From Korea to Charlottesville – differing politics, differing focuses

It was an explosive two weeks of news swirling around the president of the United States leading up to the August 9 and 16 dueling vigils in Front Royal against and for the current incumbent American president.

First, the specter of a first-strike nuclear attack on North Korea raised by the president was heavily on the mind of anti-Trump “Vigil for Democracy” demonstrators on August 9.  Then in the lead up to the August 16 demonstrations, Trump twice appeared to equate responsibility for fatal and non-fatal violence between neo-Nazi and white supremacist demonstrators and anti-fascist, anti-racist counter-protesters gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia.

On August 16, the vigil contingent again emphasized the primary news event of the previous week, which included one fatal act of domestic terrorism ISIS-style with a vehicle used as a human battering ram by a man identified as white-American Nazi sympathizer; and the deaths of two Virginia State Troopers in the crash of a helicopter observing the Charlottesville demonstrations and violence.

On August 16, one day after Donald Trump doubled down on his initial “there’s blame on BOTH sides” refusal to single out racist-fascist demonstrators in Charlottesville, the moods across Chester Street in Front Royal remained in stark contrast.  Around 50 people, perhaps its largest crowd appeared at the anti-Trump toned “Vigil for Democracy”.  It appeared vigil numbers were bolstered by the events in Charlottesville four days earlier.

“Today’s vigil was dedicated to Heather Heyer and the two Virginia troopers who lost their lives in Charlottesville on Saturday,” Vigil organizer Len Sherp told Royal Examiner.  “Each was a victim directly or indirectly of the hate and violence, racism and bigotry championed by the neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan, and other white nationalists who have become emboldened in the last two years, under the candidacy and now presidency of Donald Trump. And with his remarks, first refusing on Saturday to call these groups out by name, then doing so begrudgingly but so visibly unwillingly on Monday – appearing more like a hostage forced to read a statement than a president seeking to heal a wounded nation – and then showing his true feelings on Monday, zealously reaffirming his original position that drew no distinction between the minions of hate and those who stood up to confront them, Trump showed himself to be a man completely ignorant of our history and totally lacking any moral authority.”

Asked about the relative perspectives on current events demonstrated on both sides of the street, Lauren Kennedy who joined the Vigil not long after its March 8 start said, “Well, I’d say the other side of the street seemed pretty unconcerned.  Anybody who could haul that Trump stand-up thing out on the street after he just came out for white supremacists is pretty tone deaf if you ask me.”

As the previous week when first-strike nuclear war was put on the table by the president, on August 16 the pro-Trump contingent signage did not address the previous week’s events or the president’s words about those events.  As has been the pattern since they began their counter, pro-Trump demonstration in late May, signs expressed prayerful and unconditional support of the president, coupled with negative stereotyping of liberals and support of anti-reproductive rights legislation they believe the president will forward at some point in his presidency.

In fact, on August 16 the group of eight to 10 faith-based adults present introduced new signage doubling down on their anti-abortion stance.

Well, perhaps one could consider “liberals are genociding unborn black babies” a roundabout acknowledgement of the increasing national dialogue surrounding expressions of white supremacy – I guess.  And I have to guess because this week I finished photographing both sides and returned to the pro-Trump side to try and get comment on their perspectives on Charlottesville or potential nuclear war and the controversy swirling around the president before that group began praying the rosary – to no avail.

Even with the help of the original Chester and East Main Street Trump supporter Ralph Waller, not one of the faith-based adult demonstrators was willing to speak to the Royal Examiner – other than one shove in the back punctuated by “You’re blocking my sign” as we talked to Waller about trying to find a spokesperson among those who have joined him over the past ten weeks.  In fact, we noticed an increased unwillingness to have their faces photographed among most of those 10 or so faith-based adults gathered in support of Donald Trump.

Lest we forget-nuclear war?

On our photo-shoot visit on August 9, the specter of Trump’s “fire and fury like the world has never seen” promise of a nuclear or nuclear-like holocaust on the Korean peninsula was unacknowledged by his supporters.  However, on the “Vigil for Democracy” side there were pointed references to the American president’s threats of an Asian war and his battle of rhetorical wits with the North Korean leader:

… not to mention a new, two-sided sign with a Hollywood reference, perhaps in reaction to a recurring faith-based pro-Trump sign reading “No penalty for speaking or living the TRUTH”  (don’t scroll down yet – we’ll give you a hint: Jack Nicholson in military officer’s garb) …

But on the bright side there was a re-engagement of the dialogue between Trump supporter Ralph Waller and Vigil participant Bob Hill that began May 3 across political lines.

Other images from August 16 on both sides of, and in the street …