The day the alt-right (nazis) came to chocolate city

8/20/2018

by Shevone Torres

I arrived in D.C. 2 days before the action took place. You can feel the tension. The moment I stepped foot in Washington D.C. I was overwhelmed by the amount of police presence. One whole sidewalk was blocked off filled with cops and dogs sniffing bags. I wondered what I just got myself into.
            As I reached the place I would be staying at, a wave of concern came over me as I was told some of the alt-right was driving around black neighborhoods showing off their guns. We still continued to do the work. On Saturday we canvassed bus and train stops, warning black people about the rally that was coming Sunday. I came across this 91-year-old black woman who had a warm smile on her face. She asked why we were there, so I told her. It broke my heart to see that warm smile turn into fear and panic. “Why are they coming here? I need to get home. You need to get home.” I didn't understand at first until she told me her story about her experience with the Klan. The pure terror on her face told me everything I needed to know. After reassuring her I was fine and that she should stay safe, I continued canvassing the rest of the day. I returned to my room defeated.
            Sunday. The day 400 Klansman would cast a shadow over chocolate city. My nerves were getting the best of me. That morning we all had brunch and went to a healing space. As we left to meet at 16&I, I was overwhelmed by the presence. As we marched towards the park, our numbers began to swell. Only after 2 blocks, over 2,000 counter-protestors had shown up. We decided not to go into the park because an abysmal 20 Klan people have shown up. We took that opportunity to turn it into black joy Sunday. We hooked up the speaker and turned it into a giant block party. Until you see hundreds of joyous black people do the electric slide and the wobble, you haven't lived. Then it hit me. Us drowning their hate with our love and joy was a powerful statement. It's the history of black people all rolled into a statement. You will not take our joy.
            As the music faded and we said see ya (goodbyes are forever) I realized the connections I made, the new friends, would last me a lifetime. We walked back to our hotel room feeling we did great. A block away, we seen about 30 cops lined up on the block all the way to the hotel we were staying. It snapped us back into reality. So we silently walked down the block, (knowing anything we said could cause harm to us.) This is America. Our joy can't last too long.
I got to my room then I saw an amazing sight. Close to 100 antifa marching down the street. It was so beautiful to see them marching the black block. It was a reminder there are some out there that will fight- literally. So I laid in bed eating my funnel cake fries (yes it's a thing. It was delicious.) ready to sleep.
            Monday came and it was time to leave D.C. As I gave my hugs out and boarded the bus, I went home knowing I did a good thing. Even if people don't know my name I left an impact.

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Authors

Roberta Reavey
began her teaching career as a high school English teacher in both Massachusetts and New Jersey before becoming a faculty member in the Writing Arts Department of Rowan University. She is also a consultant for the College Board's Advanced Placement English Language Exam and a past president of the New Jersey Writing Alliance, an organization which seeks to bridge the gap between high school and college writing teachers.

Shevone Torres
is a single, disabled, queer mother of 2 children. She is the proud grandmother of a 2 year old. She is also a core member of Black Lives Matter NJ. She grew up in South Jersey in a single parent home, with a sister and brother. She has been fighting towards liberation for some years. Recently, she took up writing as an outlet for herself to help deal with the daily struggles she comes across and only recently decided to share her stories with everyone else.

Casey Olesko
serves as the Communications Director for Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization that advocates for access to essential health care through education, activism, voter engagement, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. For more information, visit www.ppactionnj.org.

Emily Devenney
Emily is an activist from Hainesport interested in education, housing, and socioeconomic justice. She has been active with South Jersey Women for Progressive Change since the fall, particularly with the Racial Justice Study Group.

Amy Durr
is a lifelong resident of New Jersey who currently lives in Medford Lakes. She is most passionate about racial justice and advocating for people who have special needs.

Karly Grossman
is an activist and attorney who brings an intersectional approach to her advocacy for the rights of frequently marginalized and mistreated communities. Her areas of interest include healthcare, harm reduction, disability rights, LGBTQ rights, racial justice and criminal justice reform. She is a resident of Maple Shade, NJ.

Summer Maher
is a sophomore at Moorestown High School. She is part of the student council, Model UN, and Urban Challenge Club. Summer enjoys writing, reading, playing tennis, teaching ESL and at her Sunday school and doing community service. She hopes her writing makes people act in favor of a safer, more inclusive America!

Jennifer North
is an activist, writer and nonprofit consultant. She co-leads SJWPC’s Racial Justice Action Group and lives in Merchantville, NJ.

Kathleen Strykowsky
is semi-retired and works as a nanny. She is the founder and President of the Mt Laurel Women's Club, a Democratic Committee Person, and involved in several progressive groups. She is a married mother of 2 daughters who are both nurses and in grad school to be nurse practitioner

Melissa Tomlinson
is a public school teacher who became interested in politics after a confrontation with Chris Christie in 2013. When Melissa asked why the governor called the state's schools "failure factories," Christie shouted at her, "Just do your job!" Since then, she has run for Atlantic County Freeholder-at-Large (2017). Melissa currently serves as the Assistant Executive Director of the Badass Teachers Association and she is the current Acting Chair of the Elections Committee of the Green Party of New Jersey.

Alissa Wolf
is an award-winning journalist who covered the entertainment industry, general features and politics for a variety of publications including The Philadelphia Inquirer, Newark Star-Ledger, Asbury Park Press the Robb Report, Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia City Paper, Hit Parader, Word Up!, Revolution Metal and many others. She is the author of the memoirs "Punk Rock Princess" from Bear Manor Media. A resident of Maple Shade, NJ, She currently serves on the SJWPC Communications Committee.

The day the alt-right (nazis) came to chocolate city

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