In Wake Of Charlottesville, 'Dixie Freedom Rally' Scheduled In Austin

AUSTIN, TX — On the heels of a white nationalist rally in Virginia that ended in tragedy after a counter-protesters death, members of the Texas Confederate Militia are gearing up for a so-called "Dixie Freedom Rally" next month in Austin.

Designed to promote what organizers describe as the "...true Confederate heritage," the event was initially posted on a Facebook event page for Sept. 2. Since then, the event has been rescheduled to Sept. 23, a date change organizers explain was changed after consulting with police.

And like Charlottesville, Va., a counter-protest decrying white nationalism also is scheduled simultaneously. The event is scheduled to take place at Woolridge Square Park located on Guadalupe Street between 9th and 10th streets. According to information found on the Facebook page, the gathering will march to the Capitol to showcase the various monuments honoring the Confederacy that stand there.

The event is BYOF, and the carrying of firearms as a bonus nod to the state's "open carry" law is encouraged: “You can bring any Confederate or U.S. Flag,” organizers wrote on the Facebook page. ays. “It is open carry and also concealed handguns plus long rifles are permitted. Just go by the state law."

But — unlike the Charlottesville, Va., event yet with similar white nationalist aims — by no means will racism be tolerated at the Austin version, organizers warn their followers: "No racism tolerated or (you) will be removed. (Let’s) show everyone true Southern hospitality,” organizers did declare.

Those planning to protest the Dixie Freedom Rally are members of the local branch of the Democratic Socialists of America.

"Although organizers of the Dixie Freedom Rally will claim otherwise, this event is predicated on white supremacy; racism is intrinsic to any event glorifying the Confederacy," counter-protest organizers explain on their own events page. "Not only do such events often galvanize their attendees to commit individual or mass street violence, they also build parties and organizations that have a political program of systemic oppression (e.g., racist and fascist groups often recruit and organize at these events)."

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