Confederate 901 demonstrated with little incident; more protests planned Saturday

After spending nearly $152,000 earlier this year on policing demonstrations against the removal of Confederate monuments, the city's response to one of those groups looked far more subdued Friday in Downtown Memphis.

A small group carrying Confederate flags was met by a few antifascist counterprotesters, some covering their faces with bandanas, at Big River Crossing and Health Sciences Park. At their largest numbers, the Confederate group had about nine people and the antifascist group had about six. One counterprotester said two more people were scouting the area.

Several police cars were visible in the area and, at one point, about 10 officers stood between the groups. Some words were exchanged, but protesters remained peaceful. More demonstrations were planned for Saturday.

Organizer George "K-Rack" Johnson said Confederate 901 is committed to holding a peaceful event, but "we will defend ourselves if we come under attack."

The Confederate 901 group first gathered Friday in a field off Petro Road in West Memphis, Arkansas, where a couple of passing drivers honked and shouted rebel yells at them. The group then traveled to Memphis in a caravan, flying a variety of flags, including a skull and crossbones and the words “Rebel Till I Die." The group has been upset over the removal of statues of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest from Memphis parks in December. Johnson said his primary reason for protesting Friday was the July 28 removal of additional memorabilia from the park where the Davis statue stood. 

On Friday, the group quietly paraded on Big River Crossing to the state line with Arkansas, drawing stares from people riding Bird scooters. When the Confederate group walked back toward their cars, they were met by three antifascist protesters who shouted “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA” and “go home.”

“We are out here to send a message to say this is not welcome in Memphis,” said Joshua Caleb, who protested against the Confederate group. “It’s not welcome anywhere in Tennessee. And when they show up, we show up.”

The Confederate group then drove around the downtown park where the statue of Davis had been removed, before heading to the Health Sciences Park. There, one member of the Confederate group asked a security guard if they could lay flowers at Forrest’s grave. Not being allowed to do so was discrimination, he said afterward. Instead, the group briefly placed the flowers at the base of the plaque about Forrest before picking them back up.

A man driving by paused to yell out his window, asking the group if they knew they’d “lost.”

When a handful of counterprotesters arrived, more than 10 police officers stood between them and the Confederate group. A few argued across the police.

Before leaving the park, the Confederate group said the Pledge of Allegiance and headed to their cars, predicting Saturday's turnout will be larger. 

David Waddell, who joined the group wearing a Confederate bandana on his head, said he is “just here because I don’t like removing history.”

Shelby County Commissioner and community organizer Tami Sawyer, one of the founders of the #TakeEmDown901 group, urged would-be counterprotesters to stay at home. 

"Quickly, yes, Confederate 901 says they will be here (Friday) and (Saturday)," she posted on Facebook. "I don’t believe they will make much impact. I’ve asked #takeemdown901 not to engage with them at all. The parks will be closed, so I recommend everyone stay home or away. Countering gives unnecessary attention to a hate fueled group of people."

On Saturday, the Confederate group plans to meet in Southaven, Mississippi in the area of Chick-fil-A and Office Depot. They plan to travel to Memphis in the afternoon after the St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer is finished downtown.

The number of people who planned to show up to protest or counterprotest changed throughout the week and exact numbers for Saturday were not immediately clear. 

Antifascist activist Beth Foster, of Nashville, said she and a group of about six to eight people were traveling to Memphis to counterprotest the Confederate supporters.

Memphis hardcore punk musician Omar Higgins said affiliates of the anti-racist skinhead group American Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice will also monitor the Confederate protest. 

The local Sons of Confederate Veterans will not be participating, said spokesman Lee Millar.

Carla Hill, investigative researcher with the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, said she is not seeing "a lot or any white supremacists jumping on this event."

"It seems to be neo-Confederate sorts that are involved in trying to organize this," she said. "As far as an extremist connection, from our standpoint, we’re not seeing that so far."

Members of Confederate 901 protested in Memphis on Jan. 6 by driving around the Interstate 240 loop in a "riding rally" of about 50 vehicles, while a separate group of about a dozen people led by Arkansas white nationalist Billy Roper demonstrated on Union Avenue.

The January demonstrations occurred months after the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. and drew a large police response. Some Memphis streets were blocked with dump trucks, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation deployed a record number of agents to Memphis and two parks were shut down. 

The January demonstrations remained peaceful and no arrests or property damage were reported.

Protesters have also taken to the streets in Memphis this week following the shooting of Martavious Banks by a Memphis police officer. Three officers have been relieved of duty, and the TBI is investigating. Six protesters were arrested Wednesday night.

On Facebook, Sawyer urged focus away from the Confederate group and toward Banks. 

"And because so many have asked, yes I am aware of their (the Confederate group's) constant mentioning of my name and I have made arrangements for my own safety as well. More importantly, let’s continue to focus on Justice for #MartaviousBanks," she posted.

The city had not received a request this week from Confederate 901 for a permit for the planned protests Friday and Saturday.

"As usual, the Memphis Police Department has made plans to ensure the safety of both protesters and the public," said city spokeswoman Ursula Madden.

Asked about the permit, Confederate 901 messaged The Commercial Appeal a copy of the First Amendment.

“I think all of us at City Hall were concerned the last time they were in town, but I do have full faith the police department has a plan set forth to maintain public safety," Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said. 

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Commercial Appeal reporter Katherine Burgess contributed to this report.