The headline on my today’s Drudge report web homepage is MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN! CHAOS AT RACE RALLY IN VIRGINIA:

“Woman is killed and 19 hurt as car plows into anti-fascists at white nationalist rally: Driver ‘intentionally’ accelerates into crowd and is arrested after riot cops use tear gas to break up violent clashes.  A car plowed into at least 26 counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville on Saturday. Charlottesville Police Chief Al Thomas said a total of 35 people had been treated for injuries after incident. He also confirmed the deceased victim was a 32-year-old woman, who was struck as she crossed the street. Police arrested James Alex Fields Jr, 20, of Ohio, who was charged with second-degree murder. A Dodge Challenger is filmed ramming into a line of people, then reversing quickly away from the scene. Before the smash, 15 were already being treated after heated clashes at Unite the Right rally. The event was being held at Emancipation Park and hundreds were seen stomping through the city. A local state of emergency was declared around 11am and the rally was determined an unlawful assembly. A state police helicopter covering the rally crashed near a golf course within city limits, killing two officers. President Trump admonished the day’s events, saying: ‘We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, violence, on many sides’. Virginia Gov Terry McAuliffe strongly condemned all of the so-called ‘patriotic’ white nationalists Saturday.  ‘Go home. You are not wanted in this great commonwealth. You are not patriots,’ McAuliffe proclaimed”.

The various news outlets, left and right, mainstream and alternative are and no doubt will be full of this story offering all sorts of insights and opinions. Given a busy day ahead before I can reflect more fully, I will give my initial reactions. I have little doubt when it comes to memes I will be spoilt for choice, but I have adopted the Martin Luther King one because I reflects my position and that I have no sympathy for rightists of the white supremacy ilk any more than I have for haters and stirrers from the left. It is ironic that only hours before a friend of mine shared a link to a critique by some respected Christian commentators about the alt right and its alleged links to white supremacists. I promised I would study, reflect and report back, but that will have to wait. It is also ironic that also hours before I shared with another friend my fear that America was on the verge of a civil war, given the hatred the want for better terms the new right has for the new left, which is mutual, which is what was on display in Charlottesville. I also believe before coming to a definitive view in condemning one or other faction we need to check out the facts, but I do condemn the white supremacy that was on display and at least some of the agent provocateur reaction.

I have little doubt though that white supremacists from mainly out of town came to Charlottesville in order to stir up trouble, and it was more than merely exercising their First Amendment right that ensures there is no prohibition on the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech. I have little doubt that groups like Black Lives Matter and other anti-fascist group also from out of town, funded by the likes of George Soros, saw this as an opportunity to make their mark, and played their part in stirring up the violence that was to follow, and which has been independently witnessed. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would question whether the police did all they could to prevent the outbreak of war and if it is all part of a dastardly plot to stir up violence so Marshall law can be imposed and also bring down the President. But I will hang fire other than commit to studying the facts and condemning all the above and turn to the greatest sermon ever preached: “Blessed are the Peacemakers”. I agree with POTUS that what we need is law and order and protection of innocent lives, and the need to come together with love for our nation and affection for each other.