Rainbow-Farting Unicorns, Neo-Nazis and #NewnanStrong

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An awesome thing happened on Friday, April 20. The small town of Newnan, Georgia chose to undermine a neo-Nazi group’s message by refusing to show up.  Nathan Brain, a local hero and State Farm agent, helped coordinate the event which had local businesses shut down during the Saturday rally and instead stay open late the night before for a #NewnanStrong celebration. Artwork, vendors, face-painting and frivolity ensued. The streets were as busy as I’d ever seen them, and parking was scarce.

Perhaps most amusingly, Backstreet Art provided children plenty of sidewalk chalk.  Children enthusiastically decorated any concrete surface with hearts, unicorns, rainbows, unicorns farting rainbows, and messages of love and inclusiveness.  What an incredible way to undermine the messages of hate!

I heard about the event too late. I happened to be in the area and about 730 pm, after clearing it with one of the event coordinators, decided to rush home to grab my mobile DJ gear so I could play a family-friendly set for the last hour. They didn’t have a DJ lined up, and I love playing music and supporting positive social causes. It was perfect!

Or was it.

Unknown to me, some of the neo-Nazis had started showing up early and tensions were rising while I was rushing home cramming gear into my car.

Now I’m eagerly bounding through traffic in my ninja costume lugging speakers, cables, and my trusty APC 40.

My performance costume is all white.

With a mask.

And a hoodie.

Uh oh….

While the kids in the area and some of the adults were excited about the show (one was even helping me get set up. Thank you!), the police were less enthused. A small squad of Newnan Police with sub-machine guns walked up to me as I obliviously scrambled to set up my gear. They politely, but firmly, informed me my costume might not be a good idea tonight and that there’s a Georgia law that prohibits masks in public places without a permit.

Soooo…. a well-intentioned, spontaneous night turned into my fastest setup and tear-down job ever.

I really appreciate how professional the Newnan Police were, and my thoughts are with them today as I’m sure tensions are high.

#NewnanStrong

 

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