Charlottesville victim sues white nationalist groups, leaders
Cameron KnightCINCINNATI – An Ohio man injured in the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia, attack is suing white nationalist organizations and leaders in federal court.
Bill Burke, of Athens, Ohio, says he was struck by the car driven by James Alex Fields Jr. on Aug.17, 2017, during the violence that broke out during the "Unite the Right" events in Charlottesville.
He said he suffered a concussion, injuries to his left knee and arm and his eye also swelled shut. He also said he watched Heather Heyer die in the street.
"He continues to suffer deep debilitating psychological and emotional distress that prevents him from resuming his former life," the lawsuit states. "The physical injuries he sustained ... required and continue to require extensive and expensive medical treatment."
Named in the lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court, are Fields, Jason Kessler, Richard Spencer, Matthew Heimbach and the Daily Stormer.
"They are neo-Nazis, Neo-Fascist, Klansmen, white supremacists and white nationalists," the suit states. "They embrace and espouse racist, anti-Semitic, sexist, homophobic and xenophobic ideologies."
March 27:Neo-Nazi pleads guilty to federal hate crimes in Charlottesville murder of Heather Heyer
March 5:African-American man becomes president of neo-Nazi group and wants to dismantle it
Along with the website Daily Stormer, its founder Andrew Anglin and his father Gregory Anglin, as well as several associated businesses based in Worthington, Ohio, are named.
Burke accuses the Anglins of operating a racketeer-influenced criminal organization. The racketeering laws passed in 1970 were designed to combat mafia activity in the country.
Burke says they used an unlawful financial scheme "to incite terroristic violence."
The lawsuit states Fields, who was born and raised in Boone County, Kentucky, but had recently moved to Ohio, was a part of the white nationalist group Vanguard America. Burke says Fields wore their uniform and carried a Vanguard America shield in Charlottesville.
Burke accuses Fields and Vanguard America of battery, assault and terrorism. Fields was found guilty of killing Heyer and maliciously wounding eight others by a Virginia court in December.
According to the lawsuit, Hamilton County resident Matthew Heimbach is leader of the Traditionalist Worker Party and co-chair of the Nationalist Forum, an umbrella group for racist organizations.
Feb. 20:Hate group count hits 20-year high amid rise in white supremacy, report says
Dec. 11:Charlottesville, Va., jury recommends sending James Fields to prison for life
Heimbach, Richard Spencer, David Duke and Augustus Sol Invictus (previously known as Austin Mitchell Gillespie), and their associated organizations also were accused in the lawsuit as well.
Burke says they all are guilty of civil conspiracy, inciting violence and soliciting or providing support for an act of terrorism
Jason Kessler, an organizer of the "Unite the Right" event "negligently and recklessly incited, encouraged and participated in violent attacks," according to the lawsuit. Burke said Kessler and others went to Charlottesville to "incite violence" under the pretext of a rally.
Burke cites online posts among the defendants discussing self-defense law in Virginia, what weapons should be carried and whether it was legal to run over counter-protesters blocking streets.
Burke is asking for $3 million in compensatory and punitive damages for each charge.
He also says he was threatened after the incident via text message after he commented on an online post. He said the phone number the text was sent from is associated with the Honorable Sacred Knights.
Burke wants a protective order against the organization, which he calls a paramilitary wing of the Ku Klux Klan. Screenshots of the text message exchange were included in the lawsuit showing texts that say "back off and stop spreading rumors."
"We have eyes everywhere. Let him know that we are you doctors lawyer police neighbors [sic]," the message says. "We don't do Jew social media. But we do see."
Follow Cameron Knight on Twitter: @ckpj99
