James Fields Jr. — the white nationalist demonstrator who drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters last August during the Unite the Right rally, killing one and injuring dozens — pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court after being charged with violations of federal hate crime statutes.
Fields was indicted in late June for 29 counts of hate crime acts and one count of racially-motivated interference in federally-protected activities. In the indictment, prosecutors allege Fields carried out his attack because of “the actual and perceived race, color, religion, and national origin” of the antiracist counterprotesters on the Downtown Mall.
At maximum, Fields could face life sentences for 29 of the 30 charges brought in the indictment. The Department of Justice may seek the death penalty for the final charge, according to Brian P. McGinn, a public affairs specialist in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.
Fields is also being tried under state codes — his three-week jury trial is set for Nov. 26 in the Charlottesville Circuit Court.
Read More
Student Council hears from Director of Diversity Education, talks parking fines
By Vyshnavi Tatta | 1 hours agoLaw Rep. Kasey Michaud introduced a bill encouraging students to donate food to local pantries by offering reductions in parking fees as an incentive.
10 years later — student journalists discuss retracted “Rolling Stone” article
By Merrill Hart | 1 hours agoThe graphic narrative ignited protests both on Grounds and at a national level.
U.Va. launches National Security Data and Policy Institute
By Sophie Long | 2 hours agoThe institute will develop AI-driven tools to process large data sets and aid analysts in identifying advancements and potential national security threats.
