COLUMBUS, Ind. – Speakers and supporters from an array of community organizations came together at a rally on Columbus City Hall Plaza on Friday evening to express solidarity with the Asian American community, which has been impacted by last week’s Georgia shootings. The themes were anti-hate, anti-Asian, and stop racism.
Felipe Martinez, the pastor at First Presbyterian Church, introduced each speaker.
Johnnie Edwards, president of the Columbus chapter of the NAACP, proposed a formulation based on using the word “push” as an acronym for Prevent Unnecessary Systemic Hate.
Nic Cable, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, challenged white Americans to see the present moment as an opportunity to see white supremacy and patriarchal culture as a central issue.
Columbus Police Department Chief Mike Richardson said that Columbus must speak as a unified voice that hate is not welcome.
Columbus City Council president Elaine Hilber said that the takeaway from the rally for her was the importance of dialogue with people who have different perspectives from one’s own.
