Hundreds gather for ‘Stand Against Hate’ rally in New Jersey

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Asbury Park, NJ – A day before a stand against hate rally was to take place, a trans-gender volunteer was attacked by a man at a signage making event.

Morris May, 22, of Scott Plains was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Authorities say the pair got into an argument over politics. Volunteer Allison Kolarik said as she tried to leave, May continually blocked her and suddenly pepper sprayed her. She told NBC, the event would not stop her fight, “What are you going to do, let it take over? Let people like that win?”

Stand Against Hate Rally

And it didn’t. Hundreds marched forward and convened at the Jersey Shore town of Asbury Park to unify against hate, white supremacy, and bigotry.

Community activist and pastor, Nicole Harris and Jess Alamino, a comedian/activist, pulled together organizations and community leaders to host the event at Springwood Park in light of the tragedy in Charlottesville, VA.

All races, colors, creeds, and backgrounds gathered to make the message clear : hate will not prevail, but love will.

Speeches

Speakers invoked the message that dialogue must continue in order to fight against hate, unify, and dismantle white supremacy.

Jennifer Lewinsky, the founding member of Black Lives Matter Chapter of Asbury Park told the audience “we’re not concerned with individual racist people, the problem is the very foundation our country is built on … that is white supremacy”

The event featured over 2 1/2 hours of speakers and community leaders including Asbury Park-Neptune NAACP President Aridenne Sanders, Executive Director of Garden State Equality Christian Fuscarino, Mychal Mills of KYDS, community activist Tyrone Laws, and many more.

Ending with a message of inspiration, Nicolle Harris said, “We cannot allow hate to win, because if hate wins, we all lose … So my question to you is, are you committed to love?”.

The crowd, full of hope, roared “yeah!”.

“And that means, you have to love them by any means necessary”, said Nicolle Harris.