WELCOME, NC — This Saturday, while the Ku Klux Klan holds a mass anti-immigration rally in the small town of Welcome, NC, members of LGBTQ and immigrant rights groups GetEQUAL North Carolina and El Cambio will stage a counter-protest to speak out against the Klan's actions, making it clear that hatred is not "welcome" in their home state.
As the Klan shifts their focus toward targeting undocumented immigrants in the U.S., GetEQUAL North Carolina and El Cambio are standing up against anti-black and anti-immigrant racism in North Carolina and across the country. The protest, titled "Hatred Not Welcome Here," will kick off with a rally and conclude with a speak-out featuring members of both groups telling their stories about how racism, homophobia, and violence have been tearing apart their North Carolina communities.
WHO: North Carolina residents, supported by members of GetEQUAL North Carolina — the NC chapter of GetEQUAL, a national grassroots organization working toward the full equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer ( LGBTQ ) individuals — and El Cambio — a local grassroots organization dedicated and committed to the establishment of an immigrant and minorities' rights movement.
WHAT: "Hatred Not Welcome Here" is a counter-protest to the Ku Klux Klan rally, where members of the LGBTQ and immigrant communities will be speaking out against racism, homophobia, and violence in North Carolina.
WHERE: 6455 Old Highway 52, Welcome, North Carolina
WHEN: Saturday, August 9, from 12noon-2pm Eastern
WHY: As immigrants and LGBT people, we have always valued the safety and survival of our communities. The Ku Klux Klan has been inciting terror towards oppressed groups in this country for over a century, and now they are turning their attention toward undocumented Americans, condoning physical violence and separation of families. Now is the time for our communities to join together to send a clear message that their hatred is not welcome in North Carolina. This rally is our community's statement that we will no longer fall victim to hatred and violence — we are standing together to protect ourselves and our families, and to work to end hatred and discrimination whenever and wherever it arises.
"To me, this action means a lot — we are letting the KKK and the town of Welcome know that we are all immigrants," said Maura Pereira, 19, one of the organizers of the counter-protest. "Those who are coming to the U.S. are not here to steal our jobs but to be a part of America — a place where you can participate in the American dream and be treated with respect. Our truly welcoming community is strong, and we won't allow any human to be treated inhumanely simply because of their immigration status."
"I am angered and disappointed that groups like this still exist in our community," said Luis Aguilera, 20, lead organizer for GetEQUAL North Carolina. "It feels like sometimes we are taking two steps forward and three steps back. We must defend ourselves and our community from living in fear of the hatred and intolerance being spewed out by groups like the KKK, and this counter-protest is a way of ensuring that we will bear witness to the love and inclusiveness of our community. We will not let fear overtake our lives or our communities."
"We are organizing this action in order to meet hatred with love," said Verenice Granadero, 19, a local immigrant rights leader. "Racism is ridiculous. Our communities — including our rural communities — do not want to be associated with hate groups, and we will continue to resist and stand up to efforts to intimidate our friends, our family, and our community."
