August 14th, 2017

A Warning on the Violence in Charlottesville

This past weekend there was an atrocious use of violence at protests in Charlottesville,
VA. Heather Heyer, 32, was killed by a Nazi sympathizer on Saturday, August 12, 2017. The
Nazi sympathizer had allegedly been attending demonstrations in opposition to removing a statue
of Confederate General Robert E. Lee with other Neo-Nazis and white supremacy groups before
the attack. The attacker drove his vehicle through a crowd of protesters who were leaving the
rallies, killing Heather, and injuring 19 others.
This act of violence is the result of years of hostility and aggression. Fiery rhetoric from
both sides has begun to deteriorate into actual physical violence. I am not able to say which side
is guilty of the first blow or more violence. No side is innocent. An American citizen is dead
because of the irresponsible violence on both sides. I am not condoning the murder or trying to
downplay the violence perpetrated by the white supremacist factions. It is inexcusable. I am
only trying to draw attention to the violence and where it will take us.
If you use violence there will almost always be an escalation and retaliation of force.
There are those who advocate punching Nazis/Commies in the face because they disagree with
their world views. I vehemently disagree with both Nazi and Communist Ideologies. However,
before raising a fist in anger remember that those attacked will often hit back, and more violent
means of defense or attack will follow. This escalation of violence may not be immediate, but it
festers and grows over time. We have seen this with protests throughout the country.
At first, these pro-left/pro-right demonstrations were shouting matches between the
opposing sides, simply signs and yelling. However, as time went on individuals on both sides
were prevented from speaking by demonstrators. Because of this stifling of speech,
demonstrators began to become more physically aggressive, pushing and shoving, trying to be
heard. These clashes would often lead to blows with fists or whatever could be used. Physical
violence and oppression of the opposing views practice of the first amendment through physical
means have led to a presence of armed protestors, like the ones at Charlottesville.
I do not agree with the alt-rights platform of hatred and intimidation, I only note that they
feel justified for their use of force.
In combatting this hatred and bigotry we must be careful. We must not respond to their
violence with more violence and destruction. Reacting in such a way will only beget more
violence. Is Heathers death justification for more violence? No. If there is retaliation and a
member of a white supremacist group is killed, they will use it to justify further violence. It is a
vicious cycle with incredible consequences that we cannot fall into.
We must meet their inflammatory rhetoric and violence with reason, and a message of
love and compassion, of non-violence.
We must look to our leaders of the past to guide our actions if we are to avoid dragging
ourselves into greater violence. Consider and study the teachings and actions of Martin Luther
King, Mahatma Gandhi, the leaders of the womens suffrage movement, and even the Plebians
of ancient Rome. By their examples, we have seen that peaceful resistance to violence can be
more powerful than responding in kind with violence.
If those not present at the demonstrations see two sides clashing no one seems especially
guilty and it is almost impossible to place blame as it rests with both sides, even if one side is
more violent than the other. On the other hand, if one side remains nonviolent and peaceful more
merit lies with them.
It will not be easy to remain peaceful against those trying to spark violence, history has
shown us that. History has also shown us that our non-violence can change the world.
Now, I issue a warning to those who consider violence to be the pathway to equality and
justice: Your violence will have a crippling affect that will devolve to bloodshed and greater loss
of life. If violence is what you choose, expect resistance, be ready for carnage. If you strike with
a fist, your enemy will strike with a rod. There will continue to be an intensification of force until
more, and more people are killed. This has been proven by the 34 injured and one killed in
Charlottesville. Violence breeds more violence unless we collectively say, Enough!
Non-violence is not surrender. It is the beginning of resistance.
-Valerius