A spokesperson for the university has described the group's views as abhorrent but said they are protected by freedom of speech. Read more

Although many protesters were young men, families and older people also took part in the rally. They included "neo-pagans" and Catholic groups.

Others included extremists from Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia and far-right leaders like Tommy Robinson from Britain and Roberto Fiore from Italy.

American white supremacist Richard Spencer was scheduled to speak at a conference in Warsaw on Friday, but was denied entry when the Polish government said he wasn't welcome in the country.

Banners shouting out the protesters' views included statements like: "White Europe of brotherly nations."

Many protesters carried the Polish flag. Others carried banners depicting a falanga, a far-right 1930's symbol.

Speakers talked of standing against liberals and defending Christian values, using "We Want God" as their slogan.

The slogan comes from an old Polish hymn President Donald Trump quoted in July when he visited Warsaw.

At that time Trump praised Poland for what he described as the country's defence of Western civilisation.

The organisers of the rally's xenophobic and far-right participants included the National-Radical Camp, the National Movement and the All Polish Youth.

These organisations' roots were evident in anti-Semitic groups active before World War II.

The demonstration overshadowed official state observances and other patriotic events. It was the largest Polish Independence Day event in recent years.

Many of Poland's 37.95 million (2016) citizens oppose the fascist movement.

Rafal Pankowski, head of the anti-extremist association Never Again, says despite the reference to God, the march shouldn't be viewed as inspired by religious beliefs.

"We know that Donald Trump is not the most religious man, and I think that most of the organisers are not very religious either.

"But they use Christianity as a kind of identity marker, which is mostly about being anti-Islam now."

State broadcaster TVP, which reflects the conservative government's line, called the demonstration a "great march of patriots."

It described the event as one that drew mostly "regular" Poles expressing their love of Poland, not extremists.

"It was a beautiful sight," Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said. "We are proud that so many Poles have decided to take part in a celebration connected to the Independence Day holiday."

Source

• New Delhi Times
• News 4 Tucson
• The Guardian
• Worldometers
• Image: Stuff

The yellow cloth stars stitched to the front and back of his jacket are identical to the ones Jews were forced to wear during the Nazi regime.

It was only in June that Joel told Rolling Stone magazine he prefers to avoid political commentary.

However, the rise in neo-Nazi sympathizers and national "Unite The Right" rallies, like the one earlier this month in Charlottesville (and President Donald Trump's limp response to it) seem to have changed his mind.

Joel, whose parents are Jewish, lost all his father's family in the Holocaust. His father was the only member of his family to escape Nazi Germany.

Model and actress Christie Brinkley, who is Joel's former wife, and daughter Alexa Ray have praised him for taking a stand.

"And on the day of the Solar Eclipse a yellow star appeared on the jacket of another kind of star with a clinched fist that seemed to be gripping painful, no excruciating, memories of loved ones who wore that star to their death," Brinkley wrote in the caption of a photo featuring Joel wearing the star on stage.

"May that star also remind you today of the gold stars pinned to the jackets of soldiers for their bravery and valor for fighting an evil so hideous even the gold stars in the sky were afraid to shine."

"Thank you, Billy for reminding people what was ...so it may never ever be again." she added.

Source

• Billboard
• CNN
• Independent
• Image: People

In his Arlington Catholic Herald editorial William Aitcheson says images from last week's deadly white supremacist and white nationalist rally in Charlottesville "brought back memories of a bleak period in my life that I would have preferred to forget".

He credits his faith as helping him overcome the hatred he felt as a young man.

"While 40 years have passed, I must say this: I'm sorry. To anyone who has been subjected to racism or bigotry, I am sorry. I have no excuse, but I hope you will forgive me.

"My actions were despicable. When I think back on burning crosses, a threatening letter, and so on, I feel as though I am speaking of somebody else. It's hard to believe that was me."

Aitcheson, who is 62, was ordained in 1988 after attending seminary at the North American College in Rome. He spent his early years as a priest in Nevada before becoming a permanent priest of the Diocese of Arlington in 1998.

Catholic Diocese of Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge called Aitcheson's past with the Ku Klux Klan "sad and deeply troubling".

The diocese says there have been no accusations of racism or bigotry against Aitcheson during his time at the diocese.

After ordination, he worked in Nevada before being transferred to his home town of Arlington.

Source

• Stuff
• CNN
• Image: LBC9News

Reports from say the 25-strong group was jeered at when it was "escorted out" the park by police officers. Read more

"It really felt like every step you take could be your last," she said, later adding: "With each step, I just kept holding on to the call to love."

Talk of love was hardly the dominant narrative in Charlottesville on Saturday, when white supremacists and Nazi sympathizers organized a "Unite the Right" rally to oppose the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue in the heart of city.

Instead, media coverage has largely focused on the hateful vitriol spouted by white supremacists, as well as their violent clashes with anti-fascist protesters (often called "Antifa").

The street fights—which witnesses say occurred without adequate police intervention—left several hospitalized, and the whole event culminated in tragedy: An Ohio man who authorities say came to support the white supremacists has been charged with mowing down a group of counter-protesters with a car, wounding 19 and killing one woman.

But among the many untold stories of the harrowing day is the account of hundreds of religious leaders like Harper who descended on Charlottesville to resist white supremacy.

While images of prayerful resistance are often less eye-catching than bloody fists, spiritual protesters were still a crucial part of both the counter-protests and relief efforts.

Many stood arm-in-arm while staring down white supremacists—and plan to do it again.

Trapped in a church
The work of faith groups in Charlottesville began weeks ago. Rev. Seth Wispelwey, a United Church of Christ (UCC) minister based in the city, said local clergy started mobilizing earlier this year after the college town endured two other demonstrations by white supremacists.

The result was Congregate CVille—a group formed only five weeks ago—that called for 1,000 clergy to come and resist racism at the Unite the Right rally. Continue reading

Source and Image

• ThinkProgress article by Jack M Jenkins, Senior Religion Reporter for ThinkProgress.