Youtube Mark Heyer, Heather Heyer's father, speaks to a local news outlet from his driveway in Florida.
Heather Heyer was killed on Saturday when a car, driven by 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr., rammed into a group of counterprotesters opposing a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Her father, Mark Heyer, has spoken out about his daughter’s passing, saying that she was passionate about helping people and tried to bring about that purpose. Other family and friends have praised Heather’s efforts, saying that her death has inspired them to fight for equality.
Heather worked as a legal assistant at a law firm in Charlottesville. Also killed during Saturday’s events were two Virginia State Police troopers who were aboard a helicopter that crashed outside Charlottesville.
Read on to learn more about Mark Heyer.
1. He Has Said He Forgives the Man Who Killed His Daughter
Speaking to the local newspaper on Monday, Mark said he forgives James Alex Fields Jr., who has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one count of hit-and-run.
“People need to stop hating, and they need to forgive each other. And I include myself in that, in forgiving the guy that did this,” he said. “He doesn’t know no better. You know, I just think of what the Lord said on the cross. Lord forgive him, they don’t know what they’re doing.”
The New York Post quotes Mark as saying, “I can’t hate the man who did this to her because that would make me as bad as the people who did this.”
2. Heather’s Parents Were Divorced
FacebookHeather Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, and her husband.
The photo above shows Heather’s mother, Susan Bro, and the man she is married to today.
Mark Heyer and Susan Bro (formerly Susan Heyer) are divorced. Speaking to the Orlando Sentinel on Sunday about how he learned of his daughter’s death, Mark said, “My ex-wife told me we lost our baby… I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t seen the news and didn’t know what was happening.”
Mark explained that he spent most of Sunday coming to terms with Heather’s passing. “Everyone from New York to Miami is calling. It seems like my daughter’s famous now — but it’s for losing her life,” he said. “She died doing what she always did: standing up for what she believed in.”
3. Mark Lives in Florida and Last Saw Heather a Few Years Ago
Mark, who currently lives in Sharpes, Florida, last saw his daughter a few years ago when his son’s wife gave birth in North Carolina, according to the Orlando Sentinel. He explained that Heather grew up in Virginia with his ex-wife.
Mark tried calling Heather last week for their “monthly check-ins” to see what she’d been up to lately.
“I didn’t always agree with her all the time, but what I did agree with was that she was willing to stand up for her passions and try to promote equality for everyone,” Mark told the outlet. “It was never just lip service with her … I lost my baby girl because she fought for this.”
4. His Ex-Wife Has Praised Her Daughter’s Efforts
Mark’s ex-wife, Susan Bro, has spoken to a variety of news outlets about their daughter’s death. She tells the Huffington Post that Heather “always had a very strong sense of right and wrong, she always — even as a child — was very caught up in what she believed to be fair.”
Susan shares with NBC that her daughter was always passionate about justice, equality, and fair treatment. “You better be able to explain to her why something is true or not true. I encouraged and allowed her to be strong-willed… not that I probably could have changed her if I wanted. It was important to her to speak up for people she felt were not being heard.”
5. Mark Has Said He Aspires to Follow His Daughter’s Example
Mark Heyer says his daughter had “passionate opinions about the equality of everyone” & “tried to stand up for that”
Mark has said he aspires to follow his daughter’s example. Speaking to a local newspaper from his driveway in Florida on Monday, Mark said, “I’m proud of her for standing up. She had more courage than I did. She had more courage than I did. She had a stubborn backbone. She thought she was right. She would stand there and defy you.”
He added on that he hopes her life and actions will inspire others to forgive and rally peacefully. “I hope that her life and what has transpired changes people’s hearts. You can fight all you want and fuss and cuss and do all that stuff, but when you take your last breath, it’s over. It’s done!”
