More than four months after the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that led to the death of protester Heather Heyer, the city honored her in a ceremony on Wednesday morning.
The ceremony took place on 4th street, where Heyer and others marched on Aug. 12 to counter-protest white supremacists. Heyer was killed when 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr. barreled into the crowd in a gray Dodge Challenger. The crash injured 35 others. Fields is charged with first-degree murder and nine other felonies.
In her honor, the city changed the name of the block where the attack took place to “Honorary Heather Heyer Way,” on 4th Street between Water Street and East Market Street.
A ceremony to designate a street in honor of Heather Heyer is about to start. pic.twitter.com/pDpiRFplTt
— Michael Bragg (@braggmichaelc) December 20, 2017
Charlottesville honored Heather Heyer’s memory by honorary naming the street where she was killed in her name. pic.twitter.com/OHhc2D4ula
— Chris Hoffman (@NewsmanChris) December 20, 2017
Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Mike Signer thanked Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, for amplifying Heyer’s voice across the country and for calling upon others to not let white supremacist terrorists silence her message. After Heyer’s death, Bro left her job to advocate for Heyer’s legacy in interviews and speaking events, according to USA Today. She also created the Heather Heyer Foundation and a scholarship program for students who hope to make social change.
“I’m proud of how she died,” says Susan Bro at the opening of Heather Heyer Way on Fourth Street. People from near and far reach out to tell her how Heather inspires them to stand up for what they believe in, she says. “What other legacy could a mother ever want for her child?” pic.twitter.com/rt7U0AJvaW
— C-VILLE Weekly (@cville_weekly) December 20, 2017
Susan Bro, Heather’s mother, says a few words pic.twitter.com/Gn8R4GuyqM
— Michael Bragg (@braggmichaelc) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/TrumpEra_2017/status/943531831520985088
“I thank the city for taking the step to name this street after Heather. I don’t want a statue, I don’t want a park named after her. This is what I asked for,” Bro said at the street naming. “Your love and support continue to give me hope for Charlottesville and for the world, and people in general.”
H/T the Root
