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‘Vigil Against Hate’ packs Youngstown church

Tribune Chronicle / Guy Vogrin Some of the signs opposing hate were spread across the front of the Unitarian church in Youngstown Sunday afternoon during the “Vigil Against Hate” held by Valley Voices United for Change. The group held the event as part of a day of solidarity to repudiate the violent protests that resulted in three deaths last weekend in Charlottesville, Va.

YOUNGSTOWN — More than a 100 people packed First Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday afternoon trying to prove that love always wins over hate.

Valley Voices United For Change held a “Vigil Against Hate” as part of a day of solidarity to repudiate the violent protests that resulted in three deaths last weekend in Charlottesville, Va.

Among those speakers calling for calmer voices were civic and religious leaders from Trumbull County.

Karen Zehr, a member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Warren and board member of Valley Voices, said people need to start speaking up.

“We need to talk about things that may be uncomfortable, but this frank dialogue must be taken to our church communities, our union halls and social organizations,” Zehr said.

Hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan and white supremicist Neo-Nazi groups that appeared in Charlottesville, like to use scapegoats, Zehr said.

“It’s an old trick to look at somewhere else for the cause of your problems,” she said.

Zehr asks citizens to call on their elected officials to renounce the actions of these domestic hate groups, many of whom were taken off the list of terrorist organizations.

“They need to be put back on (the terrorist lists),” Zehr said.

Zehr also paid tribute to Heather Heyer, the woman who was killed last Saturday in Charlottesville.

“She stood for truth, courage and kindness, and we are the start today to make Heather’s life mean something,” Zehr said.

Zehr introduced Youngstown Diocese Bishop George V. Murry, who said Sunday’s Gospel talked about Jesus healing the daughter of a Canaanite woman. The Canaanite and the Jews were historically enemies, Murry said.

The bishop called those groups that stirred violence in Charlottesville “harbingers of hate.”

“Silence is not an appropriate response,” Murry said, noting that Catholic bishops spoke out four decades ago that racism is a grave sin that violates the dignity of humans.

The Rev. Neil Heller, pastor of First Baptist Church of Braceville, delivered a fiery speech that energized the crowd. Heller talked about a group of “new Confederates” who go around peddling hate. He said these people are enemies of the United States of America.

Heller said the debate on whether to remove statues of Confederate soldiers is not the main issue.

“It is the people who idolize these statues that bother me,” Heller said.

Kathy DiCristofaro of Niles, chairwoman of the Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus and vice chair of the Trumbull County Democrats, said she attended because of her role as a mother of five sons and a teacher of over 30 years.

“We need to protect our children from these groups,” she said, noting that hate groups try to recruit in high schools and on college campuses.

Muslim Randa Shavayak spoke of things that unite Christians and Muslims, like God’s all-knowingness and justice.

“Do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just,” Shavayak read from Chapter 5 verse 8 of the Koran.

Those attending ended the vigil by singing “We Shall Overcome” and holding lighted candles.

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