Organizers of a pro-Trump rally invited Black Lives Matter protesters up on stage after they crashed their event, and the two seemingly opposed factions engaged in dialogue that ended up with both sides cheering alongside other.
Politicians take note: This is how you work through differences to achieve goals that benefit the people you serve.
In stark contrast to Democrats who will spend the next several days accusing Republicans of trying to kill people over health care differences, the pro-Trump rally organizers brought protesters up on stage and gave them a forum with which to talk out their differences.
What happened next may have been a surprise to everybody in attendance.
It was what one organizer clearly defined as an example of patriotism.
The unnamed organizer announced, “I’m going to let Black Lives Matter come up here while I show them what patriotism is all about.”
They accepted his invitation, carrying BLM signs, wearing symbolic slave chains, and giving a black power salute.
These Black Lives Matter activists were invited on stage at a pro-Trump rally – and every American needs to hear what they said pic.twitter.com/m69yvgiQtw
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 19, 2017
The invite in and of itself is drastically different than how Trump supporters are portrayed in the media – as racists, as Klan members, as Nazis.
“It’s about freedom of speech. It’s about celebration,” the Trump rally organizer explained to the crowd. “So what we are gonna do is not something you’re used to, and we’re going to give you two minutes of our platform to put your message out. Now, whether [the crowd disagrees or agrees] with your message is irrelevant — it’s the fact that you have the right to have the message.”
When the BLM protesters got up on stage they weren’t shouted down. They didn’t have things thrown at them. Fights did not break out.
Instead, they talked to the crowd. And the crowd talked back to them. They even found common ground on some matters.
Hank Newsome, leader of Black Lives Matter New York, took to the stage.
“I am an American,” he began. “And the beauty of America is that when you see something broke in your country, you can mobilize to fix it.”
Newsome garnered some cheers for his statement.
RETWEET! #UNITY Black Lives Matter took over the stage at pro-Trump rally, and nobody expected what happened next https://t.co/xEXgMFarJD
— Andre Nieuwendam (@shogunofpolitix) September 21, 2017
Now, this isn’t to say everything was completely rosy. We live in volatile times, and this was a clash of groups who feel they’ve been ignored by lawmakers, making for an electric situation at the event.
So when Newsome referenced the Eric Garner death, some in the crowd yelled that he “was a criminal.”
When he insisted that Black Lives Matter is not anti-cop, some shouted, “Yes you are!”
The point remains, however, that despite the tensions between these two groups, they handled their platforms in a manner you’d expect from adults. They talked about it.
Toward the end of his comments, Newsome was receiving applause from many in the pro-Trump crowd.
“We don’t want handouts, we don’t want anything that is yours,” he said. “We want our God-given right to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!”
Black Lives Matter Leader: What I Experienced At Pro-Trump Rally ‘Restored My Faith In Some Of These People’ https://t.co/EmNClfuMFk
— Mark Saba (@marksaba69) September 21, 2017
Speaking on a point of contention for most BLM protesters – the concept that all lives matter – Newsome responded, “You are so right, my brother, you are so right. All lives matter, right?”
He added, “But when a black life is lost, we get no justice. That is why we say black lives matter. If we really want America great, we do it together,” to which the crowd cheered and erupted into chants of “USA! USA!”
After the event, Newsome said the organizers and the pro-Trump crowd’s response “kind of restored my faith in some of those people, because when I spoke truths, they agreed.”
What do you think of this coming together of people? Were you impressed? Share your thoughts below!
