Georgia police used KKK law against neo-Nazi protesters at racist rally
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Hundreds of neo-Nazi demonstrators converged in Newnan, Georgia, but police were able to battle potential hooded racists with a little-known Georgia anti-mask law that prevented people from covering up their faces, reports the AJC.
The 1951 law was enacted to keep the Ku Klux Klan from wearing hoods during demonstrations, and it was used this past weekend to lock up any white supremacists who wore masks at the rally.
Any white supremacist who wanted to antagonize Black folks had to literally face them. But in contrast, counter protesters who wore masks in an effort to avoid being targeted by white racists were also arrested. In fact, only counter protesters were arrested at the rally.
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“They were trying to stop us, and we were trying to dial down the racist stuff,” said Jeremy Ortega, a1 9-year-old counter protester who said he was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.
“We were peacefully protesting, yet they put guns in our faces and told us to take our masks off,” said Ortega “It made no sense.” Ortega said he will be filing a civil lawsuit.
A video on social media showed a counter protestor being handcuffed.
“Remove your mask, or you will be arrested,” said an officer in the video.
Other counter protesters were chanting “hands up, don’t shoot.”
The protest garnered national attention and there were more than 700 law enforcement officials on hand to help keep the peace. It was reported that no white supremacists were arrested on Saturday.
How convenient.
“Making arrests in a volatile situation is never going to be pretty,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan said
“We maintained security. We would not let there be disorder. We didn’t have civil disorder, property damage. And we had just a few arrests,” Keenan said. “We are absolutely satisfied.”
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