The white nationalist who killed a woman after he drove his car into a group of people peacefully protesting Nazis marching was on Friday found guilty of murder. James Alex Fields, Jr., was guilty on all 10 criminal counts against him, including first-degree murder for killing Heather Heyer during the Unite The Right white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, during the summer of 2017.
Many people attributed the act of hate by Fields, 21, to President Donald Trump, whose divisive and racist rhetoric that defined his candidacy, election and subsequent presidency emboldened white supremacists around the country and the globe.
Fields had no defense for his actions, as he was arrested just about a mile from the scene of the crime following the intentional crash on Aug. 12, 2017. Still, “prosecutor Nina-Alice Antony depicted Fields as an angry white nationalist who acted with hate and violence,” NPR reported. “Antony reminded the jury of a meme Fields posted three months earlier on Instagram. That post showed flailing bodies — labeled “protesters” — being tossed into the air after a car plows into a crowd.”
While many folks on social media rightfully reacted with relief that Fields will spend the rest of his life behind bars in a maximum security prison, others couldn’t help but remember the president’s fateful words he delivered after the white supremacist rammed his car into the crowd and injured 19 other people.
Referring to the “neo-Nazis” who were confronted by protesters, Trump said during a nationally televised press conference that “you also had people that were very fine people on both sides,” which many people took to mean that the president believed there were “very fine people” among the white nationalists. The same group of white supremacists that lashed out violently at anybody who opposed their rally.
While some of those targeted by the white supremacists chose to fight back, others were not as fortunate, including one victim who was beaten strictly because of the color of his skin.
All of which made the president’s words that much more incredulous, even if they were coming from a man who unabashedly aligned himself with white supremacists during his presidential campaign and after the election.
Backlash over those fateful three words — “very fine people” — was swift, but it took a full year before Trump would attempt to backtrack on his comments.
“The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division,” Trump tweeted Aug. 12 of this year. “We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!”
But that incomplete mea culpa was too little and too late for many people, some of which took to Twitter to express their glee at Fields’ fate and sadness mourning the loss of Heather Heyer.
‘Very Fine People’ Guilty: Twitter Reminds Trump What He Called Charlottesville Killer James Alex Fields was originally published on newsone.com
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Remember when @realDonaldTrump said they are very fine people? #MAGA #NEWS pic.twitter.com/nkjVcFXMYq
— leo (@LEO_187) December 7, 2018
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You won't hear one word from Trump about this verdict because Fields is a "VERY FINE PEOPLE" according to Trump pic.twitter.com/ExTOC1D8f1
— jason karov (@jasonkarov) December 7, 2018
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Guys, I think people are being too hard on James Fields. He's a "very fine" person, according to someone I heard one time.
— Pants McShirt (@pantsmcshirt) December 7, 2018
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Some very fine people are going to view other very fine people through razor wire and bars.
— Nefarious Russian Agent (@Shahooster) December 7, 2018
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.@realDonaldTrump bears a part of this guilt: After all, this was one of his "very fine people" now convicted of 1st degree murder in Charlottesville and will now face federal hate crimes. You incited these people, Mr. Trump. https://t.co/Wsud8UVFqE
— Under the Radar (@retail_recruit) December 7, 2018
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Bet @realDonaldTrump could use one of his rallies tonight. He is DONE! Collusion, wait until the money-laundering & @GOP this is your guy, your silence makes you complicit, oh & one of those "very fine people" you spoke of in Charlottesville just got done for first degree murder.
— EveNewtonJobs (@EveNewtonJobs) December 7, 2018
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A jury in Virginia has convicted James Fields of first-degree murder for driving his car into a crowd of protesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville last year and killing Heather Heyer.
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) December 7, 2018
And Trump said they were "very fine people."https://t.co/P7i435cvex
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Neo-Nazi scumbag James Fields convicted for murder of Heather Fields at Charlottesville rally in which Trump famously praised "very fine people on both sides".
— Andrew Gawthorpe (@andygawt) December 7, 2018
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James Fields (murderer of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville) will spend the rest of his life in jail after the jury found him guilty of 1st degree murder. It’ll be a win-win for him. He and Trump will be able to meet very fine people......on both sides......of the prison yard.
— Randy Grinspan 🇺🇸 (@randy_grinspan) December 7, 2018
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Heather Heyer was MURDERED by WHITE NATIONALIST/NAZI James Fields Jr., One of tRump's "Very Fine Persons " says otherwise Mr. Scalise. Plus, the leader of your thuglican party, tRump incited violence CONSTANTLY during the primaries. Mt. Scalise, go have several seats sir. pic.twitter.com/SGNduLRPrK
— Bridget (@LadyT_61) October 12, 2018
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These are two home grown 'very fine' #Charlottesville terrorists, Taylor Wilson and James Fields Jr, radicalized by Donald Trump, enabled by the @GOP #VOTE pic.twitter.com/o1cUrJrlwn
— Sandi Bachom (@sandibachom) October 28, 2018
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Guys, I think people are being too hard on James Fields. He's a "very fine" person, according to someone I heard one time.
— Pants McShirt (@pantsmcshirt) December 7, 2018
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James Fields (murderer of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville) will spend the rest of his life in jail after the jury found him guilty of 1st degree murder. It’ll be a win-win for him. He and Trump will be able to meet very fine people......on both sides......of the prison yard.
— Randy Grinspan 🇺🇸 (@randy_grinspan) December 7, 2018
