Anti-racist and anti-facist protesters organized by F.L.O.W.E.R, a frontline organization based in Atlanta to combat racism, face off against far right militias and white pride organizations near Stone Mountain Park in downtown Stone Mountain, Georgia on August 15, 2020. (Photo: Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)
'Go Home, Racists!': BLM Counterprotesters Shout Down White Nationalists in Stone Mountain, Georgia
"Hundreds of workers from across Georgia took a stand against racism and won."
Racial justice advocates on Saturday shouted down white nationalists gathered in the town of Stone Mountain, Georgia, where the groups faced off for a number of hours.
The city of Stone Mountain said Friday that the park--which features the world's biggest Confederate monument--would be closed Saturday, and urged people to stay out of the downtown area out of "abundance of caution."
According to the Associated Press, "right-wing groups led by an Arkansas group called Confederate States III% had applied for a permit to hold a rally in Stone Mountain Park," but the permit was denied, leading the demonstrators to take to the city's streets.
\u201cStone Mountain closed as fully armed white extremists gather for a \u201cDefend Stone Mountain\u201d rally. #gapol\nhttps://t.co/c87g81pGNI\u201d— Kristen Clarke (@Kristen Clarke) 1597506862
\u201c\u201cWe\u2019re going to use the Second Amendment to protect the First amendment,\u201d gun extremist in Stone Mountain, Georgia. These insurrectionists threatened in advance that there could be \u201cbloodshed\u201d today.\n\nThe open carry of loaded handguns and long guns is legal in Georgia. #gapol\u201d— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1597505772
Atlanta's WXIA reported on the action:
The opposing groups were loosely organized on both sides. The white nationalist demonstrators, who appeared to be far outnumbered, were seemingly composed of neo-Confederates and militia groups like the III% Security Force.
The number of protesters swelled at one point 500, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. "Militia groups from Arkansas and Florida have joined those from Georgia, but remain greatly outnumbered by counterprotesters from the left," the newspaper noted.
The metro Atlanta chapter of the Democratic Socialsts of America called it an "overwhelming victory at Stone Mountain today, where the fascist right was scattered and run off."
\u201cOverwhelming victory at Stone Mountain today, where the fascist right was scattered and run off. Hundreds of workers from across Georgia took a stand against racism and won.\n\nDISMANTLE WHITE SUPREMACY!\nSANDBLAST STONE MOUNTAIN!\u201d— Atlanta DSA \ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf51 (@Atlanta DSA \ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf51) 1597512310
Among those organizing the counterprotest was FrontLine Organization Working to End Racism. The group said on its Facebook page Saturday that the time for the Stone Mountain cared monument to be removed is long ovedue.
"We would like to thank the racists for bringing lots of Confederate flags for people to seize and burn, so many that people on Twitter are making jokes about 'Six Flags Burned Over Georgia,'" the group wrote.
"While this pathetic showing should discourage them from showing up again for a while, as long as the carving still defaces the side of the mountain, these invasions are going to keep happening," the group added. "It needs to come down. The time is long past to #sandblaststonemountain."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Racial justice advocates on Saturday shouted down white nationalists gathered in the town of Stone Mountain, Georgia, where the groups faced off for a number of hours.
The city of Stone Mountain said Friday that the park--which features the world's biggest Confederate monument--would be closed Saturday, and urged people to stay out of the downtown area out of "abundance of caution."
According to the Associated Press, "right-wing groups led by an Arkansas group called Confederate States III% had applied for a permit to hold a rally in Stone Mountain Park," but the permit was denied, leading the demonstrators to take to the city's streets.
\u201cStone Mountain closed as fully armed white extremists gather for a \u201cDefend Stone Mountain\u201d rally. #gapol\nhttps://t.co/c87g81pGNI\u201d— Kristen Clarke (@Kristen Clarke) 1597506862
\u201c\u201cWe\u2019re going to use the Second Amendment to protect the First amendment,\u201d gun extremist in Stone Mountain, Georgia. These insurrectionists threatened in advance that there could be \u201cbloodshed\u201d today.\n\nThe open carry of loaded handguns and long guns is legal in Georgia. #gapol\u201d— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1597505772
Atlanta's WXIA reported on the action:
The opposing groups were loosely organized on both sides. The white nationalist demonstrators, who appeared to be far outnumbered, were seemingly composed of neo-Confederates and militia groups like the III% Security Force.
