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Holy Week resources and reflections

Photo Album: Charlottesville community meeting – what can we do now?

Following a weekend of violence in which white nationalists spilled their bigotry and hatred onto the streets of Charlottesville, the people of the town turned out to start figuring out what comes next.

A standing-room-only crowd filled a meeting room at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center on the evening of Aug. 14 to talk about the Unite the Right rally, about the prospect of more white nationalist demonstrations in Virginia or elsewhere, about what the community can do to heal, identify the broken places, and resist hatred.

The crowd included young people and old, whites and people of color, long-time activists and newcomers, filling the chairs, sitting on the floor, leaning in the doorways.

People broke up into small groups to share ideas, strategize, learn one another’s names. Outlook editor Jill Duffield was there – among those discussing this question: “What do we do now?”

Resolve was the mood of the packed auditorium. The citizens of Charlottesville gathered to listen to local leaders who have been deeply involved in addressing racism in the community not just in the face of Unite the Right Rally and its bloody aftermath, but for years. The leader of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, the pastor of Mt. Zion First African Baptist church and the city’s former mayor, Alvin Edwards, said, “We need to stand up and show the strength of this community,” the strength of a community standing together. “We are going to oppose this.”

Victims of the weekend’s violence were named, including Heather Heyer, a paralegal killed when a car plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters, and a moment of silence was held as they were remembered.

There was a spirit of unity, guarded hope, but mostly: resolve. Resolve to do whatever it takes to “un-invite” white supremacists and make sure they know they are not welcome.

There was a willingness to name the evil, but also lift up the good: the more than 200 clergy from across the nation who answered the call to stand up to hate in Charlottesville, the University of Virginia student who faced off the torch-wielding white supremacists on Friday evening, the size of the crowd in the room.

After the panelists spoke, the gathering broke into small groups to discuss and record recommendations for how to move forward to confront racism in the community.

Those recommendations will be given to city and state officials. People shared their contact information, so the conversation can continue. More meetings are in the works.

Resolve. The moderator asked: “Are you feeling more hopeful tonight?”

All photos by Jill Duffield.

A community meeting in Charlottesville Aug. 14 drew a capacity crowd.
The crowd broke up into small groups to brainstorm about ideas.
People came determined, ready to share ideas.
Suggestions lined the walls.
The news media was out in force.
Conversations continued after the end of the official meeting

 

 

 

 

 

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