On Saturday afternoon November 23 a spirited group of local Black church congregations and other activists marched through the Short North after last week’s gross and sad display of hate. They wanted the community to know their response was not based out of anger or vindictiveness. Instead, it was based on compassion and love for each other and their community – and sadness towards those who hide their own personal misery behind hate symbols, masks and guns.

Rev. Victor Davis from Trinity Baptist Church who helped organize the “Jericho March” told the Free Press afterwards that he preaches social justice “every Sunday” and you can’t “preach the Gospel without that message”, and that there is a sense, at this time in American history, progress has been made. Nevertheless, in many ways the song of hate remains the same. Both him and his congregation were shocked and rattled by what they saw on the news and social media from the previous weekend.

“I won’t say that it was pain we felt, it was disappointment,” said Rev. Davis (pictured above on right). “It reminds us that we still have a long way to go. And that there is a lot of work that needs to be done in the United States of America.”

Also marching was former mayoral candidate Joe Motil and City Attorney Zach Klein. A sizeable contingent of Columbus police was also there. There was concern by the Free Press that a local leftist “gun club” – which has vowed to protect peaceful protestors – would show in support of the Black congregations, but thankfully they did not.

Local activist attorney Sean Walton, who has represented those Columbus families affected by police brutality, said afterwards he and others refuse to be intimidated by those who think Columbus is a good place to spout their anger towards people of color and others.

The Free Press asked Walton if he had the chance to speak to those who were masked and brazenly showing off symbols of hate, what would he tell them?

“We’re more powerful. Because we love each other, and we are united. We are assuring them that when they show up, we will show up stronger,” he said.

Perhaps Free Press contributor Cynthia Brown said it best in an op-ed published last week about why the hateful marchers hide behind masks.

“Asking such individuals to uncover their faces is a demand for accountability and that they should be willing to stand behind their beliefs publicly, rather than hiding,” she wrote. “Covering their faces is an act of cowardice, suggesting that even those who march recognize the social unacceptability of their actions.”