Editing Christopher Cantwell (section)

== Unite the Right Rally and aftermath ==
During the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017, Cantwell was filmed shouting "Jews will not replace us!" with a crowd of other [[White Supremacy|white supremacists]].<ref>[https://splinternews.com/crying-nazi-banned-from-virginia-for-5-years-1827776742 'Crying Nazi' Banned From Virginia for 5 Years After Guilty Plea], ''Splinter News''</ref> He ranted about how the Alt-Right are not nonviolent, and threatened to kill several protestors.<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/white-supremacist-ready-violence-cries-charlottesville-arrest-warrant-651682 White Supremacist Who Boasted About Being 'Ready for Violence' Cries Over Possible Charlottesville Arrest Warrant], ''Newsweek''</ref> He also allegedly pepper-sprayed several counter-protestors. Following the rally, a warrant was put out for Cantwell's arrest due to his actions during the rally. On his podcast ''Radical Agenda'', Cantwell published a video of him talking about the warrant during which he struggled to hold back tears, resulting in widespread mockery of Cantwell and earning him the nickname "The Crying Nazi".<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/christopher-cantwell-charlottesville-crying-nazi-wants-sympathy-jail-657675 Christopher Cantwell, the Charlottesville 'Crying Nazi,' Wants Your Sympathy From Jail], ''Newsweek''</ref>

Cantwell turned himself in on 24 August, and was indicted on counts of unlawful bodily injury, assault and battery, malicious injury with a caustic substance and public intoxication. He pleaded guilty to public intoxication and received a fine of $116. The charges of unlawful bodily and malicious injury with a caustic substance were later dropped on the grounds that so many people at the rally had pepper spray it was impossible to tell if Cantwell was responsible.<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/11/13/after-hearing-christopher-cantwell-faces-one-remaining-felony-charge After hearing, Christopher Cantwell faces one remaining felony charge], Southern Poverty Law Center</ref> He later pleaded guilty to assault and battery and served seven months in jail.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190323144718/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/crying-nazi-barred-from-virginia-after-pleading-guilty-to-assault-during-charlottesville-rally/2018/07/20/164480a4-8c5f-11e8-81bf-28c7cd96bbc2_story.html ‘Crying Nazi’ pleads guilty to assault committed during Charlottesville rally], ''The Washington Post''</ref> He was also banned from entering the State of Virginia for five years.<ref>[https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/white-nationalist-christopher-cantwell-banned-from-virginia-for-five-years/article_b7eccde9-6f3d-532d-97ec-69ce34fce05e.html White nationalist Christopher Cantwell banned from Virginia for five years after pleading guilty to assault at UVA torch march], ''Richmond Times''</ref>

In October 2017, Cantwell, Jason Kessler, [[Richard Spencer]] and a number of other individuals and groups involved in the rally were sued by nine Charlottesville residents for violating the civil rights of the people of Charlottesville by inciting the violence that occurred at the rally. On November 23, 2021, a jury found all defendants liable on a charge of civil conspiracy and found Cantwell, Kessler, Spencer, [[Elliott Kline]] and [[Robert Ray|Robert "Azzmador" Ray]] liable for race-based harassment or violence. Cantwell was ordered to pay a total of $700, 000 in damages.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/unite-the-right-lawsuit-charlottesville-b1963126.html Jury awards $25m to victims in 2017 'Unite the Right' assault], ''The Independent''</ref> The jury was unable to reach a verdict on charges of federal conspiracy to incite violence.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/charlottesville-trial-verdict-jury-finds-prominent-white-supremacist-leaders-liable-11637698395 Charlottesville Trial Verdict: Jury Finds Prominent White Supremacist Leaders Liable], ''The Wall Street Journal''</ref>