A 'white power' rally in Georgia on Saturday turned violent as counter-protesters clashed with police who attempted to block them at the popular Stone Mountain park.
At least nine people were arrested after they allegedly fought with police in an attempt to attend the Rock Stone Mountain rally in the Yellow Daisy lot at the DeKalb County park, according to the
Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC).
A group of about 300 counter-protesters could be heard chanting, 'Hey hey, ho ho, the KKK has got to go' and 'Black Lives Matter' as they wanted to protest the group of about 30 'pro-white' rally participants.
Organizers for the event initially told park officials that members of the Ku Klux Klans, Aryan Nation sects and other white nationalist organizations would attend the event that was part of a 'push-back against the momentum for removing the Confederate Flag from state and city properties, the
Atlanta Daily World reported
According to the AJC, efforts to reach the 'white power' demonstrators by the groups who opposed their views turned chaotic as they had to first face off with authorities who were blocking a road at the park.
When police turned them away, the counter-protesters tried to reach the 'white power' group by taking a wooded trail.
'We're trying to get to where we can protest them,' Craig Clark told the AJC.
Once they reached a spot where they spotted Confederate flags, police stopped them from entering.
At this point, that's when the exchange erupted in violence as the counter-protesters threw rocks and fireworks toward the barricades and emptied trash cans, the AJC reported.
To keep the groups apart, officers in riot gear encircled the Rock Stone Mountain rally participants.
Officials said that counter-protesters fought with police who were trying to prevent them from getting close to the 'pro-white' rally.
The AJC reported that some people who refused to take off their masks were also arrested.
WGCL reported that a man wearing a confederate hat was attacked by counter-protesters and appeared to suffer minor injuries.
Some of the hundreds of counter-protesters present at the park said hat they wanted it to be peaceful event.
Church member Scott Maddox, who decided to leave when the violence erupted, told the AJC: 'I came here for a peaceful rally. When you start throwing rocks… that is not what this is about. We are not gonna be a part of that.'
Read more:
Anti-KKK protesters arrested at 'pro-white' rally in Georgia
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