Charlottesville, Virginia

Photo Essay | PRESS

 
 
Multi-faith clergy gather to hold the base of Emancipation park on August 12, 2017 thousands of white supremacists descend on Charlottesville, Va., declaring together that racism and xenophobia would not be tolerated in their town or in America.

Multi-faith clergy gather to hold the base of Emancipation park on August 12, 2017 thousands of white supremacists descend on Charlottesville, Va., declaring together that racism and xenophobia would not be tolerated in their town or in America.

Author, musician and activist, Rev. Osagyefo Sekou (left) leads the line of clergy and community members in civil rights freedom songs as hundreds despite the jeering, taunts and racial slurs of white supremacists.

Author, musician and activist, Rev. Osagyefo Sekou (left) leads the line of clergy and community members in civil rights freedom songs as hundreds despite the jeering, taunts and racial slurs of white supremacists.

Korla Masters, a seminary student in St. Louis, Mo. joins the peaceful resistance in Charlottesville – having met some of the participants during protest in Ferguson, opposing police brutality after the killing of Michael Brown in 2014.

Korla Masters, a seminary student in St. Louis, Mo. joins the peaceful resistance in Charlottesville – having met some of the participants during protest in Ferguson, opposing police brutality after the killing of Michael Brown in 2014.

Hearing every racial and gender-based slur, white supremacists quoted scripture at the line of clergy, calling them 'heretics' and 'fake pastor'.

Hearing every racial and gender-based slur, white supremacists quoted scripture at the line of clergy, calling them 'heretics' and 'fake pastor'.

Hearing every racial and gender-based slur, white supremacists quoted scripture at the line of clergy, calling them 'heretics' and 'fake pastor'.

Hearing every racial and gender-based slur, white supremacists quoted scripture at the line of clergy, calling them 'heretics' and 'fake pastor'.

The small number of clergy open to getting arrested, hold the steps at the base of Emancipation Park, blocking the entrance to streaming crowds of white supremacists with helmets and plywood shields. 

The small number of clergy open to getting arrested, hold the steps at the base of Emancipation Park, blocking the entrance to streaming crowds of white supremacists with helmets and plywood shields. 

Brandy Daniels prepares herself for what may come as she watches a new group of white supremacists charging towards the clergy line.

Brandy Daniels prepares herself for what may come as she watches a new group of white supremacists charging towards the clergy line.

With 'Make America Great' hats and chants of "blood and soil" members of Kekistan and Identity Evropa forcefully break through the line of clergy locking arms at the enterance of Emancipation Park.

With 'Make America Great' hats and chants of "blood and soil" members of Kekistan and Identity Evropa forcefully break through the line of clergy locking arms at the enterance of Emancipation Park.

In a moment of quiet between bombardments, clergy and community members rest and encourage one another.

In a moment of quiet between bombardments, clergy and community members rest and encourage one another.

Rev. Sekou and anti-fascist counter protestors have a discussion about the commitment to nonviolence - the group wanting to stand alongside the clergy but first committing to peaceful resisance.

Rev. Sekou and anti-fascist counter protestors have a discussion about the commitment to nonviolence - the group wanting to stand alongside the clergy but first committing to peaceful resisance.

Street medics, militia and first responders rush to the aid of wounded scattered throughout three blocks of road - injured as self-professed neo-Nazi James Alex Fields Jr., 20, plowed through a crowd of nonviolent protesters. Hearing rumor that whit…

Street medics, militia and first responders rush to the aid of wounded scattered throughout three blocks of road - injured as self-professed neo-Nazi James Alex Fields Jr., 20, plowed through a crowd of nonviolent protesters. Hearing rumor that white supremacists were threatening a neighborhood  south of the mall, home to predominantly people of color, the protestors were headed towards the neighborhood when Fields violently attacked, killing Charlottesville resident Heather Heyer.

Clergy form a perimeter around the crash site, creating privacy for the wounded women and men and space for the medics to work.

Clergy form a perimeter around the crash site, creating privacy for the wounded women and men and space for the medics to work.

Clergy leaders regroup on the streets post teargas, reassessing where the greatest need for community protection and assistance is.

Clergy leaders regroup on the streets post teargas, reassessing where the greatest need for community protection and assistance is.

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