Watch CBS News

Protesters In Md. Show Solidarity With Charlottesville, Decry White Supremacy

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Protesters across Maryland organized to show support for a woman who was killed and several people injured during counter protests of a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

RELATED: Police Identify Suspect, Victim In Virginia Car Ramming

On Sunday, hundreds of people organized across the state to show their support for people of all ethnicities and religions.

People marched through the streets of Baltimore at Wyman Dell Park, where statues of Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson stand.

Protesters brought their message there from block to block.

But in Columbia, as well as Annapolis, the message was the same across the board: that hate has no place in Maryland, nor this country.

"We're done with racism. We need to make a change. We need to make the world safe for everyone," says Robin Slaw, Director Of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia.

People in the crowd are stunned by what unfolded in the quaint Virginia town.

The images of the deadly car attack and violent clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters are still fresh in the minds of many.

"Other people may say, well all you're doing is standing on the side and holding up a sign. What is that going to do? You know what. You never know," says Sandra Hudson.

At a vigil in Annapolis, dozens gathered to stand against racism and hate.

"The minute that swastika on a flag comes out, for me as a Jew, I'm going to admit to having a severe case of PTSD for my people. It's still hard for us to see it and not respond," says Rabbi Steve Weisman, with Temple Solel in Bowie.

From calls to action to prayers for unity, Maryland and the country came together in the name of peace.

"We have one flag. We need to have one mentality with that flag. It's freedom. We need to respect each other. We need to get along across this country," says Maryland rally attendee Alderman Kenneth Kirby.

It's too soon to know just how many people turned out for these rallies.

WJZ spoke to several organizers, who said the turnout was beyond what they expected.

Baltimore City Police Commissioner Kevin Davis took to twitter, denouncing the violence in Charlottesville, and offered condolences to the victims.

Councilman Brandon Scott wrote on social media Sunday evening that he will be introducing a final draft of a resolution calling for the immediate destruction of all Confederate Monuments in Baltimore City.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.