On a day that the entire nation had their eyes on the sky to see the solar eclipse, Flatbush, Ditmas Park and Midwood residents had their eyes on fighting against white supremacists and neo-nazis.
More than a hundred local residents and elected officials poured into Newkirk Plaza to stand united in the “Flatbush Stands Together Hate Has No Place Here” rally.
The rally, which was quickly organized over the course of a couple of days, was in response to the recent clash between white supremacists groups and counter protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month that ended in the tragic death of three individuals.
“We wanted to come out today to let the community know that we are going to continue to fight for respect, for humanity, for love, and for peace. Even with the [Trump] administration that is in place, that is provoking this kind of hate, we are still going to fight [back] against that,” said Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park).
Among the other elected lawmakers that participated in the event were City Council Members Jumaane Williams and Mathieu Eugene, who district’s are adjacent to each other in the Flatbush and Ditmas Park area surrounding Newkirk Plaza.
The crowd stood together in a sign of love, peace and acceptance as attendees chanted, “No space for hate in Flatbush”, and “No Hate, No KKK, No Fascist USA,” while singing songs including “This Little Light of Mine,” and “This Land Is Your Land.”
“This rally shows that those that want to preach togetherness, diversity, and inclusion are larger and stronger and are the real voice of Brooklyn and I think of America. A small minority of people suggesting that America is an exclusive place for only one type of person is not our country. I think we all need to stand up from diverse backgrounds and diverse parts of the country to say ‘No’,” said Assemblyman Robert Carroll (D-Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Park Slope).
Since the violence in Charlottesville, groups and residents across the nation have been marching and protesting in a show of solidarity for the victims of the deadly clash that included 32-year-old Heather Heyer who was run over by James Alex Fields Jr, when he plowed into a group of anti-racism protesters.
Local Ditmas Park resident and mother of two young children Rachel Mazor, made sure to bring her family to the rally as a way to teach her children about the importance of inclusiveness and stand united with her fellow community members.
“As a Jewish person it was terrifying to me and as a person who cares a lot about people of color, it [the violence in Charlottesville] was terrifying to think that [being run over by a car] could happen to anyone. I want both my children to know the importance of standing up against hate,” said Mazor.
The event was also related to the growing movement to remove statues and streets honoring those that fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Just last Friday, Congress members Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay), Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn, LES, Queens) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-Central Brooklyn, Coney Island, Queens) introduced the “Honoring Real Patriots Act of 2017.” The proposed legislation would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to rename all military installations and property named for individuals who fought against the United States in the Civil War.
The group of Federal Brooklyn lawmakers will call on the Department of the Army to rename two streets at Fort Hamilton army base this week. Currently there are two streets named after Confederate generals, Stonewall Jackson Drive and General Lee Avenue.
“Memories of the kind of oppression and inhumane ways in which people behaved towards one another should definitely be erased. We should not be reminded of a confederate flag or statue, every time we are walking down the street,” said Bichotte.
