In a letter to the university community on Thursday, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan said a moment of silence will be held in the university’s chapel, followed by “the chapel bells will ring in honor of this solemn anniversary.”
The university is also hosting an online panel discussion entitled “The Legacy of Charlottesville: A 5th Anniversary Conversation on American Law and Democracy.”
Comprised of 36 large photographs framed in the trees of a downtown mall, the installation is entitled “Our Story: Reclaiming the Story of #Charlottesville Through Portraits of Community Resilience.”
“I can’t and shouldn’t forget the dark days of five years ago,” Ryan said. “I hope that the memory of these events, including the heroic and compassionate responses of community members, will continue to inspire us to work to make the world a better and more welcoming place.”
Event recalls Larry’s violent legacy
Violence in Virginia’s cities has allowed white supremacists and nationalists to show their beliefs in public as well as online, CNN previously reported.
“For many, the five-year marker of the so-called ‘Unite the Light’ rally brings up difficult memories and a sobering reminder that our country has not yet been freed from prejudice, racism and intolerance. I know that reminds me of his letter. “But I hope we can also remember the strength, compassion and resilience of our community and our neighbors in Charlottesville.”
In November 2021, a Charlottesville jury found that white supremacists who organized and attended a rally were responsible for state conspiracy claims and other allegations. A jury awarded more than $26 million in punitive damages to plaintiffs, including town residents and counter-protesters injured at the rally.
The city of Charlottesville is “maintaining a state of heightened situational awareness” before and after the city’s downtown Friday night concert. However, the city stresses that no specific credible threat has been identified and that the Charlottesville Police Department is constantly monitoring.
Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook shared memories of the day stating, “It felt like the day before a hurricane was expected to hit.” He posted his memories of the day on Facebook Thursday afternoon.
The Anti-Defamation League, an international Jewish NGO, issued a statement on Thursday, saying the incident “shocked the country and highlighted the serious threat of extremism in the country”.
“Today, white supremacists have rethought their messages and tactics, but their participation in attacks in Pittsburgh, El Paso, Poway, Buffalo, and attempts to intimidate vulnerable communities and overthrow our democracy. remains a significant threat, as clearly evidenced by the ADL.
Source: www.cnn.com
