<p>About 80 people sang and chanted at the Civil War statue in Oak Bluffs Saturday afternoon in support of counter-protests to the recent events in Charlottesville, Va.</p>
About 80 people sang and chanted at the Soldiers’ Memorial Fountain in Oak Bluffs Saturday afternoon in support of counter-protests to the recent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va.
Organized by a group called Indivisible MVY, the rally included longtime Vineyard peace activists and clergy members.
Rallies against racism were held around the country Saturday, including in Boston.
The Civil War monument in Oak Bluffs was a gathering place for prayers, chanting and remarks.
The Civil War monument in Oak Bluffs was a gathering place for prayers, chanting and remarks.
At the Civil War statue in Ocean Park there were remarks, prayers and a moment of silence for Heather Heyer, who died in Charlottesville when a car drove into a crowd of peaceful marchers.
“It is our privilege and our duty as American citizens to raise our voices, to be seen and heard across the country,” event organizer Carla Cooper said. “Hate groups and white supremacy have no place in this nation.”
After a few rounds of song, including We Shall Overcome and This Little Light of Mine, people broke into small groups.
Some questioned the meaning of the location, debating a plaque on the Civil War statue that honors Confederate soldiers and a unified nation.
Charles Strahan, a former Confederate soldier and Vineyard newspaperman whose family had been divided by the Civil War, built the monument in 1891 as a symbol of reunifying the North and South.
“There should not be any homage paid to Confederate soldiers inside the Massachusetts . . . There should not be a single word of Confederacy on any of the statues,” said John Cheeks, who suggested removing three lines on the plaque paying tribute to Confederate soldiers.
“The big question is, why are we meeting here, near this statue, of all things? We’re really here to prevent this kind of thing,” said Doris Lubell.
Others disagreed. “The statue represents both sides of the Civil War . . . I think it’s totally appropriate that we’re here singing for and standing for and talking about openness and decency toward humanity,” said Alex Palmer.
Caroline Hunter suggested the rally was called for another reason. “The event today was about resisting what our president is doing. It’s not about this monument,” she said.
Comments
A unified nation, healing
George Stein EdgartownA unified nation, healing wounds and honoring a generation long ago who took their first amendment rights to create bloodshed. Is that where we are headed know ? The empowerment of the self appointed saviors of today's morality need to follow the insight of Tip O'Neil, all politics is local. Be a neighbor, work in your community as a volunteer helping others. I find sadness in the vision of those who only way to achieve self importance is bring issues long ago examined as their crusade. Kids and seniors folks. Honor America a build a future we can all be proud of.
Many young lives were lost
nancy murray edgartownMany young lives were lost and some of the monuments helped people heal or reflect the way a visit to the grave yard does for some people. No one is bringing the Old South back to life. What's next? grave yards? libraries? family bibles? Should we burn (again) the South? Many former confederate leaders went on the unify and build a new nation. What are we doing?
The statue honors Union
Charles Shabica Oak BluffsThe statue honors Union soldiers and is a symbol of reconciliation. We're all brothers and sisters and should be looking out for each other, not fighting or trying to rewrite history.
I applaud those who view this
Gertrude (Gee Gee) Barden Porter Ranch, CAI applaud those who view this statue as it was intended, a symbol to help unify the North and South, created in the spirit of what Lincoln called for at Gettysburg, asking all for help in binding the nation's wounds. It reminds me of the wonderful story of the only thing that Lincoln asked for as reparations after the war was won: that all the bands in the area play "Dixie", a song that he loved.
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