![Alt-Right Charlottesville [Image via Patrick Morissey | Flickr]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/10/10/660x290/b_502x220x82/alt-right-ckarlottesville-209jpg-image-via-patrick-morissey-flickr_1623537.jpg "Alt-Right Charlottesville [Image via Patrick Morissey | Flickr]")
The "Unite the Right" rally that took place in Charlottesville back in August is still a topic of conversation. One Nazi sympathizer drove his car into a crowd of counter-protestors and killed Heather Heyer. When one white supremacist attempted to hit 20-year-old DeAndre Harris with a flagpole, Harris swung a flashlight back at them. That's when six of these white nationalists came down and beat Harris as he was curled up on the ground.
Charges against Harris
Almost two months after the rally took place, Harris is facing an unlawful wounding charge.
Harris's accuser has opted to remain anonymous but has been described as a member of the white supremacist group. A local magistrate issued a warrant for Harris's arrest on Monday. S. Lee Merritt, a civil attorney for Harris, stated that Harris would be turning himself into the police within the next few days.
It's extremely upsetting to see such a charge being filed against Harris for defending himself. Merritt stated that it's odd that the warrant came from the magistrate and not the police. They're speculating that the accuser tried to charge Harris previously and was unsuccessful the first time, as the charge is clearly being placed as an act of retaliation. Harris did not instigate this violent event.
He was defending himself and now faces the same charges as the white supremacists who beat him as he was lying on the ground. Harris received a concussion and a cut on his head that required 10 stitches, as well as other minor injuries.
Who are the white supremacists?
Not all of Harris's attackers have been identified and arrested, but two men were found and arrested on felony charges of malicious wounding.
One attacker, 33-year-old Alex Michael Ramos, claimed that the attack was defensive and that he is in no way a white supremacist. He claims to have been at the rally because he's a conservative. Ramos even stated, “There were some non-racist members who were going to a free speech rally.”
The fact of the matter is that the "Unite the Right" rally was meant for white nationalists, white supremacists, alt-right, and neo-Nazis.
They were met with groups of counter-protestors who want no messages of hate and racism being spread in their country, state, or town. When met with opposition, the white supremacists at this rally became extremely violent. Although a few of them were arrested, they all made it out alive. Unfortunately, they've also been put in the spotlight for being what they really are- racist.
