Protestors threatened to tear down the Emancipation Monument in Washington Thursday evening after barriers were erected around it.
Video footage from the Young America’s Foundation, shows an argument between two women at the foot of the statue.
A heated argument has broken out between two women at the foot of the Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park. pic.twitter.com/uNCm58S4VA
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) June 26, 2020
“I’m a black woman and you think I’m going to attack her but I won’t,” one of the protestors says to a nearby officer who attempted to deescalate the situation. The argument continues, but it’s not clear what is being said.
“That is a memorial to the white saviorism that was Abraham Lincoln.”
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) June 26, 2020
What began as an argument over whether the Emancipation Memorial should stay in Lincoln Park has moved on to a lesson on the theory of intersectionality. pic.twitter.com/vf7jAqN681
“I’m black, my opinion is more valid than yours! What?! Because you’re white, you think you’re right?!” the black woman screams into a megaphone.
The white woman responds, “Our opinions are equally valid!”
The crowd responds, “No they are not!”
“I will never be equal to you!”
— YAF (@yaf) June 26, 2020
“You are right now.”
Happening now in front of the Emancipation Memorial in D.C. pic.twitter.com/CjCC2XTqJD
“What you are doing is called white privilege!” a man interrupted.
The white woman then asked, “How is it privileged to suggest that her rights and my rights are of equal relevance?”
“I will never be equal to you!” the black woman shouted.
“Yes, you are right now!” the woman responded.
HAPPENING NOW: Arguments break out in front of the Emancipation Memorial where protestors have vowed to tear down the statue pic.twitter.com/BRYeVOZzIf
— YAF (@yaf) June 26, 2020
“Do you support tearing down public property with violence?” the white woman asked.
The black woman responded promptly, “Yes.”
“If you don’t like this statue, there are proper channels to take it down. But violence is not the answer.”
“You don’t get to decide for everyone,” the white woman added, “Go through the proper channels, I don’t think that’s unreasonable.”
Maybe some people are missing the point of the Emancipation Memorial, perhaps the video below could help them.
"That man is not kneeling on two knees with his head bowed. He is in the act of getting up. And his head is up, not bowed, because he's looking forward to a future of freedom."pic.twitter.com/uZ8w5LnbAT
— Abigail Marone (@abigailmarone) June 24, 2020