BLM VIGIL UNLEASHES PASSIONATE FEELINGS IN SOME

By Juan Montoya
The undcercurrents of passionate discord over the vigil held by the a group calling itself the Xicanx and Latinx supporters of the Black Lifes Matter movement has unleashed criticism from those who feel that holding such an event immediately following the shootings of police in Dallas and Baton Rouge was inanppropriate.
A few score of people showed up to what was dubbed a "family event" at Washington Park, at the opposite end of the monument to Confederate States of America president Jefferson Davis. The group gathered there just past 6 p.m. and stayed for about two hours.

“The goal of this vigil is to send a message to the Black Lives Matter movement telling them that we’re standing with them and will support their message and will help in any way we can,” Sadie Hernandez, an organizer of the vigil told the local daily before the event, “As Xicanxs, we cannot speak for or over black struggles, so we emphasize that this is a solidarity event run by brown people in support.”

Hernandez and Antonio Castillo, another organizer, told the local newsppaer that the support to the BLM movement across the United States "ranges from engaging in meaningful conversations to raise awareness and combat anti-blackness, to raising money for the activists and families of victims, not only for the Black Lives Matter movement, but also for Xicanx and Latinx brothers and sisters."

“This is a peaceful candlelight vigil. As non-black people, it is not our place to march and take the streets,” said Castillo.

But this did not sit well with some anonymous commenters to this blog who took unbrage that a vigil would be held for the black victims of police when just this past week two separate attacks on police  left nine officers dead.

In both cases, the attackers have been identified as black military veterans, one a National Guard member and another a former U.S. Marine.
"It was a total failure, hardly anyone showed up," commented a critic. "About 30 adults and lots of young kids...I give credit to the intelligent people of Brownsville for refusing to join this racist and violent group. Shame on you Antonio Castillo for doing this a couple of hours after more police are killed."
In all fairness, the vigil was scheduled prior to the attack on the police in Baton Rouge. But that fact meant little to the anomynous commenter who chided the vigil, chastising them for "cebrating" the officers' deaths and warned the organizers ominously.
"Shame on the few people who went. You are racist and part of the problem and not the solution. Brownsville does not need you and the problems you bring. Tonight I will pray for the fine officers who lost their lives recently while you and your black lives matter friends celebrate their deaths. May god have pity on you because I do not. You are vial (sic) Antonio Castillo. I look forward to meeting up with you in person one day Antonio Castillo."
The confrontational tone of the comment cannot be missed as is the wish of the commenter to confront Castillo, an instructor at Texas Southmost College who has been actively attempting to have the city remove the stone monument to Davis from Washington Park and have it placed in a museum.
In any event, it is clear that the antagonism between law enforcement and minorities has detriorated to the point where armed confrontation has become the rule of the day despite pleadings from black and white clergy and elected officials, including President Barack Obama.
Is the summer of 2016 going to be another Long Hot Summer?