Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Atlanta’s CBS News affiliate reports:
A group with white supremacist ties and counter-protesters faced off in Georgia today at Stone Mountain. Police from multiple agencies and the Georgia National Guard were on scene. Stone Mountain park officials say a group called the Three Percenters out of Alabama applied for a permit. It was denied because of violence surrounding past protests. No other group was given a permit. But people still showed up on Saturday.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:
Saturday’s protests have been marked by scant police presence among the demonstrators, allowing the two sides to engage in pushing, shoving and other contact. Counterprotesters have snatched hats and Confederate flags from the outnumbered individuals challenging them.
In one tense exchange, a protester with a ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flag pointed his assault weapon at the protesters. Members of the group quickly charged him down. Small fights have also broken out.
Counter demonstrators argued loudly with a man carrying a Confederate flag. ”You are pedophiles,” the man with flag screamed, repeating a popular internet conspiracy theory about a secret cabal of pedophiles in the “deep state.”
Ford Fischer is the guy to follow when it comes to these idiot white supremacists. He’s always right on the scene.
Today at #StoneMountainGA was some of the most intense street violence between left and right I’ve seen since Charlottesville.
In this fight, two were left bloodied after a head was smashed by baseball bat.
I’ll be posting HD video as I go through it in this thread. pic.twitter.com/wDgYreJgZe
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
Not worth making a video clip, but one of the right-wingers’ car had a writing on it reading “My Life Matters! Proud of what and who I am! A White man.” pic.twitter.com/C4V9CFfTj7
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
“Look at this peak male performance here” an antifascist activist mocked a right winger.
The situation was escalating in tension but didn’t turn into punches.
A couple right-wingers then maced the @flowerunited crowd. pic.twitter.com/vSqrObhtLf
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
Around the corner from that parking lot was W Mountain Street. This block between Main St. and Ridge Ave (outside Stone Mountain First United Methodist Church) ended up being the battlefield for most of the day.
This was the first flag swipe/burn stunt I saw at that location. pic.twitter.com/TY7JhLYmpm
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
The Confederate guy got in his car, but got out and tried to file a criminal complaint when he was informed a sticker was on his car.
The police seemed not to particularly care, but he saluted them and told him he’s with them. pic.twitter.com/R6SjD8Qzvm
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
One of the Confederate guys (armed with a shotgun) stood outside his car.
A Coalition Of Armed Labor @ArmedLabor activist told him he’d have safe passage if he’d get in truck and leave. pic.twitter.com/pUgoitwU3i
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
The III% group led by Chris Hill retreated into a wall. An anti-Confederate activist pulled a handgun out of his holster, which he held in his hand facing the ground.
Hill began keeping his hand on his holstered handgun. Ultimately, the anti-Confederate put his away. pic.twitter.com/lOyYyuPgeY
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
From the beginning, the right was outgunned and vastly outnumbered. As they first began their retreat, one Confederate guy’s flash was stolen right off the poll.
“Fuck your rag!” protesters said as they set it on fire. pic.twitter.com/FP9xwcm2hi
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
“Nazis, go home!” chanted anti-fascists at the Confederate supporters.
Tensions began to rise as a bottle of urine was poured onto the Confederate people. pic.twitter.com/NstRexwKDj
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020
At least a few fights went down this way: The left would go to swipe away a Confederate Flag from a right-winger, then the right winger would retaliate, and the fight would escalate.
The presence of firearms in these fights raised the stakes, but no shots were fired. pic.twitter.com/ymg9RfMGT9
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 15, 2020