Charlottesville Stand-Down Order?

Q: Were the police in Charlottesville, Virginia, told to “stand down” to allow the violent clashes that occurred on Aug. 12?

A: The police chief, mayor and city spokeswoman say there is no truth to that claim. Others have criticized what they describe as slow police action.

FULL QUESTION

Is there any truth to the allegations that the police in Charlottesville were told to “stand down” to allow the violent clash to occur on Aug. 12?

FULL ANSWER

Protesters at a white nationalist rally clashed with counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12. By 10:30 a.m., a few people . An hour later, Virginia’s governor a state of emergency, and at 11:37 a.m., Virginia State Police that unlawful assembly had been declared. Before noon, the state police that “arrests are being made.”