A counter protest is planned to take place against the White Lives Matter rally on Saturday, October 28 at 1 P.M. in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Nationalist Front is a loose network of white nationalist groups that were among those involved in the Aug. 12 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, made up of the National Socialist Movement, Traditionalist Worker Party, League of the South, Vanguard America, White Lives Matter and others.
The group says the purpose of the White Lives Matter rally will be to protest the ongoing problem of refugee resettlement in Middle Tennessee and to draw attention to the recent Emanuel Samson church shooting in Antioch. They say the national media has buried the story and that the media only cares about pushing its “false narrative” of White racism and black victimhood. They also believe the tragic event in Antioch was a hate crime in retaliation for the Dylann Roof shooting in Charleston, which was deemed a hate crime.
They also want to express their anger at the Trump administration, which recently took Sudan off the travel ban list the day of the Antioch church shooting.
Participating organizations include but not limited to: League of the South, Traditionalist Worker’s Party, National Socialist Movement, Vanguard America, Anti-Communist Action.
According to their rallies’ website their objective is the following; “Draw national attention to the Emanuel Samson church shooting. Foster greater unity and cohesion within our own movement. Turn the page on Charlottesville.”
But according to Rutherford County Democratic Party chairman Matt Ferry they are just another hate group coming to start trouble.
“These groups are coming to Middle Tennessee under the guise of protesting the removal of Confederate monuments, the resettlement of refugees and more. Their true purpose is to spread hateful rhetoric and encourage violence against any that are not a part of their master race,” Ferry said.
Corey Lemley, a self-described antifa activist, has posted heavily on social media to encourage counter protesters to turn out in opposition. Antifa, a term derived from anti-fascism, are far-left-leaning militant groups that resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations and other events. “The community needs to be ready to defend itself against white nationalists and neo-Nazis,” said Lemley. “Fascism has no place here and we will defend the immigrant community, LGBT community, Muslim community, black community, and all communities that oppose this fascist movement.”
The protesters also want it to be known they do not want another Charlottesville but a peaceful protest.
For more information and updates on where to meet for the counter protest follow Corey Lemley on Facebook.
