Widely shared photo of black officer protecting racist rally actually from earlier event
You’ve probably seen the photo: A uniformed black police officer stands in front of yellow police tape as he protects white nationalists carrying confederate flags and giving Nazi salutes in Charlottesville, Va.
But the undeniably powerful photo, posted widely to Facebook and Twitter in the wake of violent clashes at a gathering of white nationalists in the city Friday and Saturday in which one woman died after being struck by a car and two state police officers died in a helicopter crash, appears to have been from an earlier event.
"Why is this happening?? Why is our government protecting these people??? 🇺🇸 this is the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!" -Madonna
Posted by Madonna on Sunday, August 13, 2017
Confederate flags, Nazi salutes, and Klansmen having their rights protected by a black police officer.
— Ubadah Sabbagh (@Neubadah) August 12, 2017
This picture hurts. pic.twitter.com/qr5nGkMUvH
In the midst of the unthinkable-expression of hatred & bigotry this image from a strong man!! God Bless you & THANK YOU!!#Charolettesville pic.twitter.com/zMEKpavCVh
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) August 13, 2017
While not all those posting the photo linked it directly to this weekend’s Charlottesville, Va., protests, it appears the photo in fact originates from an earlier event. Buzzfeed News found a July 9 post containg the photo on Twitter by Tucson, Ariz., Police Chief Chris Magnus.
Photo says it all. Police around nation called upon w/regularity to protect 1st Amend rights no matter how heinous they may find the speech. pic.twitter.com/3keTS7bdX2
— Chris Magnus (@ChiefCMagnus) July 9, 2017
A July 10 post on Facebook by Kimberly Payne Hawk also includes the photo of the officer, who Hawk identifies as “Officer Nash” of the Charlottesville, Va., police department. Her post was shared 22,000 times and received 17,000 likes.
This photo is powerful. This is Charlottesville Police Officer Nash serving our community and protecting the KKK's...
Posted by Kimberly Payne Hawk on Monday, July 10, 2017
Buzzfeed speculates the photo may have been from a July 8 white supremacist rally, also in Charlottesville. The city also was the site of a May protest by torch-carrying white nationalists.
This story was originally published August 13, 2017 at 12:53 PM with the headline "Widely shared photo of black officer protecting racist rally actually from earlier event."