The 'White Lives Matter' rally brought hundreds of people out to protest against refugee resettlement in the state
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Police in Tennessee are braced for futher demonstrations after neo-nazis and white nationalists held a rally in two cities to protest against refugee resettlement in the state.
Calling it a “white lives matter” march, groups including the Nationalist Front and the League of the South gathered in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro.
Their message to imigrants: ‘you’re not wanted here.’
“I say immigrants. I’m actually using the wrong word. They’re actually conquerors. And that’s the thing we need to understand. We’re here… most white people are handing them the keys to our country,” said one demonstrator.
If you’re wondering if saying #WhiteLivesMatter is racist, just remember it’s literally the slogan of American Nazis. pic.twitter.com/rmOGH8Rmb9
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) October 28, 2017
In both cities counter-demonstrators tried to drown out the divisive chants with calls of their own for greater acceptance and inclusion.
WATCH: Counterprotestors play “La Bamba” to drown out speaker at “White Lives Matter” rally https://t.co/8zNkw0L1qX pic.twitter.com/Ggm4F0e2eF
— The Hill (@thehill) October 29, 2017
Scores of police and the national guard kept the two sides largely separated so no violence was reported and only one arrest made.
Another rally in support of the refugee resettlement programme is expected to take place on Sunday.
Over the last 15 years, about 18,000 refugees have been resettled in Tennessee, less than 1 percent of the state’s population, according to the Tennessean newspaper.