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State of emergency declared after clashes at Virginia white nationalist rally

1:06pm EDT - 01:11

White nationalists clashed with counter-demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday ahead of a rally to protest the planned removal of a Confederate general's statue that critics say glorifies the era of slavery. Nathan Frandino reports.

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A state of emergency declared in Virginia Saturday as clashes break out between white nationalists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville. Smoke clouding the streets as the two groups threw punches during the Unite the Right rally, a protest against the city's removal of a statue of confederate General Robert E. Lee. The event underscoring the persistent tensions surrounding the display of southern civil war symbols, including the Confederate flag. Supporters say the flag honors Southern heritage, while opponents call it and other remnants of the war racially insensitive. Many of those at the rally taunting one another... without remorse, keeping tensions high and heated, with no signs of protesters cooling off. According to media reports, there were more than 500 white nationalists and about a 1,000 counterprotesters. Virginia State Police breaking up multiple fights and making several arrests throughout the morning... at least two people were injured.

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State of emergency declared after clashes at Virginia white nationalist rally

1:06pm EDT - 01:11