DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – As the Dallas Police Department prepares to monitor an anti-white supremacy rally in downtown Saturday night, the event’s organizer said he’s hoping the rally will be peaceful not like the tragic events that unfolded in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend.
32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed and many were injured after a car plowed into a group of counter protesters at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The “Unite the Right” rally was held to protest the City of Charlottesville’s plan to remove a stature of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee.
Eric Ramsey, organizer of the Dallas event, told WFAA TV he’s expecting about 3,000 people to show up to his event, which is being held at Pioneer Park next to the Confederate War Memorial.
“The point of the rally is really to unite people of all different colors, religions, genders, sexual orientations and a show of unity and diversity,” he said.
While the purpose of the rally is one of peace, Ramsey said he knows that the event will be met with backlash. In fact, he’s expecting up to 1,000 counter protesters but said he will not be discouraged.
“Racism and bigotry and white supremacy is not going to win,” he said.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said he supports free speech but sent a message to all who attend the event that violence will not be tolerated.
“We will not tolerate violence in our city of any kind. The police department will take immediate enforcement action if any type of crime is committed against any person or property,” he said.
Crowd control officers will be at the rally and police will be monitoring social media for information about potential counter protests.
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