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U.S. NEWS Thursday 28 June 2018

Federal hate crime charges filed in Virginia rally death

By SARAH RANKIN sions said in a statement. the rally had descended across a raised pedestrian
Associated Press “Today’s indictment should into chaos — with violent mall, and drove directly
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The send a clear message to brawling between attend- into the crowd,” it said.
man accused of plowing a every would-be criminal in ees and counterdemon- In a statement, FBI Special
car into a crowd of people America that we aggres- strators — and authorities Agent in Charge Adam S.
protesting a white national- sively prosecute violent had forced the crowd to Lee of the Richmond Divi-
ist rally in Charlottesville, Vir- crimes of hate that threat- disband. sion thanked the business
ginia, killing a woman and en the core principles of The eight-page indictment owners and Charlottes-
injuring dozens more, now our nation.” alleges Fields decided to ville residents who he said
faces federal hate crime Authorities have said Fields, attend the rally on or be- “worked with us and pro-
charges. described by a former fore Aug. 8. As he prepared vided a massive volume of
The Department of Justice teacher as having a keen to leave to travel to Char- evidence in this case.”
announced that an indict- interest in Nazi Germany lottesville, a family member The federal civil rights case
ment returned Wednesday and Adolf Hitler, drove his sent him a text message is not the first under Ses-
charges James Alex Fields speeding car into a group urging him to be careful, sions’ Justice Department, This undated file photo
Jr., 21, of Maumee, Ohio, of people demonstrating the indictment said. but it is certainly the most provided by the Albemarle-
with 30 crimes, including against the “Unite the Right” Fields replied, “We’re not high-profile one. Charlottesville Regional Jail
one count of a hate crime rally Aug. 12 that drew hun- the ones who need to be Critics of Sessions for the shows James Alex Fields Jr.,
resulting in the death of dreds of white nationalists careful,” and attached an last year have been con- accused of plowing a car into
a crowd of people protesting
Heather Heyer, and 28 to the college town, where image of Hitler, according cerned about what they a white nationalist rally in
other hate crimes involving officials planned to remove to the indictment, which see as less aggressive en- Charlottesville, Va., killing a
an attempt to kill dozens of a Confederate monument. also says Fields used social forcement of federal civil woman and injuring dozens
other people who were in- Fields already faces state media to promote racist rights laws, and especially more, has been charged with
jured. Another charge ac- charges including first-de- views. the Justice Department’s federal hate crimes.
cuses him of “racially moti- gree murder and is set to After authorities forced the lack of intervention against Associated Pressa
vated violent interference” face a jury trial later this crowd to disband, Fields local police agencies with violence on both sides and
with a federally protected year. drove his car toward the troubled relationships with was accused of embold-
activity. He has been in custody area where a “racially and minorities. ening racists — and sug-
“Last summer’s violence in since the rally. The attorney ethnically diverse crowd” But in bringing the prosecu- gested that the Justice De-
Charlottesville cut short a representing Fields on those had gathered to protest, tion, Sessions appeared to partment would continue
promising young life and counts declined comment the indictment said. assert himself as indepen- to treat racially motivated
shocked the nation,” U.S. Wednesday. “Fields rapidly accelerat- dent from President Donald acts of violence as hate
Attorney General Jeff Ses- The car attack came after ed, through a stop sign and Trump — who blamed the crimes.q

Freeway sign climber snarls downtown Los Angeles traffic

would-be rescuers. himself as “Dephree,” did the freeway were closed
Reporters and passers-by various dances and the as firefighters placed inflat-
shot videos of the man’s strongman pose as traf- ables underneath the man
antics as he climbed fic backed up for miles on and extended ladders to
around and on the free- State Route 110. He hung him. The traffic snarl spread
way sign, eluding firefight- signs that read “Dephree,” onto connecting freeways
ers wearing harnesses and ‘’Fight pollution, not each and surface streets and
police officers trying to get other” and “Give a hoot, workers in nearby build-
him down. don’t pollute.” ings stopped to watch the
The man, who identified The southbound lanes of events unfold.q

California Highway Patrol officers try to coax a man off a freeway
sign in downtown Los Angeles, Wednesday, June 27, 2018.
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A on Wednesday after he
man wearing only boxer climbed a busy freeway
briefs and tennis shoes sign, hung protest posters,
snarled rush-hour traffic danced repeatedly and
in downtown Los Angeles apparently mocked his