Church in Nelson County desecrated with banner defending Fields

A white sheet covered the Pine Hill Baptist Church sign for all who traveled north on Route 29 through Nelson County to see. It read, "JAMES FIELDS DID NOTHING WRONG."

This came less than a week after a jury decided James Fields, Jr. should spend life in prison for the death of Heather Heyer and the injuries of many others who were hit by his car on Aug. 12, 2017.

Marissa Martin said Pine Hill is the church she grew up in surrounded by her relatives. Now she fears that they are being targeted because of her.

"Unfortunately she was with us and with a group of people who were marching up Fourth street," said Martin. "And Heather got hit. And we found out in the hospital."

She watched as her husband Marcus and Heyer were hit by Fields' car on the day of the Unite the Right rally. She wants to believe that this connection to her is just a coincidence.

"I just want to hope that it wasn't specifically targeting me," said Martin. "I want to hope that this isn't the community. That this is a very few select individuals."

The bottom of the banner cited the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website that has blogged about the Fields case, unhappy with his conviction.

Pastor Aaron Wade said the sheet was taken down before the service. He addressed it with the congregation in his sermon.

"We embrace the fact that love is greater than hate," said Wade. "One of the greatest tests in life is the ability to love your enemies."

Wade said the Nelson County Sheriff's Office took the sheet as evidence to try to find who left it. Nelson County Commonwealth's Attorney Daniel Rutherford said if the sheriff's office finds who it was and recommends charges, then they will be prosecuted.

"To anyone who thinks that either they can intimidate or can put their delusions about what might have occurred from when the jury spoke in Charlottesville, is not just plainly wrong but picked the wrong county to do that in," said Rutherford.

CBS19 has contacted the publisher of the Daily Stormer, Andrew Anglin. This web story will be updated if he responds.