insider@insider.com (Sophia Ankel),
INSIDER•August 16, 2020
Armed pro-Confederacy groups faced off with antifa protesters in Georgia
A series of clashes between far-right militia, pro-Confederacy groups, and anti-fascist counter-protesters erupted across the country on Saturday.
At Stone Mountain Park, Georgia — home to the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial — heavily armed far-right protesters attacked anti-fascist protesters with pepper spray.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, a rally organized by the alt-right group Proud Boys also turned violent after the group started punching counter-protesters.
Four arrests were also made in Portland after a small group of alt-right demonstrators started shooting paintballs at counter-protesters.
A counter-protester raises his hands in front of a far right militia as various militia groups stage rallies in downtown Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S. August 15, 2020. REUTERS/Dustin Chambers
Clashes between far-right militia, pro-Confederacy groups, and antifa counter-protesters erupted at Stone Mountain Park, Georgia, on Saturday.
Videos on social media showed a small number of heavily armed far-right protesters attacking anti-fascist protesters with pepper spray and yelling at them. Some fistfights also broke out.
Statues of Confederate leaders and other controversial figures, like slaveholders and colonists, have become a focal point for protesters around the country.
At one point, a man with a "Don't Tread on Me" flag and an assault weapon pointed his gun on the crowd, according to the Daily Beast.
The confrontation prompted police in riot gear and members of the National Guard to disperse the crowd. It is unclear whether any arrests were made.
—Maura Sirianni 11Alive (@MauraSirianni) August 15, 2020
A far-right paramilitary group called Three Percenters militia initially asked to hold a 2,000-person rally at the park on Saturday but were denied by police.
In preparation, authorities closed off entry points to the monument, suspended bus services, and asked locals to avoid the city center.
—Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
Stone Park wasn't the only place that saw tense confrontations in the country on Saturday.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, a rally organized by the alt-right group Proud Boys also turned violent after the group started fighting with counter-protesters.
The First Congregational Church hosted a gathering of anti-racism counter-protesters.
"The Proud Boys, they not only have hatred for Jewish people and Muslim people, but they're also very hateful of anybody who doesn't look like them or act like them," Rev. Nathan Dannison, the church's pastor, told local outlet MLive.
The mask-less Proud Boys, who were chanting and waving American, Trump, and Gadsen flags, were later dispersed by police in riot gear.
One Black local reporter who was filming the scenes at the protest was arrested by police but was later let go. Police said, "a few arrests" were made, according to local affiliate WOOD-TV.
—Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob) August 15, 2020
Four arrests were also made in Portland after a small group of alt-right demonstrators started trading paintballs and pepper spray with counter-protesters.
In Oregon's state capital, Salem, scuffles also broke out between several groups of differing ideologies.
Stone Mountain Park is home to the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial, a giant granite carving that depicts Confederate figures Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson mounted on horseback.
The memorial, which is the largest Confederate monument in the US, has become a point of friction over the years.
Calls for its removal first came after the Charleston church shooting in 2015 but intensified in recent months following the death of George Floyd.
Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams once called the carving "a blight on our state," according to the Daily Beast.
Violent clashes across the US between far-right and counter protesters
Danielle Zoellner,
The Independent•August 16, 2020
Clashes between far-right militia, pro-Confederacy groups, and antifa counter-protesters erupted at Stone Mountain Park, Georgia, on Saturday.
Videos on social media showed a small number of heavily armed far-right protesters attacking anti-fascist protesters with pepper spray and yelling at them. Some fistfights also broke out.
Statues of Confederate leaders and other controversial figures, like slaveholders and colonists, have become a focal point for protesters around the country.
At one point, a man with a "Don't Tread on Me" flag and an assault weapon pointed his gun on the crowd, according to the Daily Beast.
The confrontation prompted police in riot gear and members of the National Guard to disperse the crowd. It is unclear whether any arrests were made.
—Maura Sirianni 11Alive (@MauraSirianni) August 15, 2020
A far-right paramilitary group called Three Percenters militia initially asked to hold a 2,000-person rally at the park on Saturday but were denied by police.
In preparation, authorities closed off entry points to the monument, suspended bus services, and asked locals to avoid the city center.
—Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
Stone Park wasn't the only place that saw tense confrontations in the country on Saturday.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, a rally organized by the alt-right group Proud Boys also turned violent after the group started fighting with counter-protesters.
