‘The police said they couldn’t guarantee our safety’: Black Artist Reveals Infiltration of Retreat by White Supremacists

An unsettling incident occurred at an artist retreat in Bledsoe, Kentucky, where attendees were confronted and threatened by a group of white supremacists.

The police, unfortunately, could not guarantee the safety of the artists from this hate group.

The Unexpected Confrontation

Kabrea J. shared her experience of attending an artists’ retreat in Bledsoe, Kentucky. She recounted how white supremacists unexpectedly “showed up and said that we were desecrating their space and demanded that we leave.”

The gravity of the situation became clear when the police informed the attendees that they couldn’t ensure their safety from potential harm by the white supremacists. This led to a premature end of the retreat, with 50 to 75 artists leaving earlier than planned.

Kabrea expressed her frustration, stating,

“The police said they couldn’t guarantee our safety. Some of us drove, like I said, three to four hours to get there. Trash. Nothing else to say.”

A Brief Stay and a Swift Exit

Kabrea further elaborated on the incident in a subsequent video, mentioning how everything transpired rapidly, leaving her and others in a state of confusion. “It was just so perplexing that this even happened,” she said, adding, “We weren’t even there a full 24 hours.”

Addressing comments suggesting that Black individuals should avoid certain areas, Kabrea firmly stated that it’s not her duty to steer clear of places due to her race.

“We are allowed to take up space,” she asserted: “We are allowed to live in [Appalachia] and live in harmony with nature just like anybody else.”

Waymakers Collective’s Statement

Waymakers Collective, the organizers of the retreat, released an official statement detailing the incident. They described how a group of white individuals from the surrounding area arrived uninvited at the Pine Mountain Settlement School, where the retreat was being held.

These intruders demanded the art collective vacate the premises and even used their vehicles to obstruct exit routes. The statement highlighted the intruders’ claims that the artists were desecrating a Christian space and should leave immediately. The collective refuted allegations made by community members in Bledsoe that they were desecrating the school’s chapel.

The collective also expressed their disappointment with the school’s lack of safety measures. They emphasized the trauma experienced by many of their members, especially those with personal histories of racial and gender-based violence.

“As Appalachian people, this level of hostility, hate, and violation of our group felt deeply un-Appalachian and not in alignment with the values that so many of us grew up with,” the statement read.

Origins of White Racism Towards Black Individuals in the U.S.

White racism towards Black people has historical roots in the U.S., originating from the institution of chattel slavery. In this system, Black individuals were treated as property, bought and sold as commodities.

Over time, this dehumanization was reinforced by social, economic, and legal structures, leading to deeply entrenched racial biases.

The English justified enslaving Africans based on their distinguishable skin color and misinterpreted Biblical texts. This legacy of racism persisted, even after the abolition of slavery, manifesting in systemic discrimination and prejudice.

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Sources

1. fitchburgstate.libguides.com/

This article was produced and syndicated by Viral Chatter. It was inspired by this video:

@euphoriccdreams so much love to my fellow creatives. i have no words
#fyp
#blacktiktok
#blackgirltiktok
#bledsoe
#kentucky
#art
#retreat
#appalachianmountains
#appalachian
#appalachianartist
♬ original sound – Kabrea J.