As the chorus of “We Shall Overcome” filled the air Wednesday at Mississippi State University, those gathered in solidarity against others who attempt to divide the nation with hate had their own message: Intolerance and bigotry are not welcome in the Golden Triangle.
More than 100 people gathered at the Junction for the Indivisible Golden Triangle-sponsored event and heard speeches from current and former elected officials, MSU professors and leaders of faith that not only slammed the messages of hate and acts of violence associated with recent protests by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, but also reaffirmed the community’s commitment to inclusivity.
“We actually have a history of inclusion, not exclusion; of diversity, not division; of acceptance, not rejection. We stood on the right side of this issue so many years ago, and we are standing on the right side of this issue now,” said Mayor Lynn Spruill. “Forming a right course for the future requires that we provide support to those in need, and this event is one form of that support. Through unity, respect, diversity and tolerance, we can better our little corner of the world and hopefully influence others in the process.”
Several MSU students at Wednesday’s vigil said they believe shows of unity are needed to deter future flashpoints like the one witnessed in Virginia.
Conversations rooted in the idea of equality and tolerance are the key to bringing people together, said 18-year-old freshman Anna Owens.
“I thought what happened in Charlottesville was horrifying. It’s good to see a place like Mississippi, that’s branded as being very conservative and gets a bad rep for its history with racial equality, come out for an event like this. I think as a country, we’re quite divided, and that’s sad because we’re all Americans,” she said. “Respect is a huge part of (moving forward). We need to stop making so many assumptions about what we can do to help other groups and just listen to what they need.”
Showing up at events promoting inclusion is the first step in countering hate, said 25-year-old graduate student Jordan Marley.
“If you don’t know where to start, you can at least show up. They showed their hatred, so we’ll show our unity,” she said. “Inclusion should be the most important factor that anyone claiming to have a moral background should take into account. It’s important to accept everybody, no matter their race, gender or sexuality. Everyone should be included, and nobody should be discriminated against for something they can’t choose.”
For 21-year old junior Jason Tullos, Wednesday’s event was “refreshing … because the world is focusing on the negative.”
That negativity is still growing, he said, and could lead to even more divisiveness.
“What I’m afraid of is it doesn’t feel like this was the climax … and things will change. It feels like this is our new norm,” he said. “I think what fixes it … is the ability for us, as people, to recognize that even if we disagree on what we believe, we still respect the dignity of being a person. If we’re able to accept … and have conversations about this, we can still exist the same society and have love and community within it.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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