Hate is RIDICULOUS

Dear friends,

This Saturday, hundreds of Ku Klux Klan members, Alt-Right activists, and various white nationalist extremists will hold a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in what the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as the "largest hate-gathering of its kind in decades in the United States." A similar though smaller rally occurred last month that saw tear gas and 22 arrests. 

As you know, I recently graduated from the University of Virginia, and lived in Charlottesville for many years. It was home. My wife, also a UVa grad, and I are going back this weekend to join a lively counter-protest involving thousands of local citizens, students, clergy, Black Lives Matter, TOGETHER, and Showing Up For Racial Justice. There are a lot of understandably nervous counter-protesters, given both the rhetoric of these hate groups and the excessive use of force last month.

To both add levity to this situation and mock the rally, also in attendane will be clowns. Lots of clowns. Fools. Jesters. Performance artists. Multiple Facebook groups have formed, including "Noise Against Nazis," "Musicians Mobilized for Justice, Equality, and Solidarity," and my personal favorite, "August Festival of Idiots." 

This tactic is already field-tested. In 2012, the Latin American Coalition of Charlotte, North Carolina held a Clown Counter-Protest to a rally by the Ku Klux Klan and National Socialist Movement, which it completely drowned out with ridiculousness.

We need your help.  I'm part of a group of current and former anthropology graduate students that is currently negotiating with several local mariachi bands to form one epic mariachi band to contribute to the event, which is particularly impactful given the recent disparagement of our Latino brothers and sisters. We are also raising money for clown outfit rentals and other costumes for as many participants as possible.

After the event we will publish receipts of our purchases.

Please contribute!