Violent clashes today erupted between white supremacists and counter demonstrators in a rally in the US state of Virginia, prompting the authorities to declare an emergency. <br/><br/>The violence broke out ahead of the 'Unite the Right' rally by white supremacists protesting against the planned removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E Lee from a park in the college town of Charlottesville, 256 kilometres from Virginia. Following the clashes, police and security forces were deployed in riot gears.<br/><br/>Noting that most of the protesters were from out of the state, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said, the emergency was declared to assist local government in restoring public safety.<br/><br/>In a Facebook post, Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer condemned the demonstration by white nationalists.<br/><br/>US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to condemn the violence and called for unity. <br/><br/>US President Donald Trump is facing criticism for his response to the violence at a white supremacist rally. Trump condemned violence by many sides – but stopped short of explicitly condemning the far-right. In his response to Saturday's violence, US President condemned in the strongest possible terms the display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides. The hate and the division must stop right now, he told reporters in New Jersey.<br/>

Violent clashes today erupted between white supremacists and counter demonstrators in a rally in the US state of Virginia, prompting the authorities to declare an emergency. <br/><br/>The violence broke out ahead of the 'Unite the Right' rally by white supremacists protesting against the planned removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E Lee from a park in the college town of Charlottesville, 256 kilometres from Virginia. Following the clashes, police and security forces were deployed in riot gears.<br/><br/>Noting that most of the protesters were from out of the state, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said, the emergency was declared to assist local government in restoring public safety.<br/><br/>In a Facebook post, Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer condemned the demonstration by white nationalists.<br/><br/>US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to condemn the violence and called for unity. <br/>