Memorial Park vigil denounces racism, hate after Charlottesville tragedy

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.Just one day after protests in Virginia turned deadly, members of the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition held a vigil in Memorial Park to denounce racism and hate.

The vigil was held in response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, where white supremacists clashed with counterprotesters.

Sunday’s vigil was very peaceful, thanks to the large number of police keeping an eye on everyone. Only one person was removed from the park following a skirmish with a man holding a Confederate flag.

The event was quickly organized after one person was killed and more than 30 were injured in Charlottesville when a man drove his car into a crowd. Paula Higgins arrived at the vigil from Tampa to let her voice be heard about what happened and President Trump’s response.

“I’m ashamed of a president who can’t speak out and say white supremacists have no place in our country, or anywhere in the world, really,” Higgins said.

Many of the people attending the vigil said they wanted to do away with Confederate symbols and anything else that reminded them of slavery and oppression.

Seber Newsome, a member of Save our Heritage Florida, was approached by a man while he was waving a Confederate flag behind the crowd.

“He pushed me: 'Get out of here,'" Newsome said. "It was on video. He pushed me. I can say whatever I want. I’m just down here to show people that I care about American history, Southern heritage, my ancestors. I will not stand by anymore and be disrespected like we have been disrespected. They have woken a sleeping giant. What happened in Charlottesville, I’m afraid that’s probably just the beginning. People are tired of this and they’re not going to take it anymore."

The man who got in Newsome’s face and put his hands on him was removed from the park.

 

Tensions were so high at that point that News4Jax heard Newsome telling police he was ready to defend himself.


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