During the Charlottesville event I was listening to a radio broadcast with an on-scene reporter who did a good job describing what he was and the lead-up. He is what I know from the on the scene report:
1. The city granted a permit for a gathering at the confederate statue in a park. Because of the threat to the confederate statue, people who supported keeping the statue as it was, began to gather. There was one or some who identified as “white supremacist.” Others were just people who didn’t want anything to happen to the statue, probably some towns people and university students - just everyday folks. None of these people were armed or wore protective gear.
2. The”Antifa” troops arrive, armed with clubs, with protective clothing, and they are on the street. And this group starts to cause a ruckus.
3. Then the police rescind the park permit and order the group in the park to leave. The police were forcing them to leave the park. There is no way out except on the street where Antifa is waiting for them.
4. The group who had been at the statue were unprepared for the violence and took a beating.
5. The group who had been at the statue stand accused of causing the riot.
That is how I understood the on-the-scene radio report.
What you forgot to mention was that they have their faces covered like cowards that they are.