Anti-Hate Rally
October 16, 2017
In a show of solidarity with anti-hate and anti-fascism protests in San Francisco and Berkeley, hundreds of San Diegans marched from Balboa Park to Horton Plaza on Sunday afternoon in a Rally Against Hate.
Claire Douglas, the kick-off speaker from the International Socialist Organization (ISO), said “The rally is an organized movement to end fascism by joining together with other cities to let hate groups know they are not welcome and will not be tolerated.”
Another speaker and Professor of American Indian Studies at SDSU, Ozzie Monge, had the crowd roaring their approval when he explained “when we stand up against hate, we cannot replace it with more hate. We have to do our best to educate and dissolve stereotypes, and work towards decency, equality and social justice for everyone.”
More than 20 groups including Veterans For Peace, the Green Party of San Diego, The International Workers of the World, Karama, Vista Neighbors In Action, Organize San Diego, UCSD’s Anti-War committee and others joined together with concerned San Diegans in an united front against violence and intolerance.
The San Diego organizers were highly focused on security in response to the events in Charlottesville, Va. and Boston – ISO members were stationed along the route, alongside San Diego motorcycle police.
Many college and high school students, church groups, veterans, retirees, and families were also in attendance, including their children and dogs. Dave Patterson of Veterans For Peace told CityNews their organization “ feels it is important to take a stand against bigotry and racism, since a divided society cannot stand.”
The march followed a route from the Museum of Man to Horton Plaza, chanting several slogans to include “Wherever you go, whatever you do, we are many, you are few” and “Whose streets? Our streets,” accompanied by rousing tunes from the Euphoria Brass Band.
Signs and banners seen among the crowd varied from support for socialism, to “No Room For Hate”, “Black Lives Matter”, “Bigotry Is Not Patriotism,” “My Parents taught Me To Love Not Hate,” and many more.
One counter-protester, Steven Clancy, said he thought the rally participants were “misinformed and all against Trump.” He stated that his own grandfather had fought in World War II; Clancy claimed those marching were “the real Nazis, the real oppressors – not giving credit to all the things the President has done.”
The upbeat event ended on a high note with a few more speakers at Horton Plaza and more music from the Euphoria Brass Band.
