OUR COMMUNITY

24 | SEPTEMBER 9 • 2021 

T

his October, a trial will begin 
in Charlottesville, Va., to seek 
accountability for the leaders of 
white supremacist and other extremist 
organizations responsible for a weekend 
of frightening rallies and violence in 
Charlottesville in 2017. The images were 
startling — organized marches of tiki-
torch carrying men with shields and clubs, 
shouting racist and antisemitic slogans, 
some of whom assaulted peaceful pro-
testors seeking removal of a Confederate 
statue. They also marched around 
Charlottesville’s Congregation Beth Israel.
Media reports said that some partici-
pants in the “Unite the Right” rally carried 
guns as well. Fights broke out between the 
groups, but the most horrific event was 
the intentional use of a car to ram into 
protestors. One individual, Heather Heyer, 
a 32-year-old paralegal and civil rights 
activist, was killed and dozens of others 
were injured.
The driver, allegedly an admirer of 
Hitler, was convicted of state and federal 
offenses and is serving a life sentence. 
But there were no legal consequences for 
others who planned and implemented the 
hate-filled, violent Aug. 11 weekend. 
“No matter how the defen-
dants seek to avoid account-
ability, we’re committed to 
bringing these violent extrem-
ists to justice” says Amy 
Spitalnick, executive director 
of Integrity First for America 
(IFA), a nonprofit organiza-
tion. “
At a moment of rising white suprem-
acy and extremism, this case sends a clear 
message: There will be consequences for 
violent hate.”
IFA was established to sue the leaders 
of these extremist hate groups and their 
organizations, claiming that they injured 
peaceful protestors. Their case is based 
in part on the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. 
After delays due primarily to COVID, the 
trial is scheduled to begin in federal court 
in Charlottesville on Oct. 25.
The IFA lawsuit, Sines v Kessler, alleges 
that the defendants planned a conspiracy 
that led to the violence in Charlottesville, 
using Discord and other social media 
sites to recruit and organize participants, 

and discuss which weapons to bring. The 
plaintiffs are a coalition of Charlottesville 
residents who were injured in the 2017 
violence.
According to IFA, the two dozen defen-
dants are leaders of the white supremacist 
movement, including Richard Spencer, 
Andrew Anglin, Christopher Cantwell and 
Jason Kessler. Their organizations include 
Identity Europa, Vanguard American and 
the National Socialist Movement. 
IFA
’s lead attorney, Roberta 
Kaplan, said in an online 
case update, that the lawsuit 
seeks “justice for the plaintiffs 
through monetary claims 
against the defendants and 
deterrence to other groups 
considering such things.” 
Spitalnick adds, “By win-
ning large financial judgments at trial, we 
can effectively bankrupt and dismantle 
the leaders and hate groups at the core of 
the violent, antisemitic white supremacist 
movement and make clear the conse-
quences for this violent hate.”
The IFA legal team is encouraged by the 
court’s sanctions — including financial 
penalties and jail time — against multi-
ple defendants who have refused to turn 
over required evidence. According to IFA, 
defendant Richard Spencer has called 

the case “financially crippling” and said 
it has hampered his ability to use online 
and other communication platforms. The 
Anti-Defamation League is assisting in 
the legal effort through a contribution of 
$100,000 and research through its Center 
on Extremism.
“Our team and plaintiffs have been the 
target of extensive threats and harassment 
by the defendants and their supporters,” 
Spitalnick explains. “Much of it is antise-
mitic (I’m Jewish and the granddaughter 
of Holocaust survivors, and a number of 
our attorneys are also Jewish). That is why 
security is by far the biggest line item in 
our budget. Much of the legal work is pro 
bono; IFA is funding all case expenses, 
with security being the biggest cost.”
Carolyn Normandin, 
regional director of the 
Michigan ADL, says, 
“
Accountability is one step 
toward progress. This event 
ignited so much hatred against 
Jews. 
“We need to continue the 
message that Americans do not give in to 
violence and hate. We have to support peo-
ple who bring people to justice. It’s really 
important for ADL to be involved.” 

For information, visit integrityfirstforamerica.org.

Attorneys prepare for October trial
to hold perpetrators accountable.

Amy 
Spitalnick

Roberta 
Kaplan

Carolyn 
Normandin

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ANTHONY CRIDER VIA WIKIPEDIA

CHARLOTTESVILLE:
Four Years Later

Alt-right members preparing to enter 
Emancipation Park holding Nazi, Confederate, 
and Gadsden “Don’t Tread on Me” flags.

