On Tuesday June 9th, CBS News ran this headline, “KKK Member Arrested After Driving Car Into Protest.”
Prosecutors said the man arrested for driving into protesters in Virginia on Sunday has been identified as a self-proclaimed Ku Klux Klan leader named Harry Rogers, CBS affiliate WTVR reports. Rogers has been charged with attempted malicious wounding, destruction of property, and assault and battery, police said.
A hate crime investigation is now underway, Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor said, according to WTVR. In court on Monday, Taylor said during his arrest, Rogers told officers he was the president of the Ku Klux Klan in Virginia and the highest-ranking member not imprisoned.
“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,” Taylor said in a statement released after court. “We are investigating whether hate crimes charges are appropriate.”
“Thomas Robb, National Director of the Knights Party stated that if Harry Rogers did indeed drive his vehicle into a crowd of protestors with the intent to create harm or death, then he should be convicted and punished.” Robb continued by saying that Rogers is an apparent psycho and needs to be taken off the streets. “We have no tolerance for such acts of random violence. We support law enforcement,” said Robb.