One of the organisers of the far-right rally that descended into deadly violence in Charlottesville was chased away by protesters as he tried to give a press conference.

Before Jason Kessler fled the baying crowd, he blamed police in Virginia for not preventing the violent clashes between white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other far-right groups on one side and counter-protesters on the other.

Mr Kessler, a 34-year-old white nationalist from Charlottesville, organised the Unite the Right rally to protest against a vote by the city’s government to remove a statue of a Confederate general, Robert E Lee, from a local park.

He returned to the town the day after the shocking clashes which left a 32-year-old Heather Hayer dead. A 20-year-old man from Ohio is facing murder charges.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Mr Kessler’s attempts to address the press pack were drowned out by chants of “murderer”, “shame” and “thug”.

Largely drowned out by jeers, he said: “Today I just want to come before you, and I want to tell you the story of what really happened before this narrative is allowed to continue spinning out of control.

“The hate that you hear around you? That is the anti-white hate that fuelled what happened yesterday. What happened yesterday was the result of Charlottesville police officers refusing to do their job.”

He continued: “I disavow anything that led to folks getting hurt. It is a sad day in our constitutional democracy when we are not able to have civil liberties like the First Amendment (free speech).

“That’s what leads to rational discussion and ideas breaking down and people resorting to violence.”

After a couple of minutes, the press conference descended into complete chaos as Mr Kessler was mobbed and chased away, protected by the riot police he had previously criticised.

“Her name was Heather, sir!” a man shouted at Mr Kessler as he was escorted to a police station.

“Her name was Heather, Jason. Her blood is on your hands ... what do you have to say for yourself?”

Mr Kessler serves as the president of Unity and Security for America, a grassroots organisation that claims it is dedicated to “defending Western civilization”. He describes himself as a journalist, activist and author.

Members of white supremacist groups including the Ku Klux Klan and from neo-Nazi and alt-right groups descended on Charlottesville for the rally, scheduled for Saturday.

Violence broke out on Friday, ahead of the planned protest, when hundreds of white supremacists marched through the university’s Emancipation Park.

Members of opposing groups came to blows in the street while pepper spray was released – with the police reportedly doing little to intervene.

As tensions rose, a state of emergency was declared by the authorities and the rally was declared to be an unlawful gathering, before the car was driven into the crowd.