Charlottesville An 'Attack On Us All': East Hampton Anti-Bias Task Force Speaks Out

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Days after the violence in Charlottesville rocked the nation, residents in East Hampton spoke out against hatred.

The East Hampton Anti-Bias Task Force released a statement saying that members of the organization agreed with the recent "joint statement on the Charlottesville violence" written by the Suffolk County Anti-Bias Task Force, the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission and the Center for Social Justice and Human Understanding, Inc.

The ABTF also shared their own thoughts: "We as residents of the Town of East Hampton believe that the attack in Charlottesville by White Supremacists and Neo Nazis is an attack on us all. No matter your political party, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, or familial status, robbing our community of its sense of security and well-being is a domestic act of terrorism and is no less a threat then if it were performed by any hostile force, foreign or domestic," the statement said.

The ABTF thanked East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell, who spoke to the issue on behalf of the entire town board at Tuesday’s work session with strong words that what happened in Charlottesville will not be tolerated in town.

"East Hampton is a welcoming community and we welcome all of good will to enjoy, in safety, this very special place," the ABTF said; the group then added Lutheran Pastor Niemoller’s famous quote: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”

The statement by the Center for Social Justice & Human Understanding, Inc., the Suffolk County

Human Rights Commission, and the Suffolk County Anti-Bias Task Force said the organizations stand
together "with all people of good will to denounce the racist and hate-filled actions
and words witnessed this weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"We urge our Suffolk County community and our nation to stand strong against the modern day
rising of White Nationalist organizations and say: No to Hate! If you have ever wondered what you would have done in history during times of increased racism, hatred, and ultimately persecution, all the residents of our county now have the opportunity to do something. When radical 'nationalists' rallied behind Adolf Hitler and supported the systematic extermination of over 6 million Jews and others deemed undeserving to exist, much of the world stood silent.

"From the Holocaust, harsh lessons were learned about the impact of bystanders and upstanders. We continue to learn the lesson of silence every day as we still witness genocides throughout the world.

"It is time to speak out and stand tall," raising voices to intolerance and saying, "Never Again! Not here and not anywhere," the statement read.

The groups offered condolences to the families of Heather Heyer and Virginia Troopers Berke Bates and Lt. H. Jay Cullen.

On the East End, rallies for peace and unity were held in Greenport and Sag Harbor Sunday.

Photo from Sag Harbor's rally Sunday by Bryony Freij.