I’ve said it before, the amount of love that is being poured out in this city has been amazing. We have shown what it is to be a community, and continue to show LOVE.
A week ago, an estimated 15,000-20,000 people gathered over the Ravenel Bridge to join hands in a Unity Chain to build a Bridge to Peace. To show that LOVE always wins. To show that race, color, creed, religion, or political views does not keep us from standing up for others. The plan was to meet on the east side of the river in the town of Mount Pleasant at a park. There were gong to be some opening words, some instructions, etc at 7:30. Then as a group we would walk, hand-in-hand, two-by-two up the bridge around 7:45. Once we were all in place we were going to have 9 minutes of silence, one minute for each person whose life was taken.
Mel and I arrived to the base of the bridge at 7:15 and there was already a line formed. We saw how many people were in line and watched as car, after car, continued to drive in towards the parking area. We were amazed and in awe. Then we were concerned as we knew there was NO way all of us were going to fit onto the pedestrian path of the bridge, especially since there was another group Downtown that was going to march from Mother Emanuel to meet us at the top. The Police Officers had shut down the lane closest to the pedestrian path and for a while we were hopeful that with the size of the crowd they would let us on the bridge. We tried our best to make it as close to the front as possible and then we heard people saying “1 minute til the moment of silence! Pass it back!” so we came to terms with our location and prepared for the silence.
The 9 minutes of silence began and I had to look around. I saw some hands up as if they were reaching to God, others had both hands up making the shape of a heart, some hands were up holding a peace sign, and others had their hands folded with their heads bowed. It was quiet and almost eerie. You could hear the helicopters circling around taking pictures and video footage, then I noticed the the cars from the bridge were honking. Honking in unity and support for all of those that turned up at the bridge.
Once the 9 minutes of silence had passed, the crowd erupted in applause. A young girl in front of me, maybe 15 or saw, wiped some tears from her eyes and her mother patted her on the back. We didn’t exactly know what to do next and looked at each other, almost disappointed as we didn’t actually make it onto the bridge to form the chain. We decided we wanted to try and make it up the bridge, even though the officers were asking for us to turn around so those already on the bridge could get off. We didn’t follow their very kind request and continued up the bridge, and I feel like that’s where the real meaning of the #UnityChainCharleston became apparent: to build a #BridgeToPeace.
As we walked up the bridge, it felt like the longest winners line after a game. Those that were at the top of the bridge were walking down on the street side high-fiving those of us trying to make our way to the top of the bridge. They were saying “WE DID IT! GOD BLESS! CHARLESTON STRONG!” and many other things. We all just put our hands out and congratulated each other for 20,000 people to show up, to be united, and stand up for those in our community. We saw signs of scriptures, support, and encouragement on our way. The cars that passed would slow down, yell out their windows or throw us a peace sign, and we would return it. We then came upon a woman singing “We Shall Overcome.” This has been a very prominent song over the last two weeks. The first time I saw it was through a video at the Thursday night vigil the day after the shooting. The entire congregation that packed the church, made up of all different types of people, sang it together and swayed arm and arm and it gave me goosebumps. Last week on the bridge, this ONE lady started it. She had a powerful and amazing voice and she stood tall and strong and sang those words: We’ll walk hand in hand. We’ll walk hand in hand someday. Oh, deep in my heart I do believe, that we’ll walk hand in hand someday! It gave me chills as I stood next to her on the bridge, and it gives me chills still as I replay the video.
It was a sight and an atmosphere that is very hard to explain. There are so many pictures from those that attended that will help tell the story, so check them out.
I asked Mel her thoughts about all of this and she said, “It’s been pretty amazing to be in this city at this time. The amount of support hat has come from the community has been.... amazing. I feel pretty honored to be in this city that has come together like this.” When I asked her how she felt being a part of the Unity Chain, her response was, “Overwhelmed ... I was overwhelmed with the amount of people that showed up.“ I’ve never been to a rally, protest, or anything like that, and all I could relate it to were the scenes from “Forest Gump” when they are protesting the Vietnam War. Everyone is there for the same cause. Thousands of people from different walks of life that believe in a common goal: PEACE. LOVE. UNITY. Maybe it was the peace signs, I’m not sure, but it really was a very powerful moment to be a part of. So much pride. So much love. Love always wins. We are CharlestonStrong. We are CharlestonUnited.
It was an incredible honor uniting with thousands of people of every color tonight and proclaiming that Love and Unity prevail over any evil! There were cheers, hugs, and tears as we stood united by love! #UnityChainCharleston #BeLove #JesusisLove (at Ravenel Cooper River Bridge)
