No Hate in Lakewood rally Sunday: reject swastika vandalism

[mjkuhns]

This news has been unfolding online in various places, and I see that the Observer has published information on its front page. I thought I should add a little here on the Deck as well.

This morning, a Lakewood family woke up to discover two crude swastikas painted in their driveway overnight. Sounds like there were a couple of other related incidents also.

Lakewood police are investigating. In the meantime I think the rest of us have a job of our own to do, also. Action Together Lakewood Area is organizing a No Hate in Lakewood rally Sunday afternoon at 2, in front of Marc's Plaza. I hope as many people as possible will be there.

There are times when Lakewood's many "Hate has no home here" etc. signs can seem cute or an affectation; this is a chance to back them up by showing up.

Someone who thinks hate should have a home in Lakewood tested the waters, anonymously and in the dead of night. How about those of us who believe otherwise show up, openly and in daylight, to confirm that these waters will not be friendly to wannabe Nazis.

[Jim O'Bryan]

A sign also on Belle Ave. that has been up for more than a year.



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[Michael Deneen]

Folks on some other boards said I'm out of line when I claimed this town is a lot more racist than people here want to admit.
This vandalism might just be an isolated incident.....but there is systemic racism here that runs much deeper and it runs through every strata of this town's leadership.

[Stan Austin]

Mike-- it's really ossified classicism. (Probably too complex for those involved to digest). Stan

[Pam Wetula]

Some time ago, I put a request out on the Deck for conversation on both classism and racism as I feel both have affected Lakewood including decisions made by our current administration and the past group as well


No one but Mike Deneen responded.

We definitely, and sadly, have these in Lakewood.

It affects how we treat each other and contributes to crime rate, economy and hampers our ability to attract and hold on to residents.

We are a reflection of what is happening throughout the nation as well but my concern is for my home town. People need to feel safe and welcomed here.

We need to support the effort on Sunday to make it clear that we want a better future and life than an atmosphere of racism and classism will provide.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Some time ago, I put a request out on the Deck for conversation on both classism and racism as I feel both have affected Lakewood including decisions made by our current administration and the past group as well


No one but Mike Deneen responded.

We definitely, and sadly, have these in Lakewood.

Pam

Many times it is the way it is asked.

Also people seem to be reluctant into getting deep conversations about race, religion, hate. anti-Semitism...

You know who could start to address this, is Mayor Summers and the three council people up for re-election.

They all knew that Mayor Summers had people working on his campaign, and later at City Hall that had been convicted of antisemitic/racists attacks, then continued attacks at City Hall, and well after being forced to step down. Today they continue to normalize these people and cover-up their hate ridden past.

Come clean, denounce the criminals you helped harass Lakewoodites. What is City Hall Hiding?

That would be a great way to stop the hate. Release those documents dealing with their computer usage while at City Hall, and those emails with these people/groups.

This has nothing to do with the hospital, but has everything to do with improper hiring and running campaigns from City Hall. Two years is a long time to wait for those records.

That's right, only half the documents we are waiting for and have asked for deal with the hospital.

Many if not most deal with improper hiring of convicted criminals to do the mayor's bidding, and understand why he paid for hate to be spread?

.

[Michael Deneen]

It would be nice if this swastika thing opened the door for more tolerance in our community across the board.....racial, religious, sexual identity, immigration status, etc.

My fear is that this will be nothing more than a "feel good" event like "Hands Across America".

1. Politicians and preachers offer vague platitudes about the abstract concept of "diversity" and "tolerance".....with the applause of a large crowd.
2. Everyone will nod there heads in agreement with the speakers, and perhaps the crowd will join hands and sing a nice hymn. A very nice moment.
3. The event will disperse...with people shaking hands, saying goodbye and everyone goes home.

The key question is #4: What comes next? What happens on Monday?

Do folks actually look into their hearts and minds and rethink their attitudes?
Or is back to "business as usual".....suspicion of "those people", with everyone retreating into their own silos....and continuing to ignore the racism that is obvious in this city (pit bull, basketball, "Lakewood is changing" etc).

