White Lives Matter rallies: Preparation, police presence credited for peaceful outcomes

Two separate white nationalist rallies in Middle Tennessee ended peacefully on Saturday, an outcome local officials attributed to thoughtful planning and a strong police presence.

One man was arrested for disorderly conduct at the "White Lives Matter" rally in Shelbyville, which drew about 160 white nationalists and more than 400 counterprotesters, but there were no reports of violence.

► More:Murfreesboro rally canceled; counterprotesters outnumber WLM activists

A plan for the white nationalists groups to caravan from Shelbyville to Murfreesboro for a second rally fizzled, with around 30 showing up at the courthouse square. They were vastly outnumbered — Murfreesboro officials said as many as 1,000 counterprotesters participated in events across the city. While some white nationalists and counterprotesters engaged in shouting matches, there were no reports of violence and police reported no arrests in Murfreesboro.

Before the rallies, Gov. Bill Haslam promised that state and local law enforcement officials would be out "in full force."

They were.

Local police, sheriff deputies, rooftop snipers, state troopers, TBI officers and, in a supporting role, members of the Tennessee National Guard were a visible presence in both cities.

"The positive outcome of this rally is a product of ... extensive planning along with the ability to keep the groups separated," said Shanna Boyette, Shelbyville city manager.

"The safety measures that were put into place along with the enforcement of local, state, and federal laws ensured that this rally was not one of violence," she said. "We are proud of our community and those who helped protect it."

In Murfreesboro, a team of first responders spent "countless hours developing the plan," a statement from Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh and interim Police Chief Michael Bowen said. 

When the Murfreesboro rally began, a team of law enforcement officers screened protesters and between 800 and 1,000 counterprotesters. Local law enforcement, joined by officers from neighboring counties and state and federal agencies, monitored the rally. 

“This shows what we can do when we join forces.” the statement said. “We also appreciate the help from city and county departments who helped secure the area
safely."

In both cities, law enforcement ensured white nationalists and counterprotesters were kept separated. There were separate check points to search for weapons or other contraband.  

Once people got to the rally sites, the two groups were kept on opposite sides of the streets, separated by temporary barricades and a phalanx of police officers standing in between.  

The peaceful Shelbyville rally even drew praise from Hunter Wallace, a spokesman for white nationalist group League of the South, a primary organizer of the rallies — although Wallace cited the peaceful outcome as an example of how he believed white nationalists were wrongly blamed for violence in the past.

Wallace tweeted: "No shootings. No arrests. No violence. Triggered leftists. Blew up the Charlottesville narrative."

A white nationalist gathering in Charlottesville, Va., in August led to violent clashes and one death, after a car plowed into a group of counterprotesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring at least 19 others.

It was fears of a repeat of the Charlottesville violence in Tennessee that led to the extensive security measures. 

Reach Anita Wadhwani at 615-259-8092, awadhwani@tennessean.com or on Twitter @AnitaWadhwani.