Virginia Rally: Black Gun Rights Activists Shatter Dems' 'White Supremacy' Narrative
Black gun owners dispute claims that defending Second Amendment is a white issue
© press
As citizens descended on Richmond Monday, to protest against Virginia Democrats' coming gun control laws, black pro-Second Amendment patriots were out in full force to shatter the "white supremacy" narrative being pushed by Dems and the liberal media.
By simply showing up, every black person at Virginia’s pro-gun rally helped to dispel the Democrats' narrative that the gathering was some sort of violent white supremacist hoe-down.
During the Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally, a number of black participants also spoke out to make powerful rhetorical arguments against allegations that the event, or opposition to anti-2A laws in general, is racist.
Black gun owners blasted Democrats and the media for making such claims, slamming them as inaccurate and offensive.
The march was organized in opposition to sweeping gun control measures that could be enacted next week by Virginia’s Democratic-controlled government.
One unidentified protester, wearing a “Guns Saves Lives” sticker, explained why he joined the demonstration outside the Capitol.
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After jokingly blaming a group of white buddies standing nearby for dragging him along, the man said: “The real reason I’m out here is I do NOT support, in any way, shape or form, Gov. Northam and the Democrats’ gun control.
“What I also don’t support is the fact that every news piece you’ve seen on this, this weekend, they’ve always brought up the issue of race a though it’s nothing but white rednecks and hillbillies out here who care for the Second Amendment, when actually it’s black Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Americans in general who care about the Second Amendment,” he continued.
The man said he works part-time at a gun store, and, “I can’t tell you the number of customers I see of all races, all colors, all creeds who care about the Second Amendment and who just want to peaceably live their lives, enjoy their rights and the Second Amendment.
"That’s why I’m out here.”
Pro-2A patriot slams Fake News about Virginia's gun rally: "Every news piece you've seen this weekend have brought up the issue of race as though it's nothing but white rednecks and hillbillies out here who care for the Second Amendment." pic.twitter.com/zO5vxzJZzI
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 20, 2020
Press coverage ahead of and during the rally focused heavily on the supposed threat of violent white supremacy posed by the crowd, which was estimated to number 18,000.
On Jan. 10, The Guardian interviewed anti-racism activists who warned Virginia’s grassroots pro-gun movement is “rooted in white resentment” and is “being fueled by conspiracy theories and misinformation.”
“I’d like to ask him how 20 years ago that he didn’t know blackface was not okay.” pic.twitter.com/IJo7bQf3hX
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 20, 2020
On Sunday, NBC News reporter Ben Collins falsely called the event a “white nationalist rally” in a since-deleted tweet.
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More black people scuttle media narrative about Virginia rally
In another video from the Second Amendment rally, the Washington Free Beacon’s firearms policy reporter, Stephen Gutowski, spoke to a man carrying a sign that read, “We Will Not Comply.”
The man, who identified himself only as Mark from Northern Virginia, said he drove 2 1/2 hours to the event because “I love this country.
"It’s about the Second Amendment.
"It’s about our ability to defend ourselves and our loved ones.
"It’s not only a constitutional issue, but it’s also a civil rights issue.”
Mark went on to flip liberal talking points about the rally’s supposed racism on their head.
“The governor, who’s known for blackface and/or possibly having a Klan’s hood on, has the audacity on MLK Day to declare an executive order that would prevent people from lawfully protesting,” Mark said.
“On top of that, to add insult to injury, he wanted to push forth the narrative that white supremacists are stirring up issues."
Interview with one of today’s rally attendees. pic.twitter.com/l21jySGOAs
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) January 20, 2020
At a press conference Wednesday, Northam, a Democrat who survived a blackface scandal last year, had declared a state of emergency and a temporary ban on guns on Capitol grounds, citing “credible” threats of violence by white nationalist groups and others.
Law enforcement beefed up security measures, erecting temporary barricades and fencing and saying attendees would be screened before being allowed into the event.
“I feel comfortable here, haven’t had any issues here, I don’t know what the problem is,” Mark said.
“So, for me, as an African-American on MLK Day, it’s critically important that we preserve the ability to defend ourselves and our loved ones.
"And I will not allow anybody to push a narrative saying that there are racist people at these rallies. It’s not true.”
Asked about the sign he was carrying, Mark offered a principled explanation based on America’s democratic ideals.
“Just as the sheriffs in some of the counties have said, we are not going to enforce laws that are unconstitutional. We will not comply,” he said.
“We will do whatever means necessary, legislatively, vote people out of office, make sure it goes through the court process.
"But we’re not going to just lay down and allow people to strip us of our ability to defend ourselves and our loved ones.
"So, that’s what ‘We will not comply’ means for me.”
Meanwhile, Townhall’s Julio Rosas showcased the racial diversity of the rally in a series of photographs of protesters that he posted to Twitter.
One showed a black man standing alongside a sign that read: “Armed minorities are harder to oppress.”
Another captured a black man and a black woman each with rifles slung over their shoulders.
More pictures of people carrying rifles at the #VirginiaRally and more evidence that debunks the narrative that the rally is filled with racists and white supremacists. pic.twitter.com/V0jGLpKW2d
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 20, 2020
Ralph Northam’s Virginia?
According to federal officials, there was a real threat of violence at Monday’s rally.
The FBI on Thursday arrested three members of a small neo-Nazi group who allegedly hoped to ignite a race war through violence at the gathering.
And the Federal Aviation Administration reportedly instituted a ban on airspace over the Capitol out of concern for aerial threats, including weaponized drones.
Northam has vowed to push through new gun control laws.
He is backing a package of eight bills, including universal background checks, a “red flag” law, a ban on assault rifles and a limit of one handgun-a-month purchase.
The state’s gun owners responded with a movement to create “sanctuary cities” for gun rights, with local government bodies passing declarations not to enforce new gun laws.
Since the November election, nearly all of Virginia’s 95 counties have some form of “sanctuary,” a term first used by localities to protect illegal immigrants from federal authorites.
"We want the Second Amendment to remain intact." pic.twitter.com/WgxKfs4Mjo
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 20, 2020
The idea has quickly spread across the United States, with over 200 local governments in 16 states passing such measures.
Despite the pushback, proponents of stronger gun laws say they are clearly winning the argument with the public, based on who got voted into office and blame the tension on gun supporters.
“We’re in this situation because the gun lobby has been pushing their message that we’re going to take all guns away — they’ve been fanning this fire for years,” said Michelle Sandler, a Virginia state leader for Moms Demand Action, the grassroots arm of Everytown for Gun Safety.
It is not Northam’s first bid to tighten state gun laws.
He called a special legislative session last summer after the massacre of 12 people in Virginia Beach, but the Republicans who then controlled it refused to vote on his proposals.
“Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack”
Trump: Second Amendment is 'Under Very Serious Attack' in Virginia
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) January 18, 2020
READ MORE: https://t.co/o80ko33dv5
President Donald Trump on Friday said the U.S. Constitution was being attacked in Virginia.
“Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack in the great commonwealth of Virginia,” Trump posted on Twitter, referring to the provision that gives Americans the right to keep and bear firearms.
The NRA, which was not involved in organizing Monday’s rally, also blasted Virginia’s Democrats, who received campaign contributions last year of more than $2.5 million from Everytown for Gun Safety, started by former New York mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg.
“Anti-gun billionaires who invested millions in the 2019 Virginia elections expect a return on that investment,” said NRA official D. J. Spiker.
“The NRA is fully prepared to work to defeat Governor Northam’s gun grab — but also work to find compromise.”
