‘White Lives Matter’ organizers cancel second rally in Tennessee

More than 800 conterprotesters gathered to oppose a "White Lives Matter" rally organized by the League of the South in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Saturday before the group canceled the event citing long security lines. Screen capture/WTVF/Inform Inc.

Oct. 29 (UPI) — Organizers for a “White Lives Matter” rally in Tennessee canceled one of two events on Saturday, as attendees were outnumbered by counterpotesters.

The League of the South, the group who secured the permit for the rally in Murfreesboro, announced they would not attend the event at 3:15 p.m., as about 800 to 1,000 counterprotesters gathered to oppose the rally shouting “Murfreesboro loves” and other slogans.

A spokesman for the League of the South said the decision to cancel the event came after long security lines delayed the group, while also referencing Murfreesboro as a “lawsuit trap.”

No arrests were made and no one was injured as demonstrators exited the square and counterprotesters called off their events, police reported.

“Thank you to our local and state public safety officials, and to all who spent today protecting the cities of Shelbyville and Murfreesboro,” Gov. Bill Haslam wrote on Twitter.

Members of the League of the South held another event in ShelbyvilleSaturday morning to demonstrate for the White Lives Matter movement before the planned event in Murfreesboro.

Counterprotesters also gathered about 6 miles away and all attendees were searched for weapons and masks.

One man was arrested for disorderly conduct after jumping over a barrier, but police said there were no other incidents at the demonstration in Shelbyville.

Prior to the cancelation, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., issued a statement condemning white nationalists who gathered for the event.

“While the Constitution gives everyone the right to assemble, the Constitution makes it absolutely clear that we are all Americans without regard to race,” Alexander said. “The views of the white nationalists, Nazis, white supremacists and the Klan are wrong, they are un-American, they are not welcome, and we need to be loud and clear about that.”

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