Close to 100 people braved the unexpected cold temperatures on Sunday afternoon to participate in an anti-racism rally on the courthouse square in downtown Valparaiso.
The rally was in response to actions two weeks ago, where a man, dressed in black tactical gear and allegedly armed, carried a sign on the courthouse square that said “Keep the region white” with a swastika. The man shouted racial epithets at onlookers and motorists, sparking a social media frenzy and responses from local officials.
Several pastors, rabbis and ministers along with community members gathered with flags and homemade signs on Lincolnway, spreading the anti-hate message.
The event was organized by Tim Trussell-Smith, minister at First Christian Church in Valparaiso, who learned what had happened from a parishioner.
“A member of my church messaged me about what had happened and wondered whether we could have some sort of response,” said Trussell-Smith. “I started reaching out to all the connections I had.”
“We have built a network of a group of clergy who have been meeting for several years on Tuesday mornings to study the Scriptures for the upcoming Sunday, and I called upon that group to get things moving,” said Trussell-Smith. “The group had come together similarly once before in response to the crisis in Ukraine.”
Despite the cold weather and windy conditions, Trussell-Smith was pleased with the turnout.
“I was very excited to see how many people came out even though it was extremely cold and windy,” said Trussell-Smith.
“We gathered there because two weeks ago in this spot was someone spewing a message of white supremacy and we wanted to come together and show a voice of acceptance, and community of love was louder than that of a voice of hatred and exclusion,” said Trussell-Smith.
Charles Strietelmeier, who grew up in Valparaiso, was a witness to the events two weeks ago on the courthouse square and chose to approach the young man spewing the racial epithets.
Strietelmeier is with the Calumet Ministry Partnership of Lake County.
“I looked across the street and here is this young man, with a mask covering everything but his eyes, and I read his sign,” said Strietelmeier.
“ I saw that he was trying to pass himself off as a Christian, so I went up to him and said to him that what he was doing is the opposite of Christianity,” said Strietelmeier. “I believe that words of love can also be words of very strong challenge.”
“We have to be out there, we have to out there speaking, confronting, and challenging,” said Strietelmeier, as he challenged the crowd to continue having their voices heard and continue to speak the message of anti-hate.
“If you want to get there fast, go alone. If you want to get there further, go together,” said Kim Adams, minister of First Presbyterian Church in Valparaiso, quoting one of her favorite proverbs. “Then we can work together for the common good, for the good of humankind. This, by its very nature, becomes a beloved community.”
Deena Lawley-Dixon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
