Hundreds Turn Out For Peaceful Protest In Response To Virginia Violence In Collingswood

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — Something had to be done. As Collingswood residents Robin Brownfield and her husband, Michael Scheinberg, watched the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, unfold on their television, they knew they couldn’t just sit there and be silent.

“We can’t just roll over and play dead when people are getting killed over asserting their rights,” Brownfield said Sunday evening during the "Stand Against Racism And Facism In Solidarity With Charlottesville" rally they organized in their hometown.

They watched in horror the night before after a car plowed into a crowd of people believed to be counter-demonstrators at a Nazi-flavored white nationalist rally in Charlottesville on Saturday. One person, identified as 32-year-old paralegal Heather Heyer, was killed.

A few hours later, a state police helicopter that had been helping to monitor Saturday's events crashed in a wooded area, killing both troopers who were aboard the chopper. They were identified as Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen, 48, of Midlothian, Va., and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates of Quinton, Va. Both troopers died at the scene.

After watching all this unfold, Brownfield — who has been activist since the Vietnam War when she was only 14 years old — decided to organize a candlelight vigil. She organized the event, and Scheinbnerg posted it on Facebook and spread the word, beginning Saturday night. It soon took on a life of its own.

It soon evolved into a peaceful protest, as about 200 demonstrators stood at the four corners of Haddon Avenue and Cuthbert Boulevard Sunday evening. They held signs that read, “Together We Will Stop Facism and Racism,” “Dump Trump” — complete with colorful emoji — and, of course, “Hate Has No Home Here.”

They waved American flags, they sang and they chanted. “People united will never be divided.” “Love Trumps Hate.” “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go.” “No hate. No fear. Everyone is welcome here.” The anger directed at the president came after his response that the administration condemns displays of hatred, bigotry and violence on "many sides," not specifically condemning white supremacy.

And they were greeted by drivers honking back at them in solidarity. One couple that was driving through town from Clementon even stopped and joined the rally.

“It’s good to show the country that we as people care and will not remain silent just because it’s happening to someone else,” said the woman, who asked not to be identified. “ … Once upon a time you would almost never see someone go out and shoot another person. Now you see it all the time. We all just have to remain vigilant. Love conquers all.”

“I would be happy to buy a cup of coffee for anyone who disagrees with me politically and talk,” said Moorestown resident Mary McMahon. “When you show up with bats and torches, that’s different. That’s why we have jails.”

Henry Balikou, also of Moorestown, said it was important to build a community of like-minded people that’s strong enough and resilient enough to stand up for what’s right for the next couple of years.

“It’s important to recognize any outrage,” Balikou said. “If you let one get past, you’re validating this kind of treatment for politics rather than because we have standards for decency in this country. We’re talking about human lives here.”

Brownfield said she feels the turnout is representative of the larger part of the population.

“People committing acts of violence are not the majority, but they are dangerous,” she said. “They perpetrate dangerous ideas that lead mentally unstable people to do this kind of thing and think it’s OK.

“If we work together, maybe we can try to get the message out to younger generations that racist violence shouldn’t be tolerated.”

Photo credits: Anthony Bellano