As Matt pointed out a few months ago, folks are quick to embrace "diversity" and "inclusion" as broad concepts.
The much larger challenge is embracing it at the micro level.

[Kate McCarthy]

It would be nice if this swastika thing opened the door for more tolerance in our community across the board.....racial, religious, sexual identity, immigration status, etc.

My fear is that this will be nothing more than a "feel good" event like "Hands Across America".
........

The key question is #4: What comes next? What happens on Monday?

Do folks actually look into their hearts and minds and rethink their attitudes?
Or is back to "business as usual".....suspicion of "those people", with everyone retreating into their own silos....and continuing to ignore the racism that is obvious in this city (pit bull, basketball, "Lakewood is changing" etc).

As Matt pointed out a few months ago, folks are quick to embrace "diversity" and "inclusion" as broad concepts.
The much larger challenge is embracing it at the micro level.

This discussion needs to be made. The inbred nature of our local politics continues to alienate groups that have no chance to join the discussion when councilperson a is appointed to become appointed mayor b and it is all the same DNA that produces the inbred spawn.

Inclusion goes beyond an annual diversity potluck. Inclusion comes from being engaged. Given our cultural diversity, that we have an all white, mostly male, government is a problem. For the most part, the people who work for the city are committed public servants. But the priorities and mandates come from the top and I see that governance is less than representative of the population of the city as a whole both ethnicly and economically.

[mjkuhns]

I agree that solidarity, and asking searching questions, should be compatible.

Many Republican members of Congress have made entirely appropriate comments about the evil in Charlottesville, and about what constitutes an appropriate reaction. One or two, along with many elected Democrats and myself, recommend following this up with dedicated hearings to broadly investigate what led to Charlottesville. (I have called Ohio's senator on the Homeland Security Committee a couple of times to endorse this idea.)

I think the same concept is appropriate, locally. A broad gesture of solidarity has real value; so does in-depth, open discussion.

I hope that we will have more such discussions in Lakewood, now. I can say that the rally organizers, Action Together Lakewood Area, seem to get this; after Charlottesville they were promoting the idea that "this is here also, we need to have more frank conversations in our own community" even before someone discovered swastikas on a Belle Avenue driveway.

I'm sure that there could and may yet be more compelling moments for questioning assumptions, and doing some soul-searching, locally. I would just as soon not wait though.

[Dan Alaimo]

There is a definite underlying current of racism in Lakewood, but when it is called out, the reaction is denial driven by liberal guilt.
But look at the ethnic makeup of most neighborhoods. Consider the outdoor basketball situation and the pit bull ban.
The evidence is there, but most citizens of this somewhat progressive community don't want to think or talk about it.

The backwards swastika (I looked it up - it's a thing that isn't all bad, but is most commonly used by ignorant or dyslexic racists) is a small symptom of the problem.
I'll try to get there Sunday, but I don't expect more than blanket condemnations that will make us feel good, or at least better.

It will be back to life as usual on Monday.

We need a more honest discussion of the continuing quiet racism in our town.

[Lori Allen _]

[Dan Alaimo]

"Re: Cleveland Clinic inside Lakewood High School
Post by Jim O'Bryan » Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:37 am
Every time Summers' regime is compared to Trump, you lose readers, and we stop talking about local issues, the ones we have some input on."

My comment on this pertains more to this thread than the one about the high school.

Trump has had a direct impact on these local demonstrations of racism. Some view the White House as giving them permission to act out their white supremacist fantasies.

However, it has little to do with the mayor.
---
Quick additional thought: This is way different from the subtle racism alluded to above, which is no different from other suburbs, except we are closer to the front lines.

[cheyrl schwind]

What time on Sunday is the rally

[mjkuhns]

What time on Sunday is the rally

Hi, it's this afternoon at 2.

[Richard Baker]

I'm a behind on the details but is the couple that live where the swastika was painted; Jewish, Black, Hispanic or Asian? If none apply and the couple is white and/or Christian, I would think that the police can reduce the number of suspects to white liberals who recently are labeling everyone that disagrees with them about anything as Nazi's or white supremacist.