Summer of Hate: Charlottesville, USA by Hawes Spencer

Author:Hawes Spencer [Spencer, Hawes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History & Theory, United States, Political Science, State & Local, World, South (AL; AR; FL; GA; KY; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN; VA; WV), History, Politics
ISBN: 9780813942087
Google: IJPStgEACAAJ
Goodreads: 40910802
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Published: 2018-01-15T14:11:31+00:00

TURN AWAY PLEASE

On June 13, at the predominantly black Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Chief Thomas told hundreds of concerned citizens that he recommended staying away to make sure Klan members are “chanting to the rocks and trees.” He said that officials were less concerned about physical violence from the KKK than from citizens who make “poor choices.”

“Our concern is folks who get emotional—because this is emotional—and make decisions that force us to step in,” Thomas was quoted in the Progress. “Their plan is to incite without breaking the law,” Thomas said. “Don’t take the bait.”

City Councilor Wes Bellamy suggested that those who feel compelled to confront the Klan should wear black and lock their arms around Justice Park while silently facing away from the demonstrating Klan members.

Similar advice was repeated a week later on June 20, when the mayor, the city manager, and the police chief held a joint press conference outlining an array of alternative events slated for what they were calling “Unity Day” and urging the public not to give the KKK the audience it was craving.

In an interview, City Councilor Bob Fenwick said that his recent swing vote to approve the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue had brought him death threats and said he feared a repeat of recent events that resulted in discord and arrests.

“There is a faction on both left and right that want it to be rowdy and to be confrontational and to provoke,” said Fenwick. “And where has that strategy gotten us?

“As soon as the KKK started whatever event they were gonna do if we all just turned our backs on them and were silent for several minutes—and then just walked away. That would be the night that Charlottesville said no to hate.”

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