Cops Say Officer Was Assaulted During Charlottesville March

Virginia authorities say they are investigating an assault of a Charlottesville police officer who was knocked down during a anti-racist demonstration related to a deadly 2017 far-right rally, the AP reports. Hundreds of people marched in Charlottesville on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the far-right "Unite the Right" rally that left one dead and others injured. A Charlottesville Police Department press release states an officer at the march approached a man whose face was covered.

The release says the officer and the man were then knocked to the ground, where the officer was swarmed by other people. The release says other officers pulled the people off the grounded officer. It says the officer wasn't injured, and the people rejoined the march. An investigation into the alleged assault is ongoing. The Cavalier Daily reports that the marchers were protesting white supremacism and the continued presence of a Robert E. Lee statue in the Virginia city, as well as the increased police presence ahead of the anniversary. (White nationalists were vastly outnumbered by counterprotesters at a march toward White House on Sunday.)