Calm prevails at anti-racism rally
By Christine Haines
chaines@yourmvi.com
Organizers and borough officials say they are pleased with the outcome of an anti-racism rally held Saturday in Elizabeth.
“We pray that this would spark conversation, that this would spark change, reconciliation, grace, dignity and love,” the Rev. Benjamin Schneider said in a prayer that closed the event.
About 50 people gathered for the rally, with a similar number gathering on the town’s streets to watch, some with concerns it would get out of hand. As the rally formed on the barge at Riverside Park, people lined the railing of the walkway overlooking the park.
Others, some openly armed, gathered in small groups by downtown businesses. The rally participants and those on the streets brought their children. For the most part, both groups were silent.
Organizers Destiny Vaccaro, Alexis Jones and Allison Brown cautioned marchers prior to the event that they could be facing hostilities from counter-protesters on the street and urged the marchers not to respond.
“We will be faced with opposition here. Our goal is to stay silent. Our message is peace and unity, not disruption,” Brown told the assembly.
There was one vocal protester and some people along the route engaged with him. Elizabeth Police Chief William Sombo said they all had their right to free speech and nothing came of the incident.
“Everything went very well,” Sombo said. “It was definitely a peaceful event other than the verbal situation over on Third Street and Destiny, Alexis and Allie stepped in and defused the situation.”
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