In response to the President’s latest role as a neo-nazi apologist, several Dallas groups organized a rally against white supremacy on Saturday, August 19, from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. I am assuming they made this an evening event because the organizers didn’t want people falling out from sun stroke during the day. But even after dark, it was oppressively hot. But it was worth it. It was worth seeing men and women of all races disavowing racism and hate. This, I thought, is MY America, and it is beautiful.
One speaker said something that will stay with me forever:
“White supremacy comes with a body count.”
And it does.
That is why we gathered tonight.
White Silence is Violence, read one sign.
Yes, Dear Reader, it is.
If you have the privilege of being white, you have an obligation to challenge injustice and racism. We cannot be silent. Silence is complicity.
I, for one, will not be complicit.
The Dallas PD was well prepared and very professional. Many streets were blocked off by buses and dump trucks. No one was getting run over on their watch! The police were out in force: on horse, on foot, in cars. The Confederate monument in Pioneer Park was completely cordoned off and protected by
armed state police.
On all rooftops looking down on the plaza in front of city hall there were armed police officers with binoculars.
The ACLU had a dozen or more legal observers present.
There was a group of Methodists who truly believed that God is love: love for all, not just white heterosexuals. (Who knew??)
About ninety minutes into the event, a police helicopter circled just above the buildings, scanning the crowd with its light, completely drowning out the speakers. It made me think this was a passive aggressive way of encouraging dispersal.
Due to the heat and lack of water, my fellow resistors and I left about thirty minutes early. On our way to our parking lot, we saw that many people were gathering in Pioneer Park.
When we started walking toward the growing crowd by the cemetery, someone shouted “run.” And I did. Without question, without looking back. Heroes don’t get to write blogs over a glass of wine afterwards. (Just saying.)
After finding my companions and my car, we saw DPD SWAT mobilizing.
There is something painfully alarming, and unsurprisingly disarming, to witness heavily armed groups of police dissolving into a tree line surrounding a crowd being lit by a police helicopter. Apparently there were neo-nazis pitching a fit over their beloved Confederate monument.
I am pretty sure this police intervention will be attributed to the “alt-left.”
I can’t help but wonder, will the two thousand peaceful protesters be highlighted on the news, if we get coverage at all? Probably not. Love and peace is not exciting.
Until it is.
Friends, keep protesting.
Revolution is our inheritance.
Americans protest.
We protest and we resist and eventually, we will prevail.