San Diegans Gather For Unity Vigil After Charlottesville Violence

I am Michael Lipkin. It is Monday, August 14. The top story on midday edition, violence broke out in Charlottesville, Virginia as white nationalists, including members of the [ NULL ], marched and a "Unite the Right" rally. A man killed one and injured 19 others. 1000 15 people gathered last night for candlelight vigil. Here is Kathleen Stadler, one of the organizers at the vigil.Every time we hear something come up that flies in the face of love, that flies in the face of equality, it is on us to speak up. How many people here are willing to do that?[ Chearing ]How many are willing? How many are going to be louder?[ Chearing ]Joining me is Kathleen Stadler , welcome to the program.Thank you for having.The women's march of San Diego and together we will help organize the vigil. Why did you want a rally here?After the event that happened on Saturday, after Heather Heyer was killed and the two state troopers were killed, it should sent shockwaves across the country. We knew that violence was possible but the fact that Nazis murdered an American woman on American soil who was standing up for American values of equality for all sent shockwaves through the country. In San Diego, we recognize that it was not a Charlottesville or a Virginia problem. It was an American problem. It is upon all of us to stand up and to speak out every time we see something like that happen. Unfortunately, what has happened in Washington has imported the forces of evil and white supremacy that wants to divide us. It is a combatant on the rest of us and there are morbus than them, to get bolder in our speaking out.Many people were shocked, see others march openly this weekend with torches and hateful signs. You think whatever white nationalist community exists in San Diego feels just as and Boyden?I would like to think that the answer is no. I would like to think that it is not something we will see in San Diego but I cannot be certain of that. The only thing I can be certain of is that there is a bolder and stronger community in San Diego that believes that love is what makes America great. It will stand up at the forces come out like that here in San Diego. We are a patriotic state. We believe in American values. The fact that we have homegrown, white terrorist that are using ISIS tactics to murdered American citizens is completely against everything we believe in.President Trump was criticized by both political parties after he decried violence on quote, many sides but he said this a few hours ago that races and is able. Those who cause violence and its names are criminals and thugs. That includes the [ NULL ], neo-Nazis, white supremacist and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.What is your response?It is a better statement than the one he made a couple of days ago. However, talk is cheap and talk is easy. We know the fact that part of the coalition that elected him to office was comprised of people led by David to, the [ NULL ] and we know he has white nationalist sitting in our White House. If he really wants to put value behind those words, he needs to get rid of them. He needs to remove all of them from his administration. He needs to tell those people that they have no place in the United States and he does not want there votes.We heard one call to action in the clip we play. Whether tangible messages were you hoping that people walked away with? What did you want them to do?Over the past few months, because of what is happening and what is coming out of Washington, we heard a lot of talk about people having conversations with family members or friends. They have racist beliefs that are racist. We need to have those conversations with people that are not our family and friends. We need to speak out every time that we see racism happening. As white people in this country, as I was talking to my white brothers and sisters, it is on us to have those conversations and to speak out every time we see it. That will make change happen.The CEO of the drugmaker Merck resigned from the business Council saying he needed to take a stand against intolerance. He is black. Is that the action you're looking for? What does it matter if he steps down expect it makes a huge difference if he steps down. It is my understanding that Merck stop -- stock rose immediately and there was a market response. Not only does this have a moral cause for business leaders and a financial cause. Americans are not willing to put up with this. There are Americans that believe in love and founding values of equality than those who believe in hatred and division.I have been speaking with Kathleen Stadler . Thank you.Thank you for having me.