Les Solomon stood arm-in arm, face to face with a militia and white supremacists in stone-faced silence. His and other protesters’ goal: end hate in America.
Solomon was one of hundreds marching against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville Saturday. While Solomon focused on remaining calm and silent, violence erupted around him.
Police deployed tear gas, demonstrators and counter-protesters pepper sprayed one another. Then the protest turned deadly.
A 20-year-old man allegedly rammed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters at a “Unite the Right” rally of white nationalist and other right-wing groups in Charlottesville Saturday, according to posts from Charlottesville’s verified twitter account.
The suspected driver was taken into custody Saturday and identified as Ohio resident James Alex Fields Jr. He was charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and failure to stop in an accident, according to an alert by the City of Charlottesville.
The final death toll on the day was three. Two Virginia State Police officers died in the line of duty, when the Bell 407 helicopter they had underway to assist ground operations crashed.
National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster called the attack on counter-protestors “terrorism.” Public officials including Williamsburg city council, James City County Supervisors and law enforcement from across the Historic Triangle condemned the violence and mourned the dead.
Less than 24 hours after linking arms in Charlottesville, Solomon, president of the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists congregation, was standing on an old-fashioned soap box in Merchants Square, urging a crowd of nearly 200 people to lock their arms in solidarity against racism, bigotry, and white supremacy.
“We stood our ground,” Solomon said of the protest in Charlottesville. “We were there to provide a more peaceful protest. We held our arms tightly standing in silence and with determination for almost 90 minutes. It was a strong affirmation of the power of love and nonviolence in the midst of such potential of violence, bigotry and hatred.”
Organizer Frances Bell said Sunday’s vigil event was important for Williamsburg “to stand for equality, to stand for justice, and to stand for peace.”
Many people at the rally held signs condemning racism, inequality and white nationalists.
Several speakers, mostly religious leaders, took turns standing on the soap box while Bell held a megaphone to project their voices throughout Merchants Square.
“I woke up Saturday morning…and at 4 o’clock in the morning I’m going through my news feed,” Rev. Corwin Hammond of the Chickahominy Baptist Church said. “And I’m seeing the young people and old people with torches in a park. It sent chills through my soul because it took me back to a place more than 50 years ago sitting under the table as my mom prepared to protest these same things we’re protesting in 2017.”
College of William and Mary graduate students Holly Gruntner, 26, and Jim Rick, 23, said the moment they heard there was a vigil to support those injured in Charlottesville they decided to go.
“It felt like the place we call home had been violated by evil and we wanted to stand up against it,” Gruntner said.
The incidents left an impression on Gruntner. When she arrived at the vigil she felt hopeful that Virginia and the country would heal.
“People have that view of the South,” Gruntner said, standing in the crowd gathered at Merchants Square. “All of these people are proof racism isn’t the norm.”
Correction: An earlier version of this article misidentified Rev. Corwin Hammond as Rev. Corwin Williams. The article has been updated.
