The mother of Heather Heyer, who was killed during the anti-fascist protests in Virginia, has said she wants her daughter’s death to be a “rallying cry for justice and equality”.

Ms Heyer, 32, was killed in Charlottesville when a car driven by a suspected neo-Nazi ploughed into a crowd of people who were protesting against a white supremacist rally in the city on Saturday.

Twenty-five people were injured in the attack. James Alex Fields, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and failure to stop at the scene of an accident that resulted in a death, according to police.

Speaking to The Huffington Post, Susan Bro said: “I don’t want her death to be a focus of more hatred, I want her death to be a rallying cry for justice and equality and fairness and compassion”.

During the emotional interview Ms Bro told the publication that her daughter had always been compassionate and had a “strong sense of right and wrong”.

“No mother wants to lose a child, but I’m proud of her,” she added.

A GoFundMe campaign set up in Ms Heyer’s memory raised $225,000 (£173,000) over the weekend. The campaign, which has since been closed, carried a statement from Ms Bro that said: “She died doing what was right. My heart is broken, but I am forever proud of her.”

Social media users have shared Ms Heyer’s final Facebook post since her death. The message, from 2016, reads: “If you’re not outraged you’re not paying attention.”

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Donald Trump’s response to the violence in Virginia received a torrent of criticism after he failed to directly denounce the actions of the neo-Nazis and KKK members who arrived in Charlottesville to protest the removal of a Confederate Statue.

A state of emergency was declared in the city after the rally held by white nationalists, and the counter-protests held by anti-fascists, became violent.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides. On many sides,” he said after the protests.

The White House has since said the President condemns white supremacist groups. “The President said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred and that of course includes white supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazi and all extremist groups,” the statement read.

“He called for national unity and bringing all Americans together.”

The statement from the governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, about the violence was markedly different from the President’s.

“I have a message to all the white supremacists and the Nazis who came into Charlottesville today. Our message is plain and simple: go home.

“You are not wanted in this great commonwealth. Shame on you.”

One of the organisers of the Unite the Right rally, Jason Kessler, attempted to give a press conference in Charlottesville following the violence, but he was chased away by protesters.