Massive 'Outpouring of Solidarity,' Thousands … Including LA … Rally for Charlottesville
RESISTANCE WATCH---Thousands of Americans in cities across the country rallied Sunday night to denounce the racism displayed at the so-called "Unite the Right" rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, and to mourn the death of Heather Heyer, an activist who was killed Saturday during an anti-racist demonstration. (Update on Los Angeles support here.)
"This attack is a reminder of the nation's darkest heritage; the outpouring of solidarity following is a reminder of its best."
—Ben Wikler, MoveOn.orgJames Alex Fields Jr.—who was charged with second-degree murder after he plowed his car into a crowd of demonstrators, killing Heyer and injuring around two dozen others—has been characterized by one of his former teachers as a Nazi sympathizer.
Following the deadly attack, activist groups mobilized rapidly, planning vigils and "Solidarity with Charlottesville" events throughout the nation. According to a map Indivisible shared with Vox, nearly 700 events were scheduled in a matter of hours. (Photo left: Los Angeles supporter.)
"This is a moment when we need to demonstrate that we as a nation have the capacity to stand together in the face of hate," Ben Wikler, Washington director of MoveOn.org, told Vox's Jeff Stein.
"Just as Trump's election led to the women's march, this white supremacist terror is sparking a nationwide outpouring based on the idea that we can build a democracy of shared religions and shared races," Wikler added. "This attack is a reminder of the nation's darkest heritage; the outpouring of solidarity following is a reminder of its best."
(Jake Johnson writes for Common Dreams … where this report originated.)
-cw
