Federal hate crime charges filed in Virginia rally death

I think this is a very good step forward by AG Sessions. Virginia State has already filed charges against James Fields Jr. in the murder of the Charlottesville protester last year, however, this is a federal charge of 30 crimes, 29 of them being hate crimes. Mr. Fields drove his vehicle into a “racially and ethnically diverse crowd” and ended up killing Heather Heyer and injuring dozens more.

Amid the rising tensions and threats of violence from all sides, this remains the only actual case of violence so far.

The federal civil rights case is not the first under Sessions’ Justice Department, but it is certainly the most high-profile one. Critics of Sessions for the last year have been concerned about what they see as less aggressive enforcement of federal civil rights laws, and especially the Justice Department’s lack of intervention against local police agencies with troubled relationships with minorities.

But in bringing the prosecution, Sessions appeared to assert himself as independent from President Donald Trump — who blamed the violence on both sides and was accused of emboldening racists — and suggested that the Justice Department would continue to treat racially motivated acts of violence as hate crimes.

It is very, very good to see the DoJ take a harder stance on hate crime and hopefully this will deflate the tensions a bit and dissuade future crimes, such as this one.

“Last summer’s violence in Charlottesville cut short a promising young life and shocked the nation,” U.S. 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.”

Thumbs up to the DoJ and AG Sessions today!

Associated Press

Good. This kind of hate crime should not be tolerated left or right.

I doubt you will see anyone on the right defending this dirtbag.

originally posted by: toysforadults
Good. This kind of hate crime should not be tolerated left or right.

I doubt you will see anyone on the right defending this dirtbag.

I doubt that equally, we're all intelligent people here, we know right from wrong. I wanted to post this as recently there have been calls for violence, the incidents in the restaurant, Maxine Waters inciting and so on.

It is good to hear that the government will not tolerate violence, nor hate crime, despite what a few have tried to do and call for.

a reply to: Kharron

I'm pleasantly surprised. Sessions has been a bit of a disappointment, frankly.

While I'm generally not a big fan of this whole "hate" crime thing, if it'll help put this ass in a jail cell, or on Death Row, I'm willing to go along with it...'til the next time I'm not.

a reply to: seagull

I really think the guy would be heading to jail regardless, for a very long time. up till now, the courts haven't really been that kind to the unite the righters as far as I've seen.

a reply to: dawnstar

The amount of vehicular convictions he will get would be enough to put him away for life. He's recorded smashing into people and then attempting to flee. Felony hit and runs can put your in prison for over a year. He's got probably what, 20 of them?

a reply to: Kharron

Why would emotions come into a prosecution? Actions are illegal---not emotions. There are plenty of charges to be leveled against him that don't include emotions.

I know that a lot of you have grown up with this idea of "hate crime" but there is nothing in the founding documents which would support prosecuting people for some supposed emotion. Killing and injuring people is a crime, no matter what emotions some prosecutor might imagine was going through the mind of the law-breaker.

Lock him away from civil society for his actions---NOT any emotion.

a reply to: Kharron

I haven't been keeping up with this story. Has he confessed to intentionally running those people down yet?

Shouldve already been hung.

originally posted by: Bone75
a reply to: Kharron

I haven't been keeping up with this story. Has he confessed to intentionally running those people down yet?

I don't think he did to his State case, and these federal charges have just been filed today, he hasn't had a day in court yet; however there are enough witnesses and according to the article enough of the business owners are cooperating with what they've seen.

The eight-page indictment alleges Fields decided to attend the rally on or before Aug. 8. As he prepared to leave for Charlottesville, a family member sent him a text message urging him to be careful.

Fields replied, “We’re not the ones who need to be careful,” and attached an image of Hitler, according to the indictment, which also says Fields used social media to promote racist views, including support for the Holocaust.

He “rapidly accelerated, through a stop sign and across a raised pedestrian mall, and drove directly into the crowd,” it said.

Surveillance footage from a Virginia State Police helicopter monitoring the event captured the moment of impact by the car and showed the vehicle as it reversed and drove away. It was pulled over a relatively short time later.

A confession is not necessary if there are eyewitnesses and video evidence. Lots of killers never confess their crimes.

a reply to: Bone75
not that I've heard... think he plead not guilty.

This guy should spend the rest of his life in a supermax prison and with the State charges, most likely will. Why spend millions more on a second trial, he is not worth it in my opinion.

Never have understood our penchant to hold multiple trials after a conviction which is a death penalty already as far as length of time. Waste of courts and money

originally posted by: diggindirt
a reply to: Kharron

Why would emotions come into a prosecution? Actions are illegal---not emotions. There are plenty of charges to be leveled against him that don't include emotions.

I know that a lot of you have grown up with this idea of "hate crime" but there is nothing in the founding documents which would support prosecuting people for some supposed emotion. Killing and injuring people is a crime, no matter what emotions some prosecutor might imagine was going through the mind of the law-breaker.

Lock him away from civil society for his actions---NOT any emotion.

I don't see where emotions are being used to prosecute, I missed that. However, emotions are often a cause or a motive to a crime. Most murders involve emotion, unless perpetrated by a psychopath, who are said to be devoid of emotion.

a reply to: strongfp
he got one murder charge against him also, so ya...
think he would be going away for a long time if he's convicted of all the charges the state has charged him with.
it wouldn't surprise me if trump pardoned him for any federal charges... like hate crimes... anyways.

originally posted by: dawnstar

it wouldn't surprise me if trump pardoned him for any federal charges... like hate crimes... anyways.

The TDS is strong with this one. That's probably the most ridiculous thing I'll read today. smh

originally posted by: DJMSN
This guy should spend the rest of his life in a supermax prison and with the State charges, most likely will. Why spend millions more on a second trial, he is not worth it in my opinion.

Maybe a message that 'this will not stand'. Of all the money we squander, reinforcing peace is not what I choose to stand against.

This case could cost tens of thousands or a hundred thousand dollars, or more, but if it saves one life it's worth it.

a reply to: Bone75

not really, just kind of don't understand why now, they are deciding to add the hate crime charges...
and well.... trump deciding to pardon him would be another media circus charged with lots of emotions, which trump does seem to love to create!
the only other explanation I can come up with is that now that they have angry people gathered outside their homes shouting and carrying on, they want some additional protection... and we will see people being charged with hate crimes for kicking members of the trump team out of their restaurants or something.

originally posted by: toysforadults
Good. This kind of hate crime should not be tolerated left or right.

I doubt you will see anyone on the right defending this dirtbag.

Go look at the thread from back when it happened. There are several prominent right wing posters here on ATS that defended him up and down.

One who said she deserved it. Let’s not forget the reactions of people here when it happened.

Wasn't an SUV Kharron, it was a sedan not that it really matters. The guy should be punished for his actions 100%. In the video it is not even clear that car the touched heather, although she was certainly knocked over by those escaping the path of the car. Was a report released on her cause of death? If i recall correctly she was a very large lady and if she still had a pulse when her fellow protestors were smashing on her chest in an attempt to perform cpr, this could of contributed to her death? Could the reason for the federal charges be in case he beats the murder charge?

a reply to: underwerks

Yup I remember that when it happened it was reported real time on ATS.
Hope the guy gets what's coming to him.