Last weekend, white supremacists descended on Charlottesville, Virginia. The stated reason for this hate rally was to speak out against efforts to tear down monuments to Confederate "heroes." However, it quickly became clear that more sinister motives were at play. Protesters do not normally carry lit torches or assault weapons, and protesters do not generally use motor vehicles as battering rams against counterprotesters. One young woman Heather Heyer was killed by that vehicle, and countless others were physically harmed by these thugs.
In this time of national tragedy and unrest, where was our president? It took him a full day to respond to the events that had unfolded in Charlotesville. When he did respond, he stated that both sides were to blame and created a moral equivalency between hate-filled bigots and those who chose to stand up to their intimidation. Two days later, that same president read a more contrite statement from a teleprompter. There might as well have been a gun to this head as it was clear that these words were quite hollow. That he walked back his comments two days later and again claimed a moral equivalency between white supremacists and counterprotestors is enough to fill one with hopelessness.
However, this is no time to lose hope. We already knew that racists and white supremacists were among us. It just was not clear that these people might be our neighbors, loan officers, or policemen. Now we know at least who some of these people are. Likewise, we already knew this president was a bigot based on his housing discrimination lawsuit settlements, his birther lie, and his comments about Mexican-Americans and Muslims. There can be no question now where this man and his supporters stand, which is why it is so important for us to stand against them and for justice.
In today's New York Times, the author Nathan Englander, who is Jewish, wrote about what Charlottesville means to him and
young Jewish kids or other minority groups across the country. It was a stirring piece and reminded me of my experiences with racism as a child. I can still recall the many times I was called a "Paki," a nigger, or toilet face-all before the age of 10. I remember the time someone smeared dog poop on our front door handle and when a teenager in high school threw a drink in my face and told me to "go back to Iraq" during the first gulf war.
Charlottesville was an example of the hate that filled those personal moments on full display for the entire world to see, and the lack of condemnation from the most powerful man in the country sent a clear message. To his supporters, what happened and how he responded means that they know they have a friend and ally in the White House. They have been emboldened.
However, there is also a message for those who have opposed this president or those who are only now outraged. We cannot stand by and let the hate, racism, and intolerance win out. We have an obligation to speak out, to protest, and to use peaceful, democratic means to wrest our country back before it is too late.
Today, I am reminded by a famous quotation from the German Protestant pastor Martin Niemoller. Let us never forget these words and let us work together to overcome hate with love and ignorance with reason. What other choice is there?
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
