Charlottesville

Violence at ‘Unite the Right’ led to a life lost and others forever changed SPLCDecember 19, 2018 By Brett Barrouquere

“When James Alex Fields Jr. drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters after the “Unite the Right” rally, it was a manifestation of hate that impacted the lives of dozens of people as well as a central Virginia town.

One person — 32-year-old Heather D. Heyer — died in the attack and at least eight others suffered lifelong physical and emotional injuries after being struck by the 2010 Dodge Challenger on Aug. 12, 2017.

The crash happened after one of the largest gatherings of white supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis in the country in recent years. Fields, a previously unknown 21-year-old from Maumee, Ohio, had neo-Nazi sympathies and alt-right leanings before arriving in Virginia.

A jury found Fields guilty of first-degree murder and nine other felonies for his actions in Charlottesville, Virginia, and on Dec. 11, a jury recommended a life sentence plus 419 years in prison. Fields will be formally sentenced March 29. He also faces a federal trial on 30 hate crimes charges.”