CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Many people around the state are now pointing fingers at who they believe is responsible for this weekend's violent rally in Charlottesville. The city's police department is blaming the protesters, while the Virginia American Civil Liberties union is accusing the department of not doing its job in protecting people, and some are criticizing the federal courts for allowing the rally to even happen in the first place.
Late Monday afternoon, Charlottesville's police chief stood in front of cameras, placing the blame for violence in his streets squarely on the protesters committing it.
"We had agreements worked out, a security plan to bring the groups in in separate entrances. Again, they decided to change the plan and enter the park in different directions," said Chief Al Thomas, Jr.
But the Virginia ACLU contradicted that statement in a release Monday, saying "The policing on Saturday was not effective in preventing violence... in fact, law enforcement was standing passively by, seeming to be waiting for violence to take place."
The ACLU sued Charlottesville earlier this month when the city tried to revoke the permit for Saturday's rally, on grounds that it could get out of control. Federal judge Glen Conrad agreed with the ACLU, arguing the city was being unfair to "Unite the Right" organizers and lacked evidence to pull the rally permit. His ruling states in part "There is no evidence to support the notion that many thousands of individuals are likely to attend the demonstration."
But thousands did show up, and one died on the streets, while dozens of others were injured.
Monday morning, in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition, Governor Terry McAuliffe laid the blame for the rally on the ACLU, saying "The City of Charlottesville asked for that to be moved out of downtown Charlottesville to a park about a mile and a half away... we were, unfortunately, sued by the ACLU and the judge ruled against us."
Now, as people in Charlottesville mourn the loss of 32-year-old Heather Heyer, and two state police troopers, Chief Thomas says there are regrets.
"I certainly have regrets. We lost three lives this weekend. A local citizen, two fellow officers. We certainly have regrets. This was a tragic, tragic weekend," said Thomas.