The man accused of driving through a crowd of protesters marching to end racial injustice and police brutality admitted that he is the leader of a local Ku Klux Klan group.
Harry Rogers, 36, told Henrico County police that he was the leader of a KKK group in Virginia after being arrested for allegedly revving his engine and driving his pickup truck at a group of protesters who were demonstrating in the street Sunday evening.
Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor said Rogers had been charged with assault and battery, attempted malicious wounding, and felony vandalism. He is being held without bond. In a statement released on Monday, Taylor said Rogers identified himself as a member of the KKK.
Virginia man charged with intentionally driving his car into a group of protesters this weekend is the head of the Virginia Ku Klux Klan. This is a headline from the year 2020. https://t.co/rLdLiZxoci pic.twitter.com/laQOerKE4k
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) June 8, 2020
“The accused, by his own admission and by a cursory glance at social media, is an admitted leader of the Ku Klux Klan and a propagandist for Confederate ideology. We are investigating whether hate crimes charges are appropriate,” Taylor said.
“Yesterday, I participated in a different peaceful protest for equality and justice in Henrico. Protesters acting peaceably, well within their constitutional rights of assembly, should not have to fear violence. We lived through this in Virginia in Charlottesville in 2017. I promise Henricoans that this egregious criminal act will not go unpunished. Hate has no place here under my watch,” she added.
One person was injured during the incident. The individual received treatment on the scene and did not require additional medical attention. Taylor said she was “grateful” that no one else was injured during the incident and said she intended to prosecute Rogers to the “fullest extent of the law.”
Rogers, who was being held without bond, had an arraignment Monday morning, according to court records.
Protesters in Henrico County and cities throughout the nation have gathered to advocate for an end to racial injustice and police brutality in response to the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes despite his pleas for air.
The officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired from the department and has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers who were involved in detaining Floyd, who was suspected of using a fake $20 bill, were also fired and charged with aiding and abetting murder.
