Wayne offers support, peace at Charlottesville vigil
WAYNE — One hundred Wayne residents lead by Jewish, Presbyterian and United Church of Christ clergy, marched Thursday evening for peace and to denounce violence in Charlottesville, Va.
Among the sea of heads were young parents, their children, teens, grandparents and plain-clothed clergy who carried candles along the short stretch of sidewalk to “stand up” to racist violence in Charlottesville.
Marches and vigils have been held across northern New Jersey following the violence, including Glen Rock, Maplewood, Montclair, Morristown and Teaneck.
"I'm a part of a minority group – I'm LGBT. I just want to come to show my support for everyone," said Sam Williams-Healy, 17.
Attendees processed from St. Timothy Lutheran Church next door to Wayne Town Hall singing “America the Beautiful” and “This Land is Your Land” as traffic flowed down busy Valley Road. Children and adults carrying multi-colored signs with messages of peace lined the sidewalk. Their open flame and electric candles lit the way in the growing darkness.
“There are people using the name of the god I love to perform acts of heinous… bigotry and violence,” said Rev. Andy Smith of United Grace Presbyterian Church. "We need to say ‘no’ to people who use the name of Christianity to justify atrocious acts.”
For one Wayne woman, the recent displays of violence around the world are a reminder of dark times.
Holding a yellow candle bearing an imprint of the Star of David, a Jewish religious symbol, Fern Weis-Gerstem of Wayne held back tears as she recalled her father’s memories of the Holocaust, where Nazis burned the synagogue in his Polish hometown.
Weis-Gerstem said she had heard an account from a Charlottesville rabbi who said white supremacists had planned to do the same during the weekend’s chaos.
Once the procession reached Town Hall, clergy read poems and led prayer, while government leaders, including Mayor Chris Vergano and Freeholder John Bartlett addressed recent acts of violence and hatred, including violent protests in Charlottesville last weekend.
“If we understand the legacy of immigration… we will understand that what’s happening is a repeating pattern of what’s right and what’s wrong in America,” said Bartlett, who is also leading a congressional bid. He added vigils are an important response to acts of violence and hate.
Sony and Sajeena David, of Wayne, listened quietly from the edge of the crowd outside Town Hall with their two young sons. Their attendance was for the good of their children, said the Davids.
“It’s important for everyone to get together regardless of what’s happening in Washington. We all need to stand together locally, regardless of race or religion,” said Sony David.
Email: presinzanoj@northjersey.com
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