Heather Heyer was part of the counter-protest in the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia which followed the demonstration by the hate group, Vanguard America. The 32-year-old died after a Dodge Challenger sped down the street, striking 20 people. Heyer was a paralegal working with the Miller Law Group in Charlottesville.

One killed, 20 injured as a Dodge Challenger plows into counter-protesters

At least 20 people were injured in the incident as a driver, believed to be James Alex Fields Jr., 20, plowed through the people in the narrow street. Fields then drove the battered sports car at speed in reverse but was arrested and charged hours after he had been demonstrating with the Vanguard America white supremacy group.

As reported by the New York Daily News, other counter-protesters and paramedics did their best to revive Heyer after she was struck by the vehicle, but she passed away on the scene, surrounded by state police with rifles. Charlottesville Police Chief Alfred Thomas Jr. told the media that Heyer had been killed while crossing the street. She was left lying on the pavement next to another victim of the attack.

While Heyer was not immediately identified by Charlottesville police, friends and family confirmed that she was the fatal victim in the brutal attack.

On Heyer’s Facebook page, her last post showed her reasoning for being part of the counter-protest. She used the quote that if people are not outraged, they are not paying attention.

Candlelight vigil scheduled for Sunday

Speaking on behalf of Heyer’s mother, Felicia Correa, a childhood friend of the victim, said she died doing what she believed was right.

Correa said her heart is broken, but she will always be proud of her friend. She said she found out about her friend’s death through her sister, who also works as a paralegal in a Charlottesville law firm, adding they grew up together.

Correa is organizing a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to Heyer in Emancipation Park at 7 p.m.

on Sunday. She also set up a GoFundMe page for her friend’s family, which has raised over $29,000.

The incident was captured on camera and is included below, but viewers are warned that the content is extremely graphic.

Two state troopers die during protests

Two other people were killed in clashes relating to the demonstration in Charlottesville, after two troopers in a Virginia State Police helicopter, which was monitoring the protest, crashed near the city. According to the LA Times, a total of 35 people were injured over the course of the chaos, which saw weapons, Confederate battle flags and Nazi insignia in the streets.
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