“I am their worst nightmare”: Rally organizer says KKK, hate groups not allowed
Photo by Casey Cole.
The New Confederate States of America held a press conference Thursday ahead of Saturday’s rally to protect the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Ave.
“We are here to protect the monuments and history – so that history doesn’t repeat itself,” said Tara Brandau, the lead organizer of the rally.
The press conference was held in downtown Richmond by the Virginia State Capitol. Organizers took questions from the media. There were moments of tension when hecklers told the organizers to go home.
“You’re not educated about our history. We’re here to protect the history and heritage,” Brandau said.
Brandau and other representatives from CSA denounced the Klu Klux Klan and other white nationalist groups that may be present at Saturday’s rally.
“I am their worst nightmare — I do not work with the KKK and any racist or hateful groups will be turned away,” Brandau said.
As the press conference took place, the Richmond Police Department started putting up barricades around various streets in hopes of controlling the crowds.
According to RPD, closures are expected for the following areas:
- Monument Ave. from Lombardy St. to Meadow St.
- North Allen Ave. between West Grace St. and Park Ave.
- West Grace St. to Westbound Allen Ave. and Lombardy St.
- West Grace St. to Eastbound Allen Ave. and Meadow St.
NEWS EDITOR
Hiba Ahmad
Hiba is a senior studying broadcast journalism and religious studies. In addition to writing for the CT, she is the campus editor-at-large for the Huffington Post, a reporter for VCU InSight and president of United Muslim Relief at VCU. This summer, Hiba interned with the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Washington, D.C. She previously interned with Voice for America and as a web content intern for VCU’s Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture.
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