April 12, 2017. White nationalists stormed a town square in Charlottesville, Virginia, against a proposed removal of Confederate statues in unison with grim chants of “Jews will not replace us.” They were warmly welcomed by those who protested their public display, hatred and discrimination. By the end of the day, dozens of innocent people will be injured and one will be killed. For many, the incident was a sobering reminder that white supremacy persists in America. In Documenting Hate: Charlottesville, the award-winning PBS series Frontline investigates the events that are fueling the resurgence of hate groups across the country.
At every horrific blow of this tragic event, the filmmakers were pinned to the ground. Police were on high alert in the run-up to the planned protests and were overwhelmed when violence erupted. The whole town is tense. The car accident of 32-year-old Heather Heyer was a shameful end to these looming tensions.
Charlottesville citizens and officials have spoken out about the rising profile of these once-marginalized hate groups and the failure of law enforcement and other government agencies to deal with them properly. The filmmakers also studied the key members of these groups, their methods of socializing and recruiting, and the platforms they used to spread hate speech. Many individual members are elusive, but their movements can be tracked through training videos, anti-Semitic and racist hate speech, and other online propaganda. Signs of their presence can also be seen through graffiti art throughout the city.
The events in Charlottesville only expanded the reach and reach of these groups. A large portion of the documentary examines why these groups have largely escaped legal scrutiny and why few were charged following the Charlottesville attack.
Documenting Hate: Charlottesville is an invaluable portrait of America today, a sad reminder of the progress we have yet to make as an inclusive society, and a reminder to remain vigilant against hate.
Directed by: Richard Rowley
