It has been four days since I found myself in downtown Cortez on a Saturday morning, headed to the Farmer’s Market. I decided to stop at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and check out the Peace and Justice gathering. It looked like a worthy cause, so I joined in.
What happened next greatly disturbed me. I heard a roar coming from the east end of Main Avenue, starting at Fargo’s restaurant. Soon we were inundated with extremely loud vehicles, some without mufflers, honking horns, and people with Trump, police support, American and Confederate flags, among others. Many yelled obscenities at the peaceful marchers, giving us the middle finger.
We did not engage, stayed silent and held our signs in support of Black Lives Matter.
Truck owners drove close to the marchers, blowing their rolling coal on us. Noticeably absent from this aggressive crowd were the police. The most disturbing part were the children in the trucks, learning bully behavior.
Hate and racism have found a home in this county, in this country. Hate is condoned right now. Hate is learned. It is not patriotic.
If you are thinking of sitting out the election in November, please think again. Is this what we want America to look like? I know I personally cannot take another four years of abject hate. It is not within my being. I don’t think America has it in her.
Please vote. It is your voice against hate.
Patty CoenMancos