It’s been almost a year since the “Unite the Right” march and rally in Charlottesville left a counter protester and activist named Heather Hyer dead and countless others injured and wounded when the crowd became increasingly agitated and grew out of control while the Charlottesville Police stood by. Why did they stand by and allow what was a clear agenda of hate and intolerance build to a point where the event was out of control? Perhaps, it was in an effort to allow those that had gathered in the small college town to fully express their 1st amendment right of freedom of speech and to freely assemble. Perhaps, in an effort to avoid being accused of inhibiting or impeding such rights, the police just stood by, making their presence felt by sheer numbers alone. Perhaps, they wanted to avoid any perception that they were inserting themselves into the protest by choosing “sides”?
I know there have been countless numbers of post-mortem discussions, community forums and debates on these and other questions related to what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia last August. And all of this after what was deemed a “post-racial” America was attributed to the election and two-term Presidency of Barack Hussein Obama. A president elected by both the outdated and archaic Electoral College and the popular vote re-affirming a democracy whereby the People and the Vote of the People was responsible for installing into the American Presidency the president elected by the majority. It seems so long ago.
Well, we’re only 90-plus days away from the November mid-term elections and it’s not hyperbolic to say they could be the most consequential elections in decades. Not too long ago, a group of engaged citizens in Richmond decided that something had to be done in the wake of Charlottesville and the arduous process of examining our own city, its monuments, symbols and History was long overdue. The Monument Avenue Commission was established in June 2017 to explore the question of what to do with the Confederate monuments located on historic Monument Avenue. It was time to assess our city and what type of city we wanted to be. Could what happened in Charlottesville happen here in RVA? Of course it could. After numerous meetings, community gatherings, discussion and debate the outcome was that we were going to take a step towards being a more inclusive and understanding city. What was abundantly clear was that people were both passionate and diverse as to their feelings and opinions regarding the symbols of the Confederacy that adorned Monument Avenue and that all perspectives and opinions had an opportunity to be heard, challenged, discussed and considered.
Ultimately, it was decided that the statue of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States, would be removed as a beginning and that signage should be added to the remaining four statues that honor the Confederacy to give historical context and perspective. The People decided that Monument Avenue should not and cannot remain as it is, it must be changed in order to provide Richmond with some type of re-consideration of her historic legacy and a “type” of reconciliation of a particular past that is viewed by many as both sacred and profane. The People are the ones who provided the opportunity for CHANGE. Change is possible. Do NOT Standby! Get an understanding, get engaged in the process and Stand Up and DO something.
