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By Michael Cheuk for Charlottesville Tomorrow

On Aug. 12, 2017, I spent the day at First United Methodist Church, helping counterprotesters and faith leaders communicate while white supremacists, neo-Nazis and racists marched the streets of Charlottesville, my home town. The church was a sanctuary for counter protesters, where I witnessed people seek care after being bloodied and bruised by the violence that day.

Even though I’ve been a pastor for over 20 years, the experience changed my understanding of sanctuary.

In the weeks and days leading up to Aug. 11 and 12, 2017, I did not think I would directly respond to the Unite the Right rally.

Read on in Charlottesville Tomorrow.