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