With Christmas just around the corner and cold rain pelting, it hardly seemed the moment to combat racism and bigotry by standing in the sand at Oakland Beach.

But those who planned to confront the distribution of anti-Semitic and white national supremacy flyers in Oakland Beach last month were undaunted by the weather thanks to the help of David Gravino.  The  timing with Christmas and Hanukkah enhanced, rather than detracted from their message.

Gravino opened the enclosed back porch to Iggy’s Boardwalk to the candle ceremony Thursday evening. It was toasty and a welcome refuge from the rain that splattered heavily on the enclosure. It made for an intimate gathering although the issues they confronted reach far beyond the neighborhood.

“Silence is not an option,” Senator-elect Mark McKenney said facing those ringed around him holding diner-table candles poked through holes in paper plates. He told of his immediate reaction to the two incidents and how he thought the community should speak out the disbursement of anti-Semitic flyers in in zip-lock plastic bags followed a week later by the scattering of flyers calling on whites to stand up to the Black Lives Matter movement on Ottawa and other neighborhood streets.  Jody King, who is Black and lives on Ottawa, appeared to be targeted by whoever threw about 100 of the flyers in front of his house.

McKenney said he was dissuaded from publicly saying something about the incidents by police who thought it was a one-time occurrence and that the perpetrators would be emboldened by the action.

“This is not our community, Warwick is good people,” McKenney said.

Samantha Grabelle of Gaspee/Pawtuxet initiated the observance in support of Oakland Beach and to shine a light hatred. She was troubled by the incidents and reached out to Senator-elect Matthew LaMountain with her plan to hold the lighting of the fifth candle on the Menorah, symbolizing love, on the beach at Oakland Beach Thursday evening. LaMountain put her in touch with McKenney who then reached out to King.

King, who grew up in Warwick, said many refuse to believe that racism happens in Warwick, “but it does happen and it needs to be talked about.” He said that as a child his father would play down situations of where they were called the N word and singled out, advising him and siblings to let it go. King is not going to do that anymore. He is going to stand up to racism.

Grabelle, McKenney and King talked of the beach lighting of the menorah as a means of condemning the distribution of the flyers and showing a unity of community. Realizing the weather could pose an impediment, King talked with Gravino who made the enclosed porch available.

Grabelle described how she felt as a devote Jew. Fearing recrimination and bringing attention to her faith, she makes a point of downplaying her Judaism, not wearing a Jewish star or displaying the menorah in her window. 

“I don’t want to be afraid anymore…it doesn’t make sense,” she said.

“Why can’t I care about Oakland Beach and say I’m sorry?” she asked rhetorically.

McKenney chimed in, “we are all Jewish, we are all people of color.” 

One of those in the ring, Jack Early, likened the community to a wall. He said if racists aren’t confronted they are emboldened and that can lead to worse things, but if the community stands up they recognize “there is a wall on the other side” that won’t let them go further.

The group joined Grabelle in reading the blessing of the fifth candle of the menorah from the Humanistic Jewish tradition.

Grabelle read, “We light these candles to celebrate our coming together. They reflect the light in our lives and the warmth we find in our community. They connect us to our many traditions and to all humanity.”

In unison the group read, “Mayor our time together brings us joy and renewed sense of commitment to our friends and loved ones, and to all humanity.”

Grabelle read, “As these candles give light to all who behold them, so may we, by our lives, give light to all who behold us.”

In closing in unison the group responded, “As their brightness reminds us of all that can be bright in our lives, so may we, by our actions, make the world a brighter and warmer place for all.”