Heather Heyer died in yesterday’s Charlottesville attack when she was struck by a car that plowed into a crowd of protesters. The incident happened during protests and counter-protests for a white nationalist rally. She was a 32-year-old civil rights activist who friends describe as “a passionate advocate for the disenfranchised.” Friends report that Heyer is often moved to tears whenever she turns on the TV or computer and witnesses injustices in the world.
Her fervor for helping the disenfranchised spurred the young Heyer to walk the streets of Charlottesville, protesting white nationalists who seek to protect the status of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. “We were just marching around, spreading love — and then the accident happened,” a friend, Marissa Blair, said. “In a split second you see a car, and you see bodies flying. Heather was such a sweet soul, and she did not deserve to die. ”
Authorities claim that Heyer was killed instantly by a car who drove plowed through a crowd of protesters.
Heyer has been known in the Charlottesville community for speaking out against inequality and urging co-workers to do the same. “Heather was a very strong woman,” said Alfred A. Wilson, manager of the bankruptcy division at the Miller Law Group in Charlottesville, where Ms. Heyer worked as a paralegal. She stood up against “any type of discrimination,” he said. “That’s just how she’s always been.”
Mr. Wilson would offend find Heyer crying at her computer, as the injustices of the world moved her to tears. “Heather being Heather has seen something on Facebook or read something in the news and realized someone has been mistreated and gets upset.”
Heather was hired by Mr. Wilson as a paralegal, despite having only a high school diploma with experience as a bar tender and waitress. He said she had a good eye and was a “people person.”
“If you can get people to open up to you, that’s what I need,” he told her. “I’ll teach you everything about the law you need to know.”
Mr. Wilson also appreciated that Heyer left her a former boyfriend who profiled/judged him for being a successful black man. “She just didn’t like the way he was judging me as a minority male that’s doing well for myself,”
Heather Heyer’s last Facebook reads, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”
A Go Fund Me page has been set up in honor of Heyer. She has raised over $223,000 so far as of Sunday evening.
James Alex Fields Jr. has been arrested and charged with second degree murder in the death of Heather Heyer. He is also facing multiple other felony charges.
“I’ve never had a close friend like this be murdered,” Ms. Blair said. “We thought, ‘What would Heather do?’ Heather would go harder. So that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to preach love. We’re going to preach equality, and Heather’s death won’t be in vain.”
Heather Heyer: Full Story & Must-See Details On Charlottesville Victim
