Demonstrations and pro-love rallies took place on Saturday to counter a planned KKK parade in North Carolina celebrating the election of Donald Trump.
Charlotte responded with a rally of their own on Saturday, standing up for love and against hate.
The “Charlotte March For Love” was organized by a group of clergy and community activists.
A diverse, sizable crowd gathered at Marshall Park in uptown to listen to speakers and performers rally for the power of unity and acceptance over divisiveness and bigotry, before marching to three monuments that speak to the importance of that message.
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Marchers placed flowers at the sites of the Holocaust Memorial, Mahatma Gandhi statue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
The event concluded with those in attendance gathering hands around the statue of King while singing, “We Shall Overcome.”
Watch our Facebook live video of the “Charlotte March For Love” below.
The KKK announced on Friday their rally would take place somewhere near Pelham, North Carolina, a small unincorporated town along the North Carolina and Virginia border.
An anti-Klan rallies also took place in Raleigh and in Albany, New York.
Anti KKK Rally in DTR pic.twitter.com/cZExdv8pