became a hub of white supremacy in August when the "alt-right" held a "Unite The Right" rally in the town to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate soldier Robert E. Lee. When violent clashes with counter protesters broke out, injuring at least 35 and killing 32-year-old paralegal Heather Heyer, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) declared a state of emergency.

On Saturday, White nationalist leader Richard Spencer led a group holding torches and livestreamed the rally from his Twitter account. The images were eerily similar to the last time the group rallied in support of the confederate statue, holding tiki torches and chanting "Blood and Soil" as they marched.

"We have a place in this country," Spencer told his supporters in a livestream. "We have a place in this conversation. We have the right to exist."

The group of white nationalists sang Confederate civil war song "I Wish I Was In Dixie Land" as well as chanting phrases "The South will rise again" and "Russia is our friend." Before leaving the park, Spencer promised the crowd "they will be back."

"We define this country, not anyone else," Spencer told his supporters.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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