The fallout continues after a deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. over the weekend and for Americans in Calgary, the violence hits close to home.
Frank Towers teaches history at the University of Calgary and is also an American.
“There will be more of this confrontational violence in the short term, and that’s really scary,” Towers said on Wednesday.
He is not surprised far-right activists and Ku Klux Klan members exist, but said their strength in numbers was unexpected and alarming.
“The folks who organized the march want to organize more. Where they want to go are to places where they think they can get a fight. They want to go to college campuses.”
Joseph Wiencek is in Calgary on a family vacation. He attends Washington and Lee University, located about an hour away from Charlottesville.
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The college student said there have always been supporters of the Confederacy, but he never imagined clashes turning deadly.
“It’s disheartening, just pure hatred for another person based on the colour of their skin,” Wiencek said. “There’s no reason for it.”
He said he worries U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest comments, in which he continues to blame all sides for the violence, will encourage violent hate groups to lash out.
Watch below: U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to blame “very, very violent” counter-demonstrators for the chaos in Charlottesville, Va. on Saturday, saying that “alt-left” protesters charged alt-right groups.
Watch below: Videos from Global News’ ongoing coverage of the aftermath of a deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. in August 2017.
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Chrystia Freeland offers condolences to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, condemns ‘racist hatred’ of Charlottesville riots -
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Pence supports Trump’s Charlottesville response, says U.S. remains united by ‘shared values’ -
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Donald Trump doubles down on his original comments on Charlottesville -
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Republicans, Democrats condemn President Trump’s latest flip-flop on Charlottesville -
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Trump claims to ‘know a lot about Charlottesville’ due to owning winery in the city -
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Trump expected to reach out to mother of Charlottesville victim -
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Trump on Charlottesville violence: ‘there is blame on both sides’ -
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Trump blames ‘charging alt-left’ for Charlottesville violence -
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Trump reluctant to describe Charlottesville attack as ‘terrorism’ -
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Trump claims Charlottesville victim’s mother wrote him on Twitter -
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Charlottesville victim relives moment of attack: ‘I could feel her chest compressions’ -
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Jimmy Fallon delivers emotional monologue about racism and Charlottesville violence -
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Donald Trump returns to New York amid controversy over Charlottesville response -
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Trump disbands two economic councils after business leaders flee amid Charlottesville response controversy -
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John Kasich slams Trump’s ‘pathetic’ comments on Charlottesville protests -
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Canada’s thoughts and prayers with Charlottesville: Chrystia Freeland
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