White Nationalists Return To Charlottesville, Chant 'We Will Be Back'

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — White nationalist Richard Spencer led a group carrying torchlights that gathered at the base of the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville Saturday, nearly two months after a similar gathering in August that preceded a deadly rally in the city that killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer.

Matt Talhelm, a reporter for NBC 29 in Charlottesville posted a video of the group gathered at the base of the statue, which was covered in black tarp.

"We are a people who will not be replaced," a man tells the crowd.

Spencer posted a video of the group marching through the city streets. "We are peacefully here," a man in the group says. "We are not breaking any laws," another remarks.

"But you're a**h***s," someone tells the group. "Okay but is that against the law?" one of the white nationalists says in response.

Towards the end of the video, the group can be heard chanting "we will be back!" and "you will not replace us!"

In another video, Spencer called the night a success and referred to it as "Charlottesville 3.0."

The Daily Progress noted that demonstrations involving 50 or fewer people do not need a permit in the city. About three dozen people were at the gathering Saturday.

In a tweet, Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer called the gather "another despicable visit by neo-Nazi cowards."

"You’re not welcome here! Go home! Meantime we’re looking at all our legal options. Stay tuned," Signer wrote.

"We are monitoring this situation as we continue to oppose these racists and their message of hate," Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe tweeted.

Photo: The statue of Thomas Jonathan 'Stonewall' Jackson stands covered by a black tarp as it stands in Justice Park, formerly known as Jackson Park, on August 23, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The statue was covered today after the Charlottesville city council voted unanimously to cover Confederate statues in black tarp. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images News/Getty Images)