Like most Americans, Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Chris Long was appalled by the terrorist attack in Charlottesville that claimed one life and injured 19 other people. However, for Long, who is a native of Charlottesville, the attack hit even closer to home.
On Sunday, Long spoke out against the terrorist attack. He made it clear that this isn’t a political issue, but rather that it’s a simple issue about “right and wrong.”
He also called out “very important people” who had a chance to “strike it down and didn’t.”
Chris Long, who's from Charlottesville and went to UVa., feels a responsibility to speak up about what's happening there. Here's why: pic.twitter.com/9vHFk6zjEp
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 13, 2017
The attack occurred on a side street when a silver 2010 Dodge Challenger, registered to James Alex Fields Jr., plowed into a group of people who were counter-protesting the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville.
According to The Washington Post, “The accused driver, James Alex Fields Jr., 20, of Ohio, had espoused extremist ideals at least since high school, according to Derek Weimer, a history teacher.”
Fields has been arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one count of hit-and-run attended failure to stop with injury, according to police, per the report.