CHARLOTTESVILLE, November 23, 2021 – Integrity First for America (IFA) Executive Director Amy Spitalnick released the following statement upon the verdict in Sines v. Kessler — the landmark federal lawsuit organized by IFA against the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and hate groups responsible for the Unite the Right violence:
“This case has sent a clear message: violent hate won’t go unanswered. There will be accountability.
Over the court of this trial, our plaintiffs presented overwhelming evidence that the violence was no accident. We’re heartened that the jury agreed.
These judgments underscore the major financial, legal, and operational consequences for violent hate — even beyond the significant impacts this case has already had.
And at a moment of rising extremism, major threats to our democracy, and far too little justice, this case has provided a model for accountability.
This trial also allowed our plaintiffs to tell the full, horrific story of Unite the Right — and exposed the hateful, violent tactics at the core of how the white supremacist movement operates.
There are not sufficient words to describe the honor of supporting these courageous plaintiffs, who chose to relive their trauma to hold accountable those responsible.
We are committed to ensuring our plaintiffs can collect on these judgments — and that the defendants cannot escape liability.”
IFA will be sharing more details and comments on this win in the coming hours.
Integrity First for America (IFA) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to holding those accountable who threaten longstanding principles of our democracy—including our country’s commitment to civil rights and equal justice. IFA spearheaded the landmark federal lawsuit against the two dozen neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and hate groups responsible for the August 2017 violence in Charlottesville. To learn more about the case, click here.