The First Congregational Church hosted a gathering of anti-racism counter-protesters.
"The Proud Boys, they not only have hatred for Jewish people and Muslim people, but they're also very hateful of anybody who doesn't look like them or act like them," Rev. Nathan Dannison, the church's pastor, told local outlet MLive.
The mask-less Proud Boys, who were chanting and waving American, Trump, and Gadsen flags, were later dispersed by police in riot gear.
One Black local reporter who was filming the scenes at the protest was arrested by police but was later let go. Police said, "a few arrests" were made, according to local affiliate WOOD-TV.
—Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob) August 15, 2020
Four arrests were also made in Portland after a small group of alt-right demonstrators started trading paintballs and pepper spray with counter-protesters.
In Oregon's state capital, Salem, scuffles also broke out between several groups of differing ideologies.
Stone Mountain Park is home to the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial, a giant granite carving that depicts Confederate figures Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson mounted on horseback.
The memorial, which is the largest Confederate monument in the US, has become a point of friction over the years.
Calls for its removal first came after the Charleston church shooting in 2015 but intensified in recent months following the death of George Floyd.
Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams once called the carving "a blight on our state," according to the Daily Beast.
Violent clashes across the US between far-right and counter protesters
Danielle Zoellner,
The Independent•August 16, 2020
Members of far right militias and white pride organizations rally near Stone Mountain Park in Georgia on August 15: AFP via Getty Images
Violent clashes erupted across the US this weekend between protesters at opposite ends of the political spectrum.
Confrontations reached boiling point in both Kalamazoo, MIchigan, and Stone Mountain, Georgia, after far-right groups were met with counter protesters.
The Three Percenters, a far-right militia group, called for a 2,000-person rally on Saturday at Georgia's Stone Mountain Park "to defend and protect our history and Second Amendment rights".
The group was criticising calls to remove Confederate monuments and other memorabilia that have rippled across the nation in the wake of large protests over police brutality and systemic racism following the killing of George Floyd in police custody.
Stone Mountain Park is home to the largest Confederate monument in the US, honouring Robert E Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, and Thomas Jefferson. The area was also considered the symbolic location of where the Ku Klux Klan formed.
Ahead of the event, the city announced that it would be closing Stone Mountain Park amid fears the rally would lead to clashes between protest groups.
Video footage and reports from Saturday showed the Three Percenters clashing with counter-protest groups. These counter-protesters represented several civil rights organisations including NAACP, as well as left-leaning groups like Black Lives Matter and Antifa, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
"Go home, racists, go home," counter protesters chanted at the far-right group.
“Go home, racists, go home!” Members of BLM, Antifa and independents chant during protest in the town of Stone Mountain @11AliveNews pic.twitter.com/Rr75W36hrv
— Maura Sirianni 11Alive (@MauraSirianni)
August 15, 2020
By early afternoon, it was reported that an estimated 500 people were gathered near the park. Both sides had members carrying rifles, the Associated Press reported.
The gathering remained rather peaceful for a few hours before it turned violent around 1pm. Members of the militia group reportedly sprayed insect repellent and other chemical sprays at the counter-protesters. Several members of both groups were violently brought to the ground by others.
Police showed up in riot gear and were able to disperse the crowd. No one was arrested, according to reports.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, a rally organised by the far-right group, Proud Boys, also turned violent. Clashes started once the Proud Boys – who have been accused of being anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, and anti-women – arrived in downtown Kalamazoo Saturday morning and were met with counter-protesters, some of whom represented Black Lives Matter and other left-leaning groups.
The Proud Boys were seen pepper-spraying counter protesters as violence broke out, MLive reported. Multiple protesters were seen brandishing weapons while others used street signs as weapons.
Kalamazoo police arrived on the scene after the protests turned violent.
"Once we as law enforcement noticed or observed that it was no longer peaceful, we then began to establish a police line and disburse the large crowd from fighting," KDPS Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley said.
Multiple people were arrested as protesters clashed, including MLive's reporter Samuel Robinson, a black journalist, who was covering the protests for his publication. He was later freed on $100 bond.
Hell has broken loose pic.twitter.com/SBj5GqdhFq
— Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob)
August 15, 2020
The unrest seen in the two cities has been witnessed across the nation, as Americans have taken to the streets to demonstrate against ongoing issues of police brutality and racism in the US.
