CHARLOTTESVILLE Jason Kessler, the organizer of last years deadly Unite the Right rally by white nationalists and neo-Nazis, is no longer seeking a permit from the city to hold a sequel next month.
On Tuesday, Kessler shocked even his own lawyers by withdrawing his request that a federal judge order the city to grant him a permit for a Unite the Right 2 rally for the weekend of Aug. 11. But after the hearing, one of his attorneys, James Kolenich, told reporters that Kessler could still show up at Market Street Park, formerly known as Lee Park and then Emancipation Park, next month with a group of 24 people or fewer, without needing any permit. He and others maintain that they are protesting the citys effort to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Kessler, who lives in Charlottesville and graduated from the University of Virginia, quickly vanished after the hearing and was unavailable for an interview request.
His court appearance Tuesday was part of his ongoing lawsuit against the city, alleging that its denial of his permit violated his First Amendment rights. Kolenich told the news media that the lawsuit remains active because Kessler wants to prove the city acted illegally so that he can obtain the permit for a Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville for August 2019.
During Tuesdays hearing, Kessler showed up 45 minutes late and missed one of his attorneys opening statements. When Judge Norman Moon asked his lawyers for his location, Kolenich and Elmer Woodard did not appear to know. Kolenich also arrived late, blaming his lateness on his sick child and his late American Airlines flight.
What is the point of this? Is this a serious matter before the court? Moon asked angrily. Why are we here today? What is he asking for? Whats going on?
Charlottesville is still reeling from last years rally, which featured Nazi flags, scores of white supremacists carrying torches and chanting anti-Semitic slogans, and violent confrontations with counterprotesters.
One counterprotester, Heather Heyer, was killed when a driver identified by police as James Alex Fields Jr. of Ohio rammed his car into a crowd. More than 30 others were injured, including a black man beaten in a parking garage. Additionally, two Virginia State troopers conducting surveillance of the event were killed when their helicopter crashed.
Kessler, who recently claimed online that he supports white rights and does not hate other races or ethnic groups, applied in November for a city permit to hold what he described as a two-day festival with an expected crowd of 400. His permit said the event wanted to call attention to government civil rights abuse and memorialize the sacrifices made by political dissidents during last years rally.
The next month, city manager Maurice Jones denied Kesslers application, asserting that the demonstration would present a danger to public safety and would probably cost too much money for the city to protect and keep peaceful.
For this years anniversary, Kessler has sought demonstrations not only in Charlottesville but also across from the White House in Lafayette Square. So far, he has received initial approval from the National Park Service to hold the event Aug. 12 but has not received the permit yet.
Full article in the link. The bolded part sucks, I hope they don't murder anyone this year. ---