GUEST EDITORIAL: Charlottesville anniversary is

opportunity for action against white nationalists

 Blount County Showing Up for Racial Justice
 Published by the Daily Times on Aug 12, 2018

A year ago today, white nationalists converged on Charlottesville, Va., for a “rally” that became
a violent assault on peaceful anti-racist activists, students and clergy. One white nationalist
rammed his car into a crowd and killed an anti-racist protester, while many other peaceful people
were injured.

Charlottesville became the reference for raging debates and disputes about the aggressive white
supremacist/Nazi movement that has become more active and visible since 2016.

A few days later, state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, introduced in the Tennessee
General Assembly a resolution to ”strongly denounce and oppose” the beliefs that underpin
white nationalism and urging law enforcement to recognize these and neo-Nazi groups as
terrorist organizations. The General Assembly took no action on his resolution for eight months.

In October 2017, white nationalists staged a Shelbyville rally that shut down the town.

In February 2018, WalletHub pronounced Tennessee as the No. 1 state for “anger and hatred.”
WalletHub’s results were released the same day as the Southern Poverty Law Center’s annual
Year In Hate report, which listed 37 active hate groups in Tennessee, including neo-Nazi, KKK,
racist skinhead, white nationalist and other extremist groups.

In March 2018, Clemmons’ resolution to denounce white nationalists and Nazis came up in a
General Assembly subcommittee but was not considered because no one seconded it. A week or
so later, House Republican Caucus Chairman Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, introduced a
resolution very much like Clemmons’ but without the provision of the initial resolution that
urged law enforcement to recognize and pursue white nationalist groups as “domestic terrorist
organizations.” Less than a week later, Williams withdrew his resolution before it could be
considered.

In explanation, Williams said, “I still believe it is important for our General Assembly to
condemn groups that support racism and hatred. … I look forward to working with members on
both sides of the aisle on a future resolution which can meet the expectations of all of our House
members, as well as the citizens of Tennessee.”

In April, white nationalists held a heavily guarded conference at a Tennessee state park.

In May, white nationalists in Maryville rallied against talks by David Billings about his book
“Deep Denial: The Persistence of White Supremacy in U.S. History and Life.”
There has been no further action by the Tennessee General Assembly on the issue. It appears that
the reality of Mr. Billings’ title, “Deep Denial,” has paralyzed our Legislature.

White nationalists have announced plans for a rally in Washington, D.C., on today’s first
anniversary of the Charlottesville event. It is clear that people motivated by hatred and racism
feel free to continue to stoke anger and violence everywhere in the country. This will not end
until white people show up and work to dismantle the systems that promote and support racism
and bigotry.

The anniversary of the Charlottesville travesty is an opportunity for people of good will to show
up and be seen and heard fighting against racism. We encourage readers to join local anti-racist
groups such as Blount County United, Blount County SURJ, the NAACP and Blount County
Immigrant Outreach.

In November we have an opportunity to elect people who will exercise leadership in Tennessee
and Washington. We also encourage readers to ask candidates for elected office what actions
they will take to counter racism.

These local anti-racist organizations can be reached at: Blount County United,
blountcountyunited@gmail.com; Blount County SURJ, blountcountysurj@gmail.com; Alcoa-
Blount Branch NAACP, we41602@aol.com; and Blount County Immigrant Outreach,
BCImmigrantOutreach@gmail.com.

This guest editorial was penned by SUJR’s core leadership team of Brenda Bell, Sherry Brewer,
Crystal Colter, Doug Gamble, Nina Gregg and Jacob Williams.