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BY ALEXIS COLEMAN

When the Ku Klux Klan applied for a permit for a public demonstration in the Harpers Ferry National Park in September, many citizens of Harpers Ferry, W. Va., were alarmed and dismayed that the Klan would be coming to their community. Our very historic United Methodist Church in Harpers Ferry decided that we wanted our church and the community to respond in some way.

The theme of the KKK rally was 'Black Crimes in White America.

'I learned about their plans from a parishioner who is a National Park Service ranger. It was up to us to figure out how to proceed.

I contacted other pastors in Harpers Ferry and our churches formed the Love Your Neighbor coalition. Together we wanted to respond in a more positive way than the anti-KKK protesters who would be demonstrating against the Klan in the Harpers Ferry National Park.

We got the idea from a similar group who formed at Salem UMC in Keedysville, when the Klan demonstrated at the Antietam Battlefield in June.

Members of United Methodist churches in Bolivar and Harper?s Ferry, Lutheran and Episcopalian churches, as well as members of the Baha?i community, came together to plan a response that would involve families in the community and would be fun for everyone. The town of Bolivar is adjacent to the town of Harpers Ferry and we decided to host a fall festival in the Bolivar Park.

The day was a perfect day for a fall festival. It was sunny and beautiful, with a cool wind that hinted of fall. While the Klan and their protesters were shouting obscenities at one another in the National Park, we ate and ate and ate - chili, hot dogs and desserts - all provided by the faith community. The children played on the playground equipment, had their faces painted and painted pumpkins. The young people played basketball. The adults got to know one another. Everyone enjoyed the sunshine and food. Not one child cried all day.

We all recognized God?s hand in the day, which started with an ecumenical worship service in the nearby Bolivar UMC. Our liturgy included readings and prayers from the sacred texts of Judaism, Islam, Baha?i, and Christianity. The mayor of Harpers Ferry spoke a few words at the service and the Rev. Terri Rae Chattin, the Frederick District superintendent, gave the closing blessing.

Our event captured the attention of several radio stations (including American University station WAMU) and local newspapers. The entire event taught me a lot about Jesus? command to love your neighbor as yourself.

When faced with a group like the KKK, people of faith must do something. It is no longer acceptable for the Church to simply ignore groups which tout racism and hatred. But groups like the KKK want protesters to show up - that?s how they get the media coverage they crave.

When the Klan heard that most of the community would be in Bolivar Park, they threatened to come to Bolivar instead. After several conversations with the Department of Justice, National Park Service law enforcement and local police, I learned that this is a typical intimidation technique. I also learned that the First Amendment right of free speech is expensive for the taxpayers of our country.

The most important thing I learned? God?s kingdom on earth is for real - I know, I experienced it on Saturday, Oct. 14.

I don?t know whether there will be a fall festival next year. That will be a decision for the mayors of Harpers Ferry and Bolivar to decide with their town councils. But the Love Your Neighbor coalition will continue to be on standby, ready to respond any time organized hate threatens to come to our community.

This story was originally published on the General Board of Church and Society?s Web site, www.GBCS-UMC.org. Alexis Coleman is a student at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., and serves the two churches on the Camp Hill-Wesley/Engle Charge in Harper?s Ferry, W. Va. She is also an intern with the General Board of Church and Society.