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Spencer, Kessler, Cantwell and other white supremacists found liable in deadly Unite the Right rally

On Nov. 23, a jury ruled that the White nationalists who organized the violent Charlottesville rally in 2017 are liable for more than $26 million in damages. (Video: Zoeann Murphy, Drea Cornejo/The Washington Post)

CHARLOTTESVILLE — More than a dozen of the nation’s most prominent white supremacists and hate groups conspired to intimidate, harass or commit acts of violence during 2017′s deadly Unite the Right rally, according to a jury that also decided the men and their racist organizations should pay $26 million in damages.

The 11 jurors couldn’t come to an agreement on two federal conspiracy claims, but they found that every defendant — including former alt-right leader Richard Spencer, rally organizer Jason Kessler and Christopher Cantwell, dubbed the “crying Nazi” after sharing a video of himself weeping — was liable under Virginia law.

“We think that is a resounding verdict today and frankly a good sign for the future on the remaining counts,” plaintiffs attorney Karen Dunn said, referring to the allegations that the men conspired to commit racially motivated violence and failed to stop it — accusations her clients might pursue again in a future lawsuit.

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