WARD, Ark. – In Lonoke County, there’s a world many people only see on TV.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cry,” says Tamera Goodwin.
Tamera’s son, 22-year-old Jacob Goodwin, has been behind bars since November for his alleged involvement in an attack on an African-American man during a white supremacist rally in Virginia.
“He said mom, this white guy was getting beat up, and I said oh my god what did y’all do? He said well we retaliated, we couldn’t let him get beat up,” says Goodwin.
NBC Left Field met with Jacob’s family.
“I’m glad you’re my son and not somebody else’s son,” says Scott Goodwin.
“I love you,” Jacob says from the Lonoke County Jail.
While in jail, Jacob says he’s a member of the Arkansas ShieldWall Network and went to Charlottesville to join the protest.
“This is my cause and this is something I will fight for,” says Jacob.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” says Tamera.
Jacob’s friend, Zach Taylor, calls the 22-year-old a strong-minded person fighting for their common cause.
“I would switch places with Jacob in a second if I could,” says Taylor.
In a ShieldWall meeting, Jacob’s parents offer their home for a training on military formation.
Tamera says she’s allowing them to train on her family’s property because the members of the ShieldWall are the only ones supporting her son.
“We have property so if we need to build a bonfire and do that at the house or whatever in the afternoon we can do that,” says Tamera.
White Supremacist Billy Roper has been helping collect donations for Jacob’s legal expenses.
“You’re helping me raise this man too, you don’t realize, but you are,” says Tamera.
“I don’t owe a Jewish person anything. They are the owns who denied Christ,” says Scott.
A world that may seem far away but up close in Lonoke County.
“Hail victory,” says Tamera.
“Something great has to come out of it,” says Jacob.
The 22-year-old is charged with Unlawful Wounding, a felony which carries up to 20 years in prison.
Watch the full NBC Left Field documentary here:
