Small Georgia town protests neo-Nazi rally

Latest

Local townspeople and various groups objected to the Nazi presence in a small Georgia town. Signs said “We will not be silent;” “Black Lives Matter;” “Take your Hate Elsewhere;” and “Community is strong.”
PHOTOS/JOHN RAMSPOTT

 
Neo-Nazis, led by the National Socialist Movement (NSM) out of Michigan, held a white supremacist rally in the small Georgia town of Newnan on April 21. The number of Nazis was around 30 or so. The counter-protestors had over a 100 people. But by far the largest group were police officers, numbering in the hundreds. Estimates range from 400 to 700 police officers of various types. Barricades were everywhere in the area of the rally, with a tall fence put around Greenville City Park, where the rally was held. It truly looked like a police state. There were all sorts of heavily armored vehicles and police in riot gear. The number of police was enormous—it felt like a true police state. Even reporters with press passes (like me) were limited as to where they could go. Only people approved by the Nazis were allowed into the park itself. The rest of us were relegated to the same area as the counter-protesters, who were heavily searched before being in the area where they were permitted. Blocking off roads with really big trucks and having a police presence was a good idea. Some barriers were a good idea too. But the severe restriction of movement and not allowing us to get good photographs of the Nazis was over the top. Also, all those armored vehicles driving around was just plain wacky. There is a difference between police presence and police state, and this went way towards a police state.
Counter-protestors consisted of local townspeople objecting to the Nazi presence, Antifa and #BlackLivesMatter. Also, the motorcycle riders were part of a Jewish motorcycle club. While they may look like “bad dudes,” here they were against the Nazis.
The police arrested people for no real reason. A young Latino man “walking while Hispanic” was arrested. He was walking in the street in front of me (past a parked vehicle and crowd of people on the sidewalk) when an officer yelled at us to get back on the sidewalk. José immediately started walking towards the sidewalk, but the officer yelled to another officer to arrest him anyway. Once I passed the car, I got on to the sidewalk, but nobody tried to arrest me (an old white man with a camera and press pass). At the time, there was no traffic on the road but a lot of parked and armored police vehicles.
 

Local townspeople and various groups objected to the Nazi presence in a small Georgia town.
PHOTOS/JOHN RAMSPOTT
+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

‘I Am a Political Prisoner’ Says Jailed Immigrant Rights Activist

In this interview with Democracy Now, Journalist Maria Hinojosa describes her recent interview in an ICE detention center in Colorado with jailed immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra.

War No More – Veterans Reflect on the Meaning of Memorial Day

Veterans for Peace say wars will not end, – and nuclear war will not be averted – unless there is a sea-change in the thinking of the U.S. people and our political leaders.

Harvard University Stands Up to Illegal Federal Government Actions

Read letter by Harvard President Alan M. Garner, about the University's stance on the Federal government's illegal actions to force Harvard to give up the school's academic independence and academic freedom.

Trump’s Big Cruel, Deadly Policy Bill is a Healthcare Heist

Outrage is rising against Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that would give massive tax breaks to the rich while slashing Medicaid, nutrition, and clean energy. Some say 14 million people could lose health coverage.

Is FREE Electricity in our Future?

Electricity should be a right, free to all.  Yet, for-profit energy companies set prices to maximize profits to shareholders, even when users can’t afford the prices and suffer shutoffs.

More from the People's Tribune