Unite The Right organizer Jason Kessler punched in the face during press conference

Kessler blamed the police for the violence that occurred on Saturday.
 By 
Brian Koerber
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Violence erupted again in Charlottesville, Virginia on Sunday after "Unite The Right" organizer Jason Kessler was swarmed and attacked by protesters while attempting to hold a news conference.

Thousands of protestors descended upon the city this weekend to oppose a racist gathering called Unite The Right. Clashes between protesters and racists on Saturday led to the death of 32-year-old Virginia native Heather Heyer. Two police officers also died in a helicopter crash related to the events of the day.

Organizer Jason Kessler attempted to hold a press conference on Sunday, but the crowds that gathered did not want to hear what he had to say, and the event erupted with violence as protesters chased him from the scene.

As Kessler arrived at City Hall, the crowds can be heard chanting "shame" and "murderer."

When Kessler began to speak, he was immediately interrupted and the crowd moved in. One man can be seen yelling "indict for murder now" at Kessler, making it clear that some in the crowd hold the event organizer responsible for the violence that occurred.

Kessler was eventually chased away by the crowd and punched in the face by a protester as State Police attempted to remove the man from the scene.

Photos and video from the incident show one man in a red checkered shirt punching Kessler as he attempted to flee.

Mashable Image
Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Mashable Image
Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

"Get the fuck out of here," one man can be heard yelling as the crowd chases Kessler away.

"Get the fuck out of our town," a woman shouted.

Another video shows Virginia state police decked out in riot gear escorting Kessler from the crowd.

It's no surprise that the crowd turned on Kessler. According to Gizmodo, Kessler started his statement by blaming the violence on "anti-white hate" and the Charlottesville police.

“Today I just want to come before you, and I want to tell you the story of what really happened before this narrative is allowed to continue spinning out of control,” said Kessler.

“The hate that you hear around you? That is the anti-white hate that fueled what happened yesterday. What happened yesterday was the result of Charlottesville police officers refusing to do their job.”

In another video, Kessler denied any responsibility for the violence that occurred this weekend.

Topics Activism

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Brian Koerber

Brian was the Culture Editor and has been working at Mashable on the web culture desk since 2014.

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