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24 Hours in Charlottesville by Nora Neus

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An Oral History of the Stand against White Supremacy

This took me right inside an event I knew very little about – the stand against the right-wing and white nationalist groups who joined the ‘Unite the Right’ rally at the Lee statue in Charlottesville in mid-August 2017.

The viewpoints in this oral history are gathered from hours of interviews with officials, faith leaders, students, activists, journalists and more – all of them involved either on the ground, or overseeing the rally. Their voices mix defiance with regret and fear, and anger with disbelief that such an event could happen and did happen in their city. Also included are brief excerpts from the media and official reports. White supremacists are not interviewed.

On the day the park is surrounded by members of heavily armed militia groups and the National Guard, each looking much like the other. Counterprotesters, including robed clergy, enter the park. Some of them are singing. Next come the white supremacist groups carrying shields and banners, and wearing helmets. The police stand by watching. They take no action even as the event erupts into mayhem and injury. Some three hours later a state of emergency is declared and the park evacuated. Sadly this is not the end of the fighting, nor of the marching. Then comes tragedy.

I found it a gripping account – an insight into an America I did not know, and a reminder of how quickly things can get out of control … and of how brave you have to be to take a stand.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

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Once it’s not you, you feel safe you know

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(In this piece I do not use quotation marks, as I may not have recalled the words exactly as said).

I’ve just listened to an interview with a journalist based in Gaza – a man from the region. He was so calm, and his voice so pleasant, despite having endured what I’ve heard described as the heaviest night of Israeli bombardment.

Towards the end of the interview there was the sound in the background of an aircraft approaching, and then a distant thudding sound.

Do you need to take cover? The interviewer’s question jittered down the line.

Oh. Okay, came the quiet response. Then, just as I presumed the interview was over, the voice from Gaza returned, strong and even. No. It’s okay. It’s about 100m away.

But … aren’t you frightened?

I paused, my coffee cup suspended and waited for the response, as my mind struggled to process what I was hearing. I could not understand properly that I was listening to words from a place of unspeakable violence – words offered up as evidence by a man prepared to sacrifice himself to help others see what could not be said.

You are so calm, the interviewer added respectfully.

Oh, once it’s not you, you feel safe you know, said the quiet voice.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

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When all is calm

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The end of another week. I hope it is calm and full of peace where you are, and I think of all those where there is no chance of feeling such stillness.

This past week, as with so many weeks, the darkest news has filled the headlines. The every days, and the quiet happinesses just have to tick on anonymously. Perhaps they’ll get a chance to feature in the new week. If they do, I hope we’ll find the time to notice them.

Life’s pulse is so unpredictable it’s all too easy to take for granted the moments that matter, to think that they’ll last longer than usual, or return as easily as they might have come. But it doesn’t always work that way. What I’ve come to realise is that if they do come your way, you should grab them and hold on to them. Enjoy them.

I’ve also learned that sometimes the best times aren’t always that easy to recognise … at least not at first.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023