With hate groups marching in cities across the U.S., it's tempting to attend to show opposition. Resist the temptation and hold peace or opposition rallies elsewhere in the city. Confronting bigots directly will only feed into more hate and spark dangerous clashes. The Southern Poverty Law Center released a guide titled "Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide." 

To reduce the chance of violence:

"Do not attend a hate rally. As much as you might like to physically show your opposition to hate, confrontations serve only the perpetrators. They also burden law enforcement with protecting hatemongers from otherwise law-abiding citizens. If an event featuring a hate group, avowed separatist or extremist is coming to your college campus, hold a unity rally on a different part of campus."

Substitute "city" for "campus," and you get what I'm trying to say. 

We're closer to all-out conflict in America than you think. I deeply fear civil war. The more clashes that occur at these rallies, the more deaths each side will have to pin on the other, the more the situation escalates. Hatemongers are always wrong. Let them be wrong a little further away from you in order to de-escalate the cycle. 

Stay safe, everybody.

Monica Henry-Seifert

Waterford