2.28.16
The KKK. Historically, the ones holding the burning sticks had become a bright red target for dozens of counter-protestors who showed up to attack the Klansmen minutes before the KKK rally that occurred yesterday in Anaheim.
The Klansmen were planning to demonstrate a marching protest through the streets of Anaheim, a city full of minorities.
Unfortunately for them, before their rally had even begun, about 30 counter-protestors were waiting for their arrival, some hidden in black vans. And then, the counter-protestors struck, "two-by-fours" and other weapons in hand. The Klansmen, of course, retaliated. The fight left 3 stabbed (5 injured), and resulted in the arrest of 12 people.
So..the one mistake the counter-protestors made? They brought violence onto the scene. Yes, we all know who the KKK are, what they are capable of, and what they stand for. We know at the top of their list (alongside hatred) violence reigns supreme. They chose violence to get their point across.
And here we have dozens of counter-protestors doing the same. Don't get me wrong, the evils the KKK has inflicted upon this nation for hundreds of years are grotesque and in no person's lifetime, will they ever be forgiven. But hypocrisy is a dirty tool and the blood that was shed yesterday after noon proved that. Yes, I stand by all you fellow persons who believe in liberty and shun hatred, prejudice and bigotry of any kind, especially when we began to believe MLK's and Ghandi's words would bring peace and enlightenment. But I do not stand by violence. Self-defense is a different story. But they waited in those vans, and they struck at the sight of the enemy,
I might be a fool for saying a peaceful demonstration by the counter-protestors may have been a better way to to go, and yes, it probably would have been futile. And maybe violence would have erupted anyway. But do not go searching for it. I'd say the KKK's words instigated the carnage that took place yesterday, but before they even spoke, we came at them with sticks of our own. Hell, no, KKK's actions through the years will never be rectified. Yes, some of their ideologies are insane. Please do not think I stand with them.
I simply think, we should stand ABOVE them, and not demean our own selves by resorting to one of the tools they love to use the most: Hatred, speared by violence.