THE VILLAGE SQUARE

Hezekiah Easter Square, Nyack, NY

If you have ever traveled to Italy, then you know that every town, village, and city, large and small, have a piazza or town square. The fact that they are located at the very heart of any village or city is not by accident. They are not only the physical center of the place but are also a cultural/political hub and have been for centuries. In essence, piazze are places where citizens still go to mingle, talk, listen, exchange ideas, debate politics, get important information and be entertained. Perhaps the most famous example of this is The Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy. Since the time of the Renaissance, the residents of Firenze have used the piazza as a place to hear official announcements, debate and discuss legislation and news as well as view great art. A replica of Michelangelo’s masterpiece, The David, now stands in the spot in the piazza where it originally stood centuries ago. It has become a tourist mecca.

Interestingly, it’s a concept that even exists in America today. Many municipalities, both great and small, have town squares at their heart. They basically serve the same purpose as the ones I described in Italy. And the Village of Nyack, NY, is no exception. Known as Hezekiah Easter Square it is named in honor of the first Black man elected to the Rockland County legislature.  He was a WWII veteran, Civil Rights Icon, and a champion of preserving local Black history like Mount Moore Cemetery. I couldn’t think of a more worthy recipient of that honor.

Through the years, it has been the site of numerous community activities from Holiday celebrations to concerts, a seasonal flower market, important announcements, pollical speeches, and activities of ALL kinds. Lately it has been a hotbed for political demonstrations, particularly protesting the current Trump Administration’s policies. A few weeks ago, I witnessed a large, peaceful gathering organized by local Nyack High School students to protest ICE policies and procedures. The protest was largely supported by most but, of course, there were detractors who could not see the value in students exercising their 1^st Amendment rights.

Recently, another rally was held there. It was organized as a “sing-along” where people would gather to share songs of peace and love. Organizers said it was in response to the ongoing war with Iraq. I was not there but it was described as very well-attended and peaceful. However, on social media I did see a video recorded that afternoon that was disturbing. An outraged women was basically screaming in the face of one of the attendees. Later identified as a Nyack resident (no need to identify her), she was obviously a supporter of the President, his policies, Israel, and therefore the war with Iraq. A voice from behind the camera urged her to calm down by emphasizing that the singing and the demonstration were peaceful.  Instead of soothing the woman, it just seemed to enrage her more. She said many things like her threats to “bring 50 Trump supporters to teach them a lesson” but perhaps the most egregious was, “you should all die.”

Now, it is on record that I am huge proponent of the 1^st Amendment. And, yes, that includes so-called “hate speech.” In fact, the amendment was written with that in mind. However, that does not include the threat of violence against any individual or group. But this is beyond just a legal or constitutional issue. It’s about morality and civility. It seems that we have entered an era where kindness is equated with weakness, willful ignorance with proof, arrogance with respect, and volume with intelligence. It’s beneath the legacy of the man this bastion of community activity is named for: Hezekiah Easter.