Local activists show support for Charlottesville, Va.

A local contingent of activists from several groups joined forces in an Aug. 13 demonstration condemning the violent white nationalist rally held in Charlottesville, Va. one day earlier.
About 50 members of the groups Showing Up For Racial Justice-South County, Indivisible-South Valley, American Association of University Women-Morgan Hill chapter and Jewish Voice for Peace gathered at the corner of East Dunne Avenue and Monterey Road outside the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center, starting about 7 p.m.
“It was standing in solidarity with Charlottesville, and against hate,” said local activist Jordan Rosenfeld, a co-founder of SURJ-South County. “We wanted to make a statement to the community. And from the number of cars that honked and threw us thumbs up, I’d say the community was largely in support.”
Participants held signs with slogans such as “Only Light Can Drive Out Darkness, Stand with Charlottesville” and “Stand Up for Each Other.”
The local protest was part of a regional and nationwide effort to show support to Charlottesville amid an Aug. 12 march by white nationalists that turned violent. A man drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, fatally injuring one and wounding 19 others, according to multiple news reports.
James Alex Fields Jr. has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly driving his car into the crowd, resulting in the death of Heather Heyer, 32, of Charlottesville, according to reports.
Rosenfeld, who helped form SURJ-South County shortly after President Donald Trump was elected to office due to a rise in hate crimes, said she was impressed with how quickly the different groups were able to organize for the local rally.
“Indivisible and SURJ, we are bringing awareness to our community about a lot of important issues,” said Rosenfeld, a Morgan Hill resident, also grateful for the efforts of the local AAUW. “It was really nice to see how quickly we got people out there.”
Sunday’s demonstration in Morgan Hill culminated with a non-secular prayer circle for the victims in Charlottesville.