In Portland, Oregon, protests continued for the 80th straight day on Saturday, and again turned violent between protesters and police. Alt-right protesters joined the crowds in Portland, in an apparent bid to distract from the original movement.
Multiple alt-right protesters were seen on Saturday brandishing paintball guns and using pepper spray against counter protesters.
"There were reports of a scuffle, pepper spray use, and a paintball gun," Portland Police Sergeant Kevin Allen confirmed to KOMO News. "No one reported being a victim of a crime."
Other demonstrators have also displayed violence against police officers while protesting police brutality. Almost daily there have been reports of protesters throwing rocks and other items when met with police. Participants have also repeatedly broken into the offices of the Portland Police Association, vandalized them, and set fires.
Violent clashes erupted across the US this weekend between protesters at opposite ends of the political spectrum.
Confrontations reached boiling point in both Kalamazoo, MIchigan, and Stone Mountain, Georgia, after far-right groups were met with counter protesters.
The Three Percenters, a far-right militia group, called for a 2,000-person rally on Saturday at Georgia's Stone Mountain Park "to defend and protect our history and Second Amendment rights".
The group was criticising calls to remove Confederate monuments and other memorabilia that have rippled across the nation in the wake of large protests over police brutality and systemic racism following the killing of George Floyd in police custody.
Stone Mountain Park is home to the largest Confederate monument in the US, honouring Robert E Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, and Thomas Jefferson. The area was also considered the symbolic location of where the Ku Klux Klan formed.
Ahead of the event, the city announced that it would be closing Stone Mountain Park amid fears the rally would lead to clashes between protest groups.
Video footage and reports from Saturday showed the Three Percenters clashing with counter-protest groups. These counter-protesters represented several civil rights organisations including NAACP, as well as left-leaning groups like Black Lives Matter and Antifa, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
"Go home, racists, go home," counter protesters chanted at the far-right group.
“Go home, racists, go home!” Members of BLM, Antifa and independents chant during protest in the town of Stone Mountain @11AliveNews pic.twitter.com/Rr75W36hrv
— Maura Sirianni 11Alive (@MauraSirianni)
August 15, 2020
By early afternoon, it was reported that an estimated 500 people were gathered near the park. Both sides had members carrying rifles, the Associated Press reported.
The gathering remained rather peaceful for a few hours before it turned violent around 1pm. Members of the militia group reportedly sprayed insect repellent and other chemical sprays at the counter-protesters. Several members of both groups were violently brought to the ground by others.
Police showed up in riot gear and were able to disperse the crowd. No one was arrested, according to reports.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, a rally organised by the far-right group, Proud Boys, also turned violent. Clashes started once the Proud Boys – who have been accused of being anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, and anti-women – arrived in downtown Kalamazoo Saturday morning and were met with counter-protesters, some of whom represented Black Lives Matter and other left-leaning groups.
The Proud Boys were seen pepper-spraying counter protesters as violence broke out, MLive reported. Multiple protesters were seen brandishing weapons while others used street signs as weapons.
Kalamazoo police arrived on the scene after the protests turned violent.
"Once we as law enforcement noticed or observed that it was no longer peaceful, we then began to establish a police line and disburse the large crowd from fighting," KDPS Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley said.
Multiple people were arrested as protesters clashed, including MLive's reporter Samuel Robinson, a black journalist, who was covering the protests for his publication. He was later freed on $100 bond.
Hell has broken loose pic.twitter.com/SBj5GqdhFq
— Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob)
August 15, 2020
The unrest seen in the two cities has been witnessed across the nation, as Americans have taken to the streets to demonstrate against ongoing issues of police brutality and racism in the US.
In Portland, Oregon, protests continued for the 80th straight day on Saturday, and again turned violent between protesters and police. Alt-right protesters joined the crowds in Portland, in an apparent bid to distract from the original movement.
Multiple alt-right protesters were seen on Saturday brandishing paintball guns and using pepper spray against counter protesters.
"There were reports of a scuffle, pepper spray use, and a paintball gun," Portland Police Sergeant Kevin Allen confirmed to KOMO News. "No one reported being a victim of a crime."
Other demonstrators have also displayed violence against police officers while protesting police brutality. Almost daily there have been reports of protesters throwing rocks and other items when met with police. Participants have also repeatedly broken into the offices of the Portland Police Association, vandalized them, and set fires.
No comments:
Post a Comment