Call for a broad mobilization against white nationalist, far-Right militia, and neo-Confederate groups who plan to hold a rally at Stone Mountain in Georgia on August 15th.

On August 15, 2020, far-Right and racist organizers have vowed to rally at Stone Mountain Park outside Atlanta. Stone Mountain is the birthplace of the modern Ku Klux Klan and has long been a a site of racist mobilization due to this history and the giant carvings of Confederate generals defacing the mountainside. The August 15 rally is intended as a show of defiance against this summer’s Black-led, anti-racist protests. Promoters for 8/15 include a Facebook page operated by a veteran of neo-Nazi groups; “American Patriots USA” headed by notorious white supremacist Chester Doles; and a militia that uses “Heritage Not Hate” rhetoric while inflaming hatred against Black Lives Matter and networking with white nationalists. 

Moreover, Doles here lays out how he views Trump supporters of color running for office that APUSA supports or who attend his rallies as a "Trojan Horse," as they deflect from his neo-Nazism. By tokenizing these people, Doles can use them as cover for his broader agenda. pic.twitter.com/BmBHqR3U8v

— It's Going Down (@IGD_News) May 13, 2020

The racist rallies at Stone Mountain endanger the surrounding community and normalize the white power movement, which has been responsible for over 175 murders in the past eight years. [1] In response, a diverse coalition of organizations and community members has mobilized to confront this armed racist invasion. The F.L.O.W.E.R. (FrontLine Organizations Working to End Racism) coalition aims to facilitate broad-based anti-racist opposition.

The FLOWER Coalition will be organizing to oppose the racists coming to Stone Mountain. Get in contact if your org wishes to endorse the Aug 15th anti-racist mobilization. More details soon. [email protected] https://t.co/LGIaO8yeU9 pic.twitter.com/YEe25aAno8

— F.L.O.W.E.R. (@flowerunited) July 20, 2020

The coalition has previously mobilized against another threatened racist rally at Stone Mountain in February 2019. The F.L.O.W.E.R. coalition calls for a large, grassroots presence on 8/15, to challenge the racist rallies and to show the strength, determination, and diversity of the South we call home.

 

“The racists mobilizing for August 15 have simple goals: intimidate and spread terror,” says Sam Miller of the F.L.O.W.E.R. coalition. “We will not let that happen. From faith groups to frontline protesters, we all have a part to play. Now is the time to spread the word widely and to make August 15 a day the racists will regret.” 

At the time of writing, the F.L.O.W.E.R. mobilization has been endorsed by eighteen organizations and community groups. For more information about the coalition and its plans, visit: flowerunited.org