The number of protesters swelled at one point 500, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. "Militia groups from Arkansas and Florida have joined those from Georgia, but remain greatly outnumbered by counterprotesters from the left," the newspaper noted.
The metro Atlanta chapter of the Democratic Socialsts of America called it an "overwhelming victory at Stone Mountain today, where the fascist right was scattered and run off."
\u201cOverwhelming victory at Stone Mountain today, where the fascist right was scattered and run off. Hundreds of workers from across Georgia took a stand against racism and won.\n\nDISMANTLE WHITE SUPREMACY!\nSANDBLAST STONE MOUNTAIN!\u201d— Atlanta DSA \ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf51 (@Atlanta DSA \ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf51) 1597512310
Among those organizing the counterprotest was FrontLine Organization Working to End Racism. The group said on its Facebook page Saturday that the time for the Stone Mountain cared monument to be removed is long ovedue.
"We would like to thank the racists for bringing lots of Confederate flags for people to seize and burn, so many that people on Twitter are making jokes about 'Six Flags Burned Over Georgia,'" the group wrote.
"While this pathetic showing should discourage them from showing up again for a while, as long as the carving still defaces the side of the mountain, these invasions are going to keep happening," the group added. "It needs to come down. The time is long past to #sandblaststonemountain."
Racial justice advocates on Saturday shouted down white nationalists gathered in the town of Stone Mountain, Georgia, where the groups faced off for a number of hours.
The city of Stone Mountain said Friday that the park--which features the world's biggest Confederate monument--would be closed Saturday, and urged people to stay out of the downtown area out of "abundance of caution."
According to the Associated Press, "right-wing groups led by an Arkansas group called Confederate States III% had applied for a permit to hold a rally in Stone Mountain Park," but the permit was denied, leading the demonstrators to take to the city's streets.
\u201cStone Mountain closed as fully armed white extremists gather for a \u201cDefend Stone Mountain\u201d rally. #gapol\nhttps://t.co/c87g81pGNI\u201d— Kristen Clarke (@Kristen Clarke) 1597506862
\u201c\u201cWe\u2019re going to use the Second Amendment to protect the First amendment,\u201d gun extremist in Stone Mountain, Georgia. These insurrectionists threatened in advance that there could be \u201cbloodshed\u201d today.\n\nThe open carry of loaded handguns and long guns is legal in Georgia. #gapol\u201d— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1597505772
Atlanta's WXIA reported on the action:
The opposing groups were loosely organized on both sides. The white nationalist demonstrators, who appeared to be far outnumbered, were seemingly composed of neo-Confederates and militia groups like the III% Security Force.
The number of protesters swelled at one point 500, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. "Militia groups from Arkansas and Florida have joined those from Georgia, but remain greatly outnumbered by counterprotesters from the left," the newspaper noted.
The metro Atlanta chapter of the Democratic Socialsts of America called it an "overwhelming victory at Stone Mountain today, where the fascist right was scattered and run off."
\u201cOverwhelming victory at Stone Mountain today, where the fascist right was scattered and run off. Hundreds of workers from across Georgia took a stand against racism and won.\n\nDISMANTLE WHITE SUPREMACY!\nSANDBLAST STONE MOUNTAIN!\u201d— Atlanta DSA \ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf51 (@Atlanta DSA \ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf51) 1597512310
Among those organizing the counterprotest was FrontLine Organization Working to End Racism. The group said on its Facebook page Saturday that the time for the Stone Mountain cared monument to be removed is long ovedue.
"We would like to thank the racists for bringing lots of Confederate flags for people to seize and burn, so many that people on Twitter are making jokes about 'Six Flags Burned Over Georgia,'" the group wrote.
"While this pathetic showing should discourage them from showing up again for a while, as long as the carving still defaces the side of the mountain, these invasions are going to keep happening," the group added. "It needs to come down. The time is long past to #sandblaststonemountain."