RadioOnFire.com - A massive rally and march against white supremacy was held in north Baltimore. Organizers picked a park with a Confederate statue as their meeting point.
Hundreds of people took part in Sunday's rally and march. Organizers said Sunday's action was important, but the fight continues with people confronting hate in their daily lives.
There were renewed calls for Baltimore to remove its Confederate statues in the aftermath of a violent clash between white nationalists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.
"I'm not surprised you can't have a country founded on genocide and the oppression of others and be surprised that events like this happen," said Tynesha Ceasar, who attended the rally.
"Hate is not at an all-time high. It's on a continuum. This white supremacy iconography has been here for a minute, emanating hate from this spot. John Wilkes Booth (is) buried in Greenmount Cemetery. Baltimore is littered," a speaker said.
A statue of Gens. Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee served as the backdrop for a protest against white supremacy in Charles Village.
"The KKK will not rise again, but we will win," another speaker said.
Hundreds gathered at Wyman Park Dell to rally against the KKK, neo-Nazi groups, bigotry and hatred.
"I was horrified over what happened in Charlottesville. I mean, I can't believe in 2017 we're still dealing with racism," said Carrie Cammarato, who attended the rally.
The interim president and CEO of the NAACP released the following statement:
"We are working and living under an administration that campaigned on hatred, that campaigned on discrimination, that campaigned on xenophobia. They have given permission and a platform for bigots."
More people joined the group as it marched through the streets to spread its message: No hate. No fear. Everyone is welcome here.
Organizers said the fight against hate continues with everyday conversations.
"Most likely, the people it's going to be hardest for you to confront are those that you would have the most influence on, that you would sit at Thanksgiving dinner with -- your mother, your father, your brother, your sister, those that think those things and sometimes they don't even realize they think them -- having those hard conversations. It will be uncomfortable, but it's extremely necessary if we want to move forward," community organizer Ralikh Hayes said.
A special commission recommended removing the Lee Jackson monument and the Roger B. Taney monument in August 2016.
Mayor Catherine Pugh said she has every intention of removing those statues, and placing them elsewhere.
Earlier Saturday, a church celebrated its diverse congregation and prayed for Charlottesville, which was the site of a violent clash Saturday between thousands of white nationalists and counter protesters.
The Church of the Nativity welcomed people for its usual Sunday service at which there was a conversation about the events in Charlottesville. Some people at the service said they followed the events in Charlottesville very closely and they're hoping that prayer can help everyone heal.
"Events like yesterday makes me rely on my faith and my family to realize that we can change things, and coming to church and being around people that love respect and honor helps us," said Mona Crutchfield Nefferdorf, who attended the church service.
"It is not acceptable for us to sit at home today and stay stuck on Facebook. We must talk with one another and be with one another at difficult times like this and challenge one another," said the Rev. Stewart Lucas, of the Church of the Nativity.
Source WBAL
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