White nationalists stage torch-lit rally at Charlottesville's Lee statue Saturday night

[workinclasszero]

White nationalists stage torch-lit rally at Charlottesville's Lee statue Saturday night
By The Daily Progress 14 hrs ago

CHARLOTTESVILLE — White nationalists, including “alt-right” leader Richard Spencer, assembled once again at the foot of Charlottesville’s Robert E. Lee statue in Emancipation Park, armed with torches in what Spencer dubbed “Charlottesville 3.0.”

Spencer, Unite the Right rally organizer Jason Kessler, and members of white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups first gathered at the Lee statue on May 13. On Aug. 11, the day before the rally, another torch-bearing march concluded at the University of Virginia Rotunda. Spencer and Kessler are both graduates of U.Va., which celebrated its bicentennial on Friday.

In a tweet, Mayor Mike Signer called the rally “another despicable visit by neo-Nazi cowards,” adding, “You’re not welcome here! Go home! Meantime we’re looking at all our legal options. Stay tuned.”

http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/white-nationalists-stage-torch-lit-rally-at-charlottesville-s-lee/article_4e89b8d6-9b0d-5beb-877f-7dada87b93fb.html

[AJT]

1. I believe you mean "white activists"

[workinclasszero]

3. I like the mayor's accurate description of these evil bastards....

"neo-Nazi cowards".

[williesgirl]

2. I think they should be ignored by the press and everyone.

No one goes near that area, in cars or on foot. If they can't get an iota of satisfaction from these rallies, they'll stop.

[Yonnie3]

4. Observations from Charlottesville

There were, according to various estimates, anywhere from 30 to 50 of them.
No long guns, KKK attire, flags or banners in evidence.
They sang Dixie, chanted "You will not replace us", "Russia is our friend" and "We will be back."
The rally lasted about 12 minutes in the park.

Charlottesville largely ignored them and a counter rally was held on UVA grounds later that evening.

They were walking in the middle of the street until the police arrived and then hurriedly moved to the sidewalk. For some reason they exited the park in a hurry, then were told not to hurry. Then in a minute or so they were told to speed up.

I watched Spencer's video of the event in the hopes of seeing someone I could recognize, but had no luck.

His video is at https://www.pscp.tv/w/1yoKMpodMMexQ if you want to see the scum of America in action.

Sometimes the First Amendment irritates me.

[ProudLib72]

5. How much would it hurt them if the "meetin' statue" were removed

They like the symbolism. Get rid of it, replace it with MLK, see if they come again.

[Yonnie3]

6. We are trying to remove it, but there are some pesky laws and judges.

The solution will have to be political, which is how laws are changed.

[ProudLib72]

7. My post sounded snarky, I admit it

But I started out seriously wondering if physical, permanent symbols lend them power. Something like, "This statue has been here for 100 years, and it demonstrates that our values are part of this culture." In the absence of these symbols, they don't have anything external and public with which to connect. It would be as if the market place of ideas flat out rejected theirs. As it is now, they can claim cultural values as tradition; however, we can change those cultural values and reject tradition as antiquated ideals.

[Yonnie3]

10. I concur, it is a useful symbol to them and it should be gone.

If it were gone they would have to find something else to use. They would find something else, but I think it would be less useful. They are conflating a false romantic view of the south with white supremacy. Some, perhaps many of them are not from the south.

A long time ago I tended to view it as a well done statue of an olden guy on a horse. When I understood why and when it had been erected in the park and what it represents negatively to others, I thought it should be modified and additional context given. Once the nazis, alt-right, and white supremacists latched on to it, all doubts that it should stay were pushed from my mind. I began actively pushing for its removal.

The statue is covered with a black tarp, which has been replaced several times after being vandalized. I'm sure that it will remain covered unless a court orders otherwise.

As an aside, what part of their cultural values could "Russia is our friend" be? It seems glaringly out of place in their southern culture.

[ProudLib72]

12. The Russia side is strange for sure

One could take it two different ways: 1) Russia helped Dotard win the election, which means they are friends to all conservatives; or 2) Russia supports neo-Nazis and white supremacists specifically. I'm pretty sure the second way is true. Putin does want these people to sow discord in our country. But even if that is what they meant, wouldn't it run counter to what they are trying to achieve? I mean, doesn't it admit that Russia is up to no good? I think we don't have all the context that they must be steeped in after months of ranting back and forth on their discussion boards. But, yeah, I agree that the Russia thing is way out of their "preserving southern culture" context.

[safeinOhio]

9. Couldn't someone just hang a sign

around Lee's neck that says Surrender Monkey?

[spanone]

8. i'm surprised trump and pence didn't fly down to join them.

[kydo]

11. This is the ONLY time bad weather is a good thing

What is left of Nate and all his tornadoes are kind of like in South Carolina right now. Maybe some of them might could maybe remove a Lee statue or two. You never know.