Sullivan Letter Contradicts Claim UVA Unaware of Planned 'Alt-Right' March

[Yonnie3]

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) -

The president of the University of Virginia recently told a student that officials did not know members of the "alt-right" planned to gather at the Rotunda, but a letter is contradicting that claim.

UVA President Teresa Sullivan was confronted on camera by a student on Sunday, August 13, asking her about the university's response to a recent torch-lit march by supporters of the Unite the Right rally.
Sullivan: We didn't know they were coming.

UVA Student "Caroline": I guess I'm just curious how a group of anonymous students knew they were coming.
Sullivan: Did you tell us? Did you tell us they were coming? No, you didn't. Nobody elevated it to us. Don't expect us to be reading the ‘alt-right’ websites. We don't do that.

However, Sullivan said in a letter on Tuesday, August 15, "Law enforcement became aware late Friday [August 11] afternoon from social media posts that there was a possibility of protesters gathering at the [UVA Rotunda] later that evening," and that, "University Police reached out to the alt-right organization and learned early Friday evening that members would be gathering at Nameless Field to march along University Avenue toward the north side plaza of the Rotunda for a short assembly and then disband and depart."

http://www.nbc29.com/story/36198844/followup-to-sullivan-response-to-torch-lit-rally-at-uva-8-23-2017

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Someone must have known, because there was a group of counterprotesters

at the statue of Jefferson on the University Avenue side of the Rotunda. Unless they all assembled in a few seconds, they were aware ahead of time.

Disclaimer: I do not own one a' them fancy new phones. Maybe people can assemble like that in a few seconds. I have my doubts.

Also, I thought I read a few days ago, that TS knew about a procession. The route actually taken was not the one she was led to believe would be taken; that is, the one stated in the article, on the sidewalk along the public roads.

[Yonnie3]

2. I saw several Facebook posts that called for people to get to the Rotunda fast.

One post had a photo of the Nazis lighting torches. It wasn't seconds, but 10 to 15 minutes until I saw "I'm here" posts. I do own one of those new fangled phones. I have a new one because of Sprint buying nTelos, and have not beaten it into submission yet.

I don't know what to make of Ms. Sullivan's contradictory statements. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I'll not speculate (as much as I want to) on this one. It's up to her to explain.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. I didn't know people could react that quickly. Thanks for the correction.

What'll they think of next?

[procon]

4. So, if the university knew, and the police knew, why didn't they respond?

They had ample advance warning of what the white supremacists were planning and they just let them go instead of turning them back and not letting hate groups invade the campus.

[Yonnie3]

5. There were police there.

This was in public areas of the University. That pesky First Amendment was believed to allow them access.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. That, and....

from what I've read (not much), the planners of the procession said they would be taking a route on sidewalks along public streets from the starting point, Nameless Field, to their destination, the statue of Jefferson in front of the Rotunda. Once the procession started, though, they pulled the old switcheroo and changed the route of their procession. They went up a steep hill and headed to the south end of the Lawn, the big open area that forms the original grounds of UVa. They proceeded north up the Lawn to the Rotunda and went around it to get to the statue of Jefferson.

And that's when the melee and the macing began.

I was not there, so this is all secondhand to me.

Unite the Right Rally, August 11

Walking along, carrying torches, and chanting are without doubt Constitutionally protected activities, subject to local needs for permits or required police protection. Macing counterprotesters? Not so much.

Especially at UVa, the First Amendment is held in esteem. If it were ever repealed, Charlottesville would probably secede.

Uh, well, something like that.

[Yonnie3]

7. Yes, that is my understanding too.

Last edited Wed Aug 23, 2017, 07:46 PM - Edit history (1)

My understanding comes from people who were counter protesting as well as from the media.

The police detained multiple persons from both sides. There was at least one who stayed detained and is the one arrest reported. Others were given citations and released. I don't know why the UVa police don't make a statement about this. Maybe it's because this is being handled by the UVa President's office.

I don't think that UVa & Abemarle are finished with just the Cantwell warrants.