Pro-Confederate Groups Planning Rally at the University of Mississippi [View all]
Members of Confederate 901 and The Hiwaymen say they are marching to "draw a line in the sand" on Saturday against the university for the removal of Confederate symbols. The groups are calling the event the Mississippi Stands Rally. George "K-Rack" Johnson is with Confederate 901. In a Facebook Live video, Johnson says that students, faculty, and staff at the university should not be afraid that they are coming to town.
Were not coming to Oxford or the university to cause any trouble, said Johnson. Were trying to just come in there and show that theres lots of people throughout the state of Mississippi and the South that still believe and support their southern pride, and their history, and their heritage.
Johnson also says there is no evidence that the pro-Confederate supporters are racist or affiliated with white supremacist groups.
Jody Owens is with the Southern Poverty Law Center. The nonprofit organization focuses on erasing hate and teaching tolerance. Owens says it's sad that a group will come to a place in Mississippi with such a deep history of racial inequity and hatred and protest about Confederate monuments.
Read more: http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2019/02/22/pro-confederate-groups-planning-rally-at-the-university-of-mississippi/