Charlottesville driver Alex Fields Jr. faces hate crime charges one year after rally

[Yonnie3]

Source: NBC news

WASHINGTON — Federal hate crime charges were filed Wednesday against a man accused of plowing a car into a crowd of people protesting a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing a woman and injuring dozens more.

The Department of Justice announced that an indictment returned Wednesday charges 21-year-old James Alex Fields Jr. of Maumee, Ohio, with 30 crimes, including one count of a hate crime resulting in the death of Heather Heyer, and 28 other hate crimes involving an attempt to kill other people who were injured.

"Last summer's violence in Charlottesville cut short a promising young life and shocked the nation," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. "Today's indictment should send a clear message to every would-be criminal in America that we aggressively prosecute violent crimes of hate that threaten the core principles of our nation."

Authorities have said that Fields, described by a former teacher as having a keen interest in Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler, drove his speeding car into a group of people demonstrating against the "Unite the Right" rally that drew hundreds of white nationalists to the college town, where officials planned to remove a Confederate


Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/charlottesville-driver-alex-fields-jr-faces-hate-crime-charges-one-n887031

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This is a very personal thing to me. I worked with Heather's grandfather.

[lagomorph777]

1. DOJ "Deep State" may yet save America.

But only if we VOTE! They need all the help they can get.

[Yonnie3]

2. Sessions is taking credit for DOJ work

I have a thread in the Virginia group.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10815377

DOJ release quotes Sessions as saying "Last summer’s violence in Charlottesville cut short a promising young life and shocked the nation. Today’s indictment should send a clear message to every would-be criminal in America that we aggressively prosecute violent crimes of hate that threaten the core principles of our nation. I want to thank the FBI as well as our fabulous prosecutors Stephen Curran, Christopher Kavanaugh, and Rachel Kincaid for their hard work on this case."

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/ohio-man-charged-federal-hate-crimes-related-august-2017-rally-charlottesville

[lagomorph777]

3. That's encouraging. Some semblance of humanity.

[Yonnie3]

5. Just a tiny bit.

[heaven05]

4. "hate crime", ya think nt.

it'll be lost in the maze soon, if SPLC and other watchdogs lose it. Let's hope they don't with constant reminder(s).

[appalachiablue]

6. Trump Admin. Reverses Course, Finally Calls C.Ville Attack A Hate Crime

'Trump administration reverses course, finally calls Charlottesville attack a hate crime'
https://thinkprogress.org/james-alex-fields-charlottesville-hate-crime-0536bd60eecc/

The white supremacist who murdered Heather Heyer and injured dozens of others with his car in Charlottesville, VA last August now faces federal hate crimes charges, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and subordinates from the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Hate crimes laws — long a bugaboo among both right-wing lawmakers and civil libertarians — add penalties for crimes motivated by the actual or perceived race, religion, or nationality of the victims. Heather Heyer was white, but the feds say that James Alex Fields targeted the marchers he ran over because they were chanting and carrying signs in support of racial equality.

[Yonnie3]

7. Did 45 approve this message?

Going to hurt him with his racist base.

[appalachiablue]

9. Not that I've seen, it would be all over the news. The TP headline,

'Trump Admin.' has to be referring specifically to the administration AG.

[Yonnie3]

10. If he did indicate approval it would just be lip service.

I meant my comment to be a dig at 'rump himself.

Could be this is just another nail in Sessions coffin for 45?

[appalachiablue]

11. Yes, any T. approval would have meant nada. The AG, indescribable.

[jmowreader]

8. I want him hanged publicly

Even though we have a fascist president, we must send a message that this shit is beyond the pale.

[Mr.Bill]

12. Probably on Trump's short list

for a pardon.

[BigmanPigman]

13. Hell, he'll hire him for Stephen Miller's personal

assistant. They can spend their lunches together discussing their hero Hitler.

[mountain grammy]

14. Yes, I wouldn't be surprised..

and if he's re-elected, Dylan Roof.