“We’ve struggled to heal from that trauma. The trauma from August of 2017 still isn’t over for many of us. There’s been trials, there’s been constant reminders,” said the Rev. Seth Wispelwey, an activist and Charlottesville native who was attacked by white supremacists when he linked arms with other clergymen in one episode from the violent weekend. “For a presidential candidate like Joe Biden who has a disturbing legislative and policy history on race dating back to the 1970s to cite Charlottesville as a reason to launch his campaign is unwelcome.”
Wispelwey said Biden was using the city as a “prop,” a sentiment many other activists in the city share.
“The question that keeps coming up: If you care so much about Charlottesville, why weren’t you here right after 8/11 and 8/12?,” asked Don Gathers, another activist in the city, using shorthand for the weekend of the violence.
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