Lorde on 'white people': We have to do better

Lorde commented on the white-supremacist rally that erupted earlier today. Photo / Instagram

Lorde spoke out on Twitter today as white nationalists chanting neo-Nazi slogans clashed violently with counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.

She urged "white people" to "do better for the sake of humanity" and made a point to use her voice to acknowledge people of colour and the "unnecessary" and "horrific" mistreatment they endure in the US.

Lorde commented on the white-supremacist rally that erupted earlier today. Photo / Instagram

"Being a privileged white non-US citizen, I feel like tweeting to reinforce how horrific POC [people of colour] treatment here is unnecessary and inappropriate," wrote the Kiwi singer.

"I just want to say I'm so, so sorry. All white people are responsible for this system's thrive and fall. We have to do better. I'm sorry."

Earlier today, hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klansmen clashed with counterprotesters in the streets.

White nationalists clashed with counterprotesters for the over a plan to remove the statue of a Confederate general from a city park. Photo / AP

A car ploughed into crowds, leaving one person dead and 19 injured.

Twenty-year-old James Fields from Ohio, the alleged driver of the car, is in detention on suspicion of second-degree murder.

People were thrown into the air by the force of the collision. Photo / Getty

In addition to those injured in the car incident, the Charlottesville Police Department said 15 were wounded in other violence related to the far-right march.

Later in the day, two state police officers assisting with the unrest died when their helicopter crashed.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who had declared a state of emergency, said that he had a message for "all the white supremacists and the Nazis who came into Charlottesville today: Go home. You are not wanted in this great commonwealth."

The "Unite the Right" march was called to protest against plans to remove a statue of General Robert E Lee, who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War.