Safety information for Washington DC on Sunday during the Protests - Charlotteville Please read if you plan to attend!!

Aug 9, 2018, 8:01 PM (19 hours ago)

Good info about the white supremacists march in DC this coming Sunday, August 12....

On Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, the anniversary of last year’s Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that resulted in the death of a counterprotester and shocked the nation, white supremacists are planning to demonstrate in front of the White House. Their goal: to demonstrate for what they call “white civil rights.”

Safety should be the number one priority. I agree with this letter that there should be as much distance as possible between protesters and counter-protesters, particularly in light of the deadly violence that occurred last year.
-----Original Message-----
From: JCC of Northern Virginia

Sent: Thu, Aug 9, 2018 7:31 pm
Subject: An Important Message Regarding the Events in DC on August 12
Dear Friends of the J,
As I hope you are aware, a Unite the Right rally is happening this weekend in DC. We understand that the group is using the Vienna metro as its base. There is expected activity throughout the weekend and likely into Monday. If you are considering or planning on attending events in the District on Sunday, August 12, your safety is of utmost concern. The below joint letter from the JCRC and the ADL offers valuable guidance for your safety.
The J stands with those who promote inclusion, diversity and peace and against hatred in all its forms, among them, bigotry, racism, and anti-Semitism.
Please be safe.
L'Shalom,
Jeff Dannick Sig
Jeff Dannick, Executive Director
David Yaffe, President
JCRC
Dear Friends:
August 12th marks the one-year anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the largest and most violent gathering of white supremacists in decades. Like you, we remain deeply disturbed and impacted by this event and by the actions of those who felt emboldened to march with torches across the University of Virginia campus shouting "sieg heil!" and "Jews will not replace us!"

For many, Charlottesville delivered a wake-up call-showing us just how deadly the current rise in bigotry, racism, and anti-Semitism can be. This year's anniversary is a painful reminder that hatred is still alive and well in our country, and that we must stand together and draw strength from our diversity in order to fight against it.

As many of you are aware, on Sunday, August 12th, white supremacist groups are planning a Unite the Right rally in downtown Washington, DC to commemorate the anniversary of the events in Charlottesville. And in response, a significant number of groups representing a range of viewpoints are also expected to gather to counter-protest. ADL and the JCRC are actively tracking the situation and have been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the responsible agency for security issues on the ground throughout the weekend of the scheduled rally.

The JCRC and ADL are also aware that members of our local community may be planning to be downtown the weekend of August 10th -12th to attend a counter-protest or for other unrelated reasons. Given that anticipated conditions for this year's rally could lead to an unpredictable environment in DC, others may choose to avoid the downtown area altogether.

With this in mind, the ADL and the JCRC offer the following guidance to local institutions and members of our community in the greater DC area:
Safety should be the number one priority. We recommend as much distance as possible between protesters and counter-protesters, particularly in light of the deadly violence that occurred last year. Physical proximity increases the likelihood of confrontation and the potential for violence.
Confrontation that leads to media attention only plays into the hands of extremist groups.
Be aware that protesters' speech and expression, no matter how hateful or otherwise offensive, (including distributing flyers and other materials; chanting; holding signs; photos) may be legally protected speech.
Notify the police if anyone acts in a threatening or suspicious manner or uses violence.
Institutions should review their regular security procedures and remain vigilant in the lead up to and throughout the weekend. Contact law enforcement if you have any concerns.
Use your own free speech rights. Send positive messages of diversity and unity within the community at an event away from the rally. Here are a few alternative unity-focused programs being held at synagogues and other houses of worship throughout the weekend:
Teach-in On White Supremacy: A Regional Townhall with Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton & Jaime Raskin featuring leading experts in the field from the Anti-Defamation League, the ACLU, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and a special presentation by Reverend William Barber, the President of Repairers of the Breach, at 3:00 PM at Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington, DC. More information here.
Shabbat Service: A Shabbat of Peace concluding with a special candlelight vigil honoring and remembering the lives lost one year ago in Charlottesville, 6:00 PM at Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington, DC. More information here.
Return Again to Shabbat Service, 6:30 PM at Adas Israel Congregation, 2850 Quebec St NW, Washington, DC, More information here.
Ron Halber
Executive Director
JCRC of Greater Washington
Doron Ezickson
Regional Director
Anti-Defamation League, Washington, DC Region
Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031