by Guy Page
Ryan Roy of Enosburg Falls was arrested May 10 for allegedly burning a tiki torch with intent to intimidate at the ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia August 11, 2017.
Under Commonwealth of Virginia law, it’s illegal to burn an object in a public place with intent to intimidate. The law was passed in an apparent attempt to criminalize the KKK-style burning of crosses.
Roy, 34, has made no secret of his affiliation with ultra-right causes. He appears in a Vice News documentary and has been interviewed by Vermont media. VDC was unable to find any contact information for him.
A grand jury indicted Roy on April 9. After his arrest – it is unclear where it took place – he was released on bond. He is scheduled to appear June 5 in the Albemarle County Circuit Court, court records of his arrest say.
Roy was allegedly part of the group of several hundred Unite The Right protesters who marched on the University of Virginia campus the night of Friday, August 11. Many carried tiki-style torches, video captured by the Cavalier Daily, the UVA student newspaper, shows. Video shows many in the crowd chanting “You Will Not Replace Us” and other slogans.
The newspaper reported that many in the crowd mixed with counter-protesters who had linked arms around a statue of Thomas Jefferson: “Marchers also began swinging and throwing their lit tiki torches, adding to the chaos of the event.”
Roy is the only Vermonter to be arrested in connection with the Vermont.
