300 people showing up for a march against racism in New York City would not be an impressive turnout

[bigtree]

But in Hardwick New Jersey, which has only about 1500 people, it's a fifth of the population.

60 miles to the east in Union or Essex County New Jersey, a banner celebrating the victory of Barack Obama wouldn't have drawn very much attention. But in rural Warren County, where only 62% of the people voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin, it stood out.

On election night 2008, Gary Grewal, an Indian immigrant, his wife Alina, a Cuban American, and their 8 year old daughter joined in the national euphoria celebrateding Obama's victory. They took a bedsheet, wrote President Obama Victory '08, and posted in on their front lawn.

The next morning they woke to a horrifying sight. Someone had tied the homemade banner to two pieces of wood, fashioned it into a six foot cross, and burned it on Grewal's front lawn.

Where a cross burning would have been disturbing even if it had happened on Central Park West, in rural, 95% white Hardwick, 10 miles east of the Deleware Water Gap, it was clearly an act of racial terrorism designed to intimidate the Grewal's into moving out of town.

But largely conservative Hardwick quickly mobilized to support Gary Grewal and his family. In response to a call by Mayor Kevin Duffy, over 300 people marched from Hardick's municipal building a mile to Grewal's house in support of Grewal's right to fly a banner supporting Barack Obama. After the march through the picturesque town, Mayor Duffy, local politicians and a representative of Senator Frank Lautenberg gave speeches on Grewal's porch.

story and more pics: http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2008/11/101528.shtml

[babylonsister]

1. Wow! Thank you for this! Gives me (more) hope! Rec'd. nt

[Dappleganger]

2. GREAT pictures and story!

[tpsbmam]

3. K&R Thanks for posting this!! n/t

[Vektor]

4. Bless 'em.

I always tear up when I see people banning together to speak out against injustice.

Thanks to each and every one of them.

[IndianaJones]

5. instead of calling whoever did this racist...shouldn't they be reached out to? nt.

[MadMaddie]

9. It''s like an addiction in a way - People have to admit they

are the ones with the problem and then they can address the root cause of their problem.

There was a story several years back...

A guy that was involved in hate groupsgot into an vehicle accident and his car ended up in some water, he was hurt and he was in danger of drowning....the man that rescued him was African American. At that point the guy realized that he had to change his life and he walked away from the hate group he had belonged to for years.

I am convinced some people in this world (they can be of any race) must have someone to blame for their bad choices and mistakes they have made in their life. They don't want to take responsibility for their actions...this is why Limpballs, O'leilly and Hannity are dangerous catalyst in the environment we face today in America. They will eventually have to be held accountable for the racist and inflamatory language they put out in the public venue.

[HamdenRice]

12. Would you say the same about people who voted for Prop 8?

No?

Then what is the source of your double standard?

[noiretextatique]

19. right...burn a cross on my lawn and we'll be best friends

:wtf: the people of this town made it clear they won't tolerate racist threats and intimidation. good for them :applause:

[AntiFascist]

6. K&R, this is precisely why I appreciate the support against Prop. 8...

it may not be exactly the same cause, but the response is similar.

[firedupdem]

7. Beautiful Pictures! Looks like a great community. There is an

asshole in every bunch.

[malaise]

8. That's truly beautiful

K & R

[bluedawg12]

10. It's always a good thing when people fight hatred, whether 300

or 1,500, or just one lone person.

Human dignity is human dignity and worth fighting for.

[Hekate]

11. Man, I just puddled up. Bless the good people of Hardwick. nt

[Dorian Gray]

13. Cool

I love NJ suburbanites for the most part.

Good for them!


Bad that they had to do this, though. BOO on the scum who put the burning cross in the yard.

[lightningandsnow]

14. What a wonderful story!

I just regained a bit of faith in humanity.

[madokie]

15. This new administration will do more for putting an end to racism

Rosa set so Martin could walk so Barack could run. Makes me smile.

[surrealAmerican]

16. Beautiful.

[TCJ70]

17. Everyone knows that all white people are...

...racist. They're only there because they feel guilty for something.

<sarcasm>

[BrklynLiberal]

18. I heard about the original incident on the radio. There was no followup.

It is wonderful to know that the community came together to show everyone that this incident is NOT what the people who live there believe is right.

[Swamp Rat]

20. k&r

[KamaAina]

21. Impossible! New Jersey isn't in the South.

Everyone knows that all the evil cross-burners are in the South. This couldn't possibly have happened in NJ.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: