Upward of 400 people rallied Sunday evening against violence in the wake of a car plowing into a peaceful protest in Charlottesville, Va., which led to three deaths.

James Alex Fields Jr. (AP Photo)

The group marched at Seventh and Hamilton streets in Allentown for hours Sunday. The event was sponsored by the Women's March Pennsylvania, POWER Northeast, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, Planned Parenthood Keystone and Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates.

Many held up signs, stating, "White Silence is Violence," "End White Supremacy" and "Legislate Against Hate." Several community leaders and clergy members also turned out to speak.

It was the second anti-violence event scheduled in the Lehigh Valley Sunday.

A candlelight vigil was planned for 8 p.m. near the free bridge in Phillipsburg. That event, sponsored by the Green Party of New Jersey, also was expected to draw a good turnout.

"We'll stand in solidarity with the people in Charlottesville and take a stance against racism in our neighborhoods," said Aaron Hyndman, co-chairman of the Green Party of New Jersey. "Hate has no place in Phillipsburg, Warren County or New Jersey."

Violence struck in downtown Charlottesville Saturday afternoon when a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting a white supremacist rally. Three people died, including a 32-year-old woman struck by the vehicle.

A Virginia State Police helicopter assisting with the rally later crashed outside Charlottesville, killing the pilot and a trooper. Several others were injured.

The driver later was identified by Virginia State Police as James Alex Fields Jr., a 20-year-old from Ohio. He was charged with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and one count related to leaving the scene.

Police also charged Troy Dunigan, 21, of from Chattanooga, Tennessee, with disorderly conduct; Jacob L. Smith, 21, of Louisa, Virginia, with assault and battery; and James M. O'Brien, 44, of Gainesville, Florida, with carrying a concealed handgun.

The chaos boiled over at what is believed to be the largest group of white nationalists to come together in a decade: the governor declared a state of emergency, police dressed in riot gear ordered people out and helicopters circled overhead.

The group had gathered to protest plans to remove a statue of the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, and others arrived to protest the racism.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.