Chill out to the rumors

The other day I saw a local TV news report describing events leading up to and surrounding a protest march in a small town in Ohio of about 3,000 residents.

The headline was: “Black Lives Matter Counter Protesters Disrupt March with 10 of the Counter Protesters Arrested.”  The charges were for a variety of violations ranging from lewd and intimidating harassment to various degrees of assault.

The question was asked: “Why was so much fear generated in this peaceful little community?”

To understand this situation, you must first go back several hours before the event.  There was a rumor.

Supposedly, someone from the counter protester side had received a phone call that a bus load of protesters were on their way to join the local protesters, and the caller suggested that the protesters would cause problems, including the burning and looting of the community.  The rumor was broadcast throughout the community and resulted in the formation of a counter protest group who set about to protect the town from the outside agitators.

Predictably, some people believed the rumor to be true.  Unfounded fear resulted in an emotional response based upon false information.  In anticipation of destructive behavior on the part of the protesters, the counter protesters became the catalyst for what ensued.  It became a self-fulfilling prophecy as intended.  The very thing that people feared as a result of the rumor became a reality, generated by the counter protest.  It was scary watching the video as counter protesters abused and berated peaceful protesters – all because of a planted rumor.

The story is not unique.  In fact, the very same set of circumstances happened during the protest march in Front Royal last week, but with different results than the small Ohio Town.

A rumor was started that two busloads of Antifa and Black Lives Matter outsiders had stopped in Martins that afternoon, and three more busloads were on their way.  Quickly, the militia was armed and mobilized to protect our town from the anticipated violence and looting on the part of the protesters.

Groups were sent and stationed around the Catholic Church to protect the church from looters, along with the removal of equipment from the crisis pregnancy center, fearful that the center would be a target for “left wing agitators”.  The remaining militia, with secret service ear-pieces, could be seen patrolling the perimeter of the starting point of the march at Bing Crosby Stadium and these same militia could be seen following the march.  Later in the evening, a large group of militia members gathered on Main Street ensuring the “threat” was over.  Our local Walmart was closed and boarded.

Overall it was a very peaceful event with about 1500 people from all walks of life and colors gathered to pray together and listen to long-time citizens of our community share their experiences living under sometimes difficult circumstances over the past 40 years.  Both black and white clergy delivered inspiring and uplifting messages, stressing that we could bring productive change by working together.  Students from nearby universities joined the march, expressing their support.  There was a moment during the march that I felt there was hope and we could start to change things.  As to the rumors – they were soon dispelled by the reality of the event – 1,500 protesters from diverse and varied backgrounds uniting in a moment of solidarity.  No buses with outside agitators ever showed up.

A second rumor also circulated that there were six pick-up trucks displaying the confederate flag, crammed with people who were ready to defend the town against the out of control protesters.  This also did not materialize.

Our local police force and Warren County officials are to be commended for the excellent way they handled the entire event.

With that as background, the purpose of this letter is to say that when rumors are started in situations like this, one stupid move by a citizen can create a disaster in a community like ours.  We were spared in the first protest march from the fate of other towns and cities because cooler heads prevailed.  In the upcoming event this weekend, let us hope we do the same.  Already the rumor mill is at work.  Fear is being whipped up again by the same groups of individuals seemingly intent on thriving in confrontation.

My message to everyone in our community is simple: Chill out, research the rumors before blindly acting upon information that could spark a dark and dangerous outcome.

I hope that we in our community will continue to grow in wisdom and see that all lives matter regardless of race, creed or religion.

Fern Vazquez
Front Royal, Virginia