Original version

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

Heart and Soul

Documentaries

Religion & Ethics

Personal approaches to spirituality from around the world.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service South Asia

Heart and Soul: Christianity and White Supremacy in Charlottesville

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

The faith reaction to Alt-Right campaigners in Charlottesville last summer when right wing protesters took to its streets

15/12/2017 GMT

Christianity and White Supremacy in Charlottesville

BBC World Service - Heart and Soul, Christianity and White Supremacy in Charlottesville

The faith response to Alt-Right protesters in Charlottesville USA

As violence escalated in Charlottesville, clergy were called upon to help, often running into trouble. Jane Little meets clergy who, helped calm, a potentially violent situation

Charlottesville in the American state of Virginia, was thrust into the limelight in the late summer when white supremacists groups violently clashed with counter demonstrators  

The city is Jane Little’s home town, and she will find that even before the events of the summer, religious leaders had been long been mobilizing against alt-right groups following two previous demonstrations.  The tactics they are taught mirror those used by leaders of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s.

As the violence escalated in Charlottesville, clergy were called upon for help, in some cases even before the Police could arrive, often running straight into trouble.  Sometimes a clergy presence would calm a situation but Jane will meet clergy who on that day suffered violent attacks.

She meets Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, pastor, activist, singer and the spiritual head of a movement of non-violent resistance, which he hopes to spread across the United States

Can a faith response though  in reaction to the threat of violence between such polarised groups be enough?

Presenter: Jane Little
Production:  Jane Little and Louise Clarke-Rowbotham

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Heart and Soul

Christianity and White Supremacy in Charlottesville

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

About BBC World Service