Jason Eric Kessler (born September 22, 1983) is an American neo-Nazi, white supremacist, antisemitic conspiracy theorist, and alt-right activist. Raised in a liberal Jewish family in Clarksville, Maryland, he initially identified with left-wing causes, participating in Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011 and blogging in support of progressive issues. By 2015, he underwent a radical ideological shift, embracing white nationalism and antisemitism, which he attributed to personal grievances and exposure to alt-right online communities. This transformation led him to found the group Unity and Security for America and to promote racist ideologies through blogging and social media, often under pseudonyms. Kessler gained national notoriety for organizing the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 11–12, 2017, a gathering of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and alt-right figures that turned violent, resulting in the death of counter-protester Heather Heyer and numerous injuries. The event drew widespread condemnation, with Kessler accused of inciting hatred and facing multiple lawsuits, including a federal civil rights lawsuit from victims that resulted in a 2021 judgment against him for $25 million in damages, which he has largely evaded. He organized a smaller Unite the Right 2 rally in 2018 in Washington, D.C., which saw low attendance. Kessler has been arrested several times, including for disorderly conduct during the 2017 rally and for trespassing in 2017, and has faced allegations of doxxing and harassment. Criticized by civil rights groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center for promoting Holocaust denial and eugenics, Kessler continues to operate on the fringes of the far-right, though his influence has waned post-Charlottesville. Legally, he has been involved in ongoing litigation related to the rally, settling some claims while declaring bankruptcy to avoid payments. He has been condemned for his antisemitic rhetoric, including claims of Jewish conspiracies controlling media and government, and for associating with groups like the National Policy Institute and Identity Evropa. Despite his notoriety, Kessler has maintained a low profile in recent years, residing in Florida and sporadically engaging in online activism.