KKK Leader Accused Of Driving Car Through Virginia Protesters

HENRICO COUNTY, VA — Police allege a self-described leader of the Virginia Ku Klux Klan drove into a crowd of protesters in Henrico County Sunday.

Harry Rogers, 36, of Hanover County, told police he was the Virginia president of the white supremacist group, WTVR reported Henrico County prosecutor Shannon Taylor saying in court Monday. Rogers was arrested and charged with attempted malicious wounding, felony vandalism, and assault and battery. The prosecutor is looking into the possibility of hate crime charges.

The incident happened around 5:45 p.m. Sunday in Lakeside as protesters were walking on Lakeside Avenue near Vale Street. It was one of the racial justice protests occurring in the aftermath of George Floyd's death in police custody. Witnesses told police the driver revved his engine and drove through protesters. An adult victim reported the incident was treated by medics, and refused further medical attention. No other injuries were reported.

Gov. Ralph Northam responded to the incident in a tweet saying "make no mistake, racism and discrimination are at the root of all this." The governor said he is meeting with activists, victims, policymakers, law enforcement and other stakeholders to "take action" on racial injustice. After protests broke out in Richmond and other places after Floyd's death in Minneapolis, Northam outlined steps to address systemic racism, including a review of racial inequities in Virginia laws by his African American advisory board.

Another Virginia incident involving a self-described white supremacist driving into protesters happened at the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville. Heather Heyer, a woman protesting against the white supremacist rally, was killed when a driver plowed into a crowd. The driver, James Fields Jr., was sentenced to life in prison on federal hate crime charges.

Anyone with information about the incident in Henrico is asked to contact Sgt. Wood at 804-501-5000 or Crime Stopper at 804-780-1000.