Summary of and Reflections on the Unite the Right Rally 2017
On August 10 2017, the Unite the Right rally began. This was a gathering of people with extreme right-wing views organized by Jason Kessler. The city of Charlottesville told him that he needed to move the rally to another park. He filed a lawsuit and won. It was decided that he could hold it where he had originally intended, at Emancipation Park. Choosing this venue set the stage for inflammatory encounters.
Shortly after the right-wing crowd arrived on August 11, a group of counter-protesters started throwing rocks and firing torches. Soon, a huge brawl ensued between the two groups.
Although it is not clear who started the interpersonal violence, on August 12, 20-year old James Fields of Ohio drove a vehicle into the counter-protesters, killing 32-year old Heather Heyer and injuring others. At least three far-right supporters and three counter-protesters were arrested for other crimes such as assault, attempted assault, failure to disperse, and carrying a concealed weapon.
As far as the law goes. crimes were committed at the rally. In January 2018, a court hearing was held in which November 26, 2018 was set as the date for Fields' trial to begin. Counter-protester Troy Dunigan of Tennessee pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct in September 2017. He was given a 30-day suspended sentence. In February 2018, Edgar Collins, who was accused of misdemeanor assault and battery for striking Kessler, was sentenced to 10 days in jail with all of them suspended. Kenneth Robert Litzenberger, who allegedly spat on Kessler during the scuffle, had his case deferred until next February. In November 2017, the Florida right-wing sympathizer who was charged with carrying a concealed hand-gun, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, all suspended, and fined $500.
Both right-wing and left-wing group members were found guilty of crimes in the U.S. legal system. They both exhibited atrociously violent and immature behavior. However, it was a right-wing sympathizer, James Fields, who was charged with murder, the most serious crime. The First Amendment prevents the government from blocking free speech, but some people are so offended by what other people say that they try to silence them with violence. Why is this? It is because, in part, under First Amendment, there are some forms of speech that are not protected such as fighting words and obscenity. Those were what led to the confrontations in Charlottesville. Legally, there isn't a lot of agreement on what constitutes fighting words or obscenity. There is also the issue of whether one group's free speech creates a hostile or discriminatory environment for another group. In the case of the Charlottesville rally, the right of African Americans to attend Emancipation Park between August 10 and August 12, 2017 might have been disrupted by the right of the Unite the Right supporters to assemble there and have their say. This illustrates the source of the conflict.
Shortly after the right-wing crowd arrived on August 11, a group of counter-protesters started throwing rocks and firing torches. Soon, a huge brawl ensued between the two groups.
Although it is not clear who started the interpersonal violence, on August 12, 20-year old James Fields of Ohio drove a vehicle into the counter-protesters, killing 32-year old Heather Heyer and injuring others. At least three far-right supporters and three counter-protesters were arrested for other crimes such as assault, attempted assault, failure to disperse, and carrying a concealed weapon.
As far as the law goes. crimes were committed at the rally. In January 2018, a court hearing was held in which November 26, 2018 was set as the date for Fields' trial to begin. Counter-protester Troy Dunigan of Tennessee pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct in September 2017. He was given a 30-day suspended sentence. In February 2018, Edgar Collins, who was accused of misdemeanor assault and battery for striking Kessler, was sentenced to 10 days in jail with all of them suspended. Kenneth Robert Litzenberger, who allegedly spat on Kessler during the scuffle, had his case deferred until next February. In November 2017, the Florida right-wing sympathizer who was charged with carrying a concealed hand-gun, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, all suspended, and fined $500.
Both right-wing and left-wing group members were found guilty of crimes in the U.S. legal system. They both exhibited atrociously violent and immature behavior. However, it was a right-wing sympathizer, James Fields, who was charged with murder, the most serious crime. The First Amendment prevents the government from blocking free speech, but some people are so offended by what other people say that they try to silence them with violence. Why is this? It is because, in part, under First Amendment, there are some forms of speech that are not protected such as fighting words and obscenity. Those were what led to the confrontations in Charlottesville. Legally, there isn't a lot of agreement on what constitutes fighting words or obscenity. There is also the issue of whether one group's free speech creates a hostile or discriminatory environment for another group. In the case of the Charlottesville rally, the right of African Americans to attend Emancipation Park between August 10 and August 12, 2017 might have been disrupted by the right of the Unite the Right supporters to assemble there and have their say. This illustrates the source of the conflict.
That would be correct that both sides are at fault, and yet both sides fight for what they believe is to be right but not to have the use of violence.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be quite interesting to define that boundary between free speech, fighting words, and obscenity. I also find it intriguing that three of the protestors and counter-protestors listed here in your post who were charged had their sentences suspended. I wonder why that was? It all boils down to...
ReplyDeleteCan you fold in your sources here in hyperlink so readers can connect to your data that you're sharing? Thanks!
I agree both sides are at fault. Since both side are at fault what do you think the solution is to fix this problem?
ReplyDelete