A large group of armed protesters marched through Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park, calling for the mass confederate carvings to be removed from the park.
A large group of armed protesters marched through Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park on Saturday, calling for the mass confederate carvings to be removed from the park.
The predominantly black protesters spoke out against the massive sculpture depicting General Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, WXIA-TV reported. Carved out of a granite mountain, the bas-relief sculpture is the largest Confederate monument ever created.
Stone Mountain Memorial Association spokesman John Bankhead said there were between 100 and 200 protesters. He said the protesters, many of whom carried large rifles, were peaceful.
Although the park has historically been a gathering place for white supremacists, the city of Stone Mountain today has a largely black population.
The park generally has a July 4 laser show and fireworks with engraving as a backdrop, but this year’s show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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