Healing heart
Over the last week and a half, this austere graphic has become a ubiquitous symbol of healing and hope in Charlottesville, found on Facebook profile pictures, store windows and on posters and T-shirts for unity events.
But its creator, Rock Paper Scissors’ co-owner Dani Antol, says she couldn’t have imagined the overwhelming response.
“Being a designer, I’m like, man, I could have created something more unique or different than just ‘C’ville’ in a heart,” she jokes, “but I think that is the beauty of it. It just relays the simple message of love and community, especially in a time of turmoil, disbelief and so many questions.”
Antol made the graphic—a teal heart, representing peace, tranquility and calm, with a scripted “C’ville” inside—on the afternoon of Saturday, August 12, and says it was meant as a message of unity to post at her shop and on social media accounts. But soon others were using it as their own, and the Downtown Mall store itself has given out almost 1,000 free posters printed with the graphic. Going forward, it plans to donate 50 percent of gross sales of items with the heart to the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s Heal Charlottesville Fund, to continue disseminating its message of goodwill.—Caite White
When your client’s a neo-Nazi
Former Albemarle commonwealth’s attorney Denise Lunsford was assigned to represent James Fields Jr., who is accused of plowing into a crowd August 12 and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Heather Heyer. Buddy Weber originally was given the task of representing Fields, but he had a conflict of interest as a plaintiff in the lawsuit to thwart the city’s removal of the Lee statue.
More felonies for Fields
Besides second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and failure to stop in an incident involving death, on August 18 James Fields Jr. picked up two more counts of malicious wounding and three of aggravated malicious wounding. At least 30 people were hospitalized from the attack.
Kessler meltdown, dropped charges
The city’s neo-Nazi event organizer tweeted August 18 that Heather Heyer was a communist and her death was payback. The next day, he blamed drugs, alcohol and stress, his Twitter account disappeared, his website went down, and white nationalist Richard Spencer disavowed Jason Kessler’s comments. On August 21, the city declined to prosecute a disorderly conduct charge against Kessler stemming from a May 14 candlelight vigil.
ACLU shift
Following the deadly August 12 Unite the Right rally, the American Civil Liberties Union said it will no longer represent hate groups with firearms. The ACLU of Virginia sued on behalf of Jason Kessler and got an injunction to hold the event in Emancipation Park. Now the state ACLU is calling for the removal of all Confederate monuments.
“Mr. Kessler is a person that we have absolutely no respect for. He’s a very troubled person that we do not think fully understands the damage he’s caused this community and elsewhere, but he was not guilty of criminal conduct.”—Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Nina Antony
Vacation tragedy
Ivy resident Tyler Sewell, 51, was charged in an August 3 golf cart accident on Bald Head Island in North Carolina that killed his friend, Troy resident Peter Parrish. Sewell was charged with a felony count of serious injury by vehicle and driving while intoxicated. Parrish, 52, a 1987 UVA grad, died August 9.
Lean on me
Saturday, August 12, was a dark day in Charlottesville’s history. Fortunately, plenty of people from near and far have been willing to help. Crowdfunding sites abound for many of the injured—and the woman killed—over that
dreadful weekend. Amounts are as of press time on August 22.
Heather Heyer, killed in the car attack: $225,000 goal reached
Deandre Harris, brutally beaten in Market Street
Garage: $166,135 raised of $50,000 goal
Tyler Magill, suffered a stroke after being hit with a tiki torch: $121,271 raised of $135,000 goal
Marcus Martin, victim of the car attack: $61,480 raised of $40,000 goal
Dakotah Bowie, victim of the car attack: $32,663 raised of $50,000 goal
Tadrint Washington, driver of one of the cars James Fields slammed into: $13,392 raised of $75,000 goal
Unity Cville is raising money for victim relief: $151,300 raised of $50,000 goal
Congregation Beth Israel was targeted by white nationalists. Fund will support social justice and its increased security costs: $48,886 raised
SURJ is raising money to resist white supremacy: $16,872 raised of $5,000 goal
Heal Charlottesville Fund, sponsored by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation: More than $200,000 raised
Portugal. The Man will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from its August 21 concert at the Sprint Pavilion to the Heal Charlottesville Fund.
Beloved Community Charlottesville collected pledges from more than 1,000 donors for every white nationalist who came, and raised $67,000 that will go to City of Promise, IRC, Jefferson School African American Heritage Center and Public Housing Association of Residents.