In a world that seems to be more divided than ever, a so-called peaceful protest in support of “white Americans” has stirred quite the pot. The head honcho behind this shindig, Jake Lane—who apparently enjoys a side gig as a January 6 enthusiast—decided what the world really needed was a rally to demand justice for Austin Metafe. But the kicker? They want to keep Austin’s image plastered on their billboards while claiming they’re doing this for, uh, justice. Talk about a family affair gone terribly wrong.

Now, you might be asking yourself, “What could possibly go wrong with this plan?” Well, imagine this: the grieving father of Austin, understandably upset that his son’s likeness is being used like a promotional tool at a discount carnival. He sends a representative to tell these protesters to take a step back and stop making a sad situation even sadder. Instead of receiving a warm embrace of empathy and understanding, Mr. Metafe finds himself in a heated exchange where Jake Lane claims he’s creating “more Austin Metafes with his weakness.” Talk about kicking someone when they’re down—this is more like a kick in the gut.

One can’t help but shake their head while thinking about the sheer absurdity of the situation. Here’s a group holding a protest under the banner of justice while simultaneously creating more division. It’s like trying to quell a fire by tossing a bucket of gasoline on it. And yet, this is where we find ourselves—debating whether having a favorable view of one racial group while vilifying another is the way to go in 2023. That’s some next-level philosophy right there.

Amidst all the back and forth, it’s clear that individuals like Lane seem to think they’re on some noble crusade to defend white Americans, while others see a father who just lost his son, a man who probably wishes he could trade all the raucous billboard fame for a quiet moment with his twin brother. So instead of rallying for unity and understanding, we get a cacophony of voices arguing over who is the victim of whom. That’s right, hold onto those popcorn buckets because the show is far from over.

Let’s face it—the entire spectacle feels like a misplaced episode of reality TV, with all the drama, tense confrontations, and the ridiculous notion that all of society’s ills can be solved by a protest sign or a catchy slogan. There’s something deeply ironic about claiming to support “all lives” while simultaneously engaging in discourse that fosters division. It’s almost as if the far left and far right are engaged in a wrestling match to see who can put their foot in their mouth the deepest. Folks, the only real winners? The ones watching from the sidelines with a good snack in hand, because, at this rate, we’re all going to need a good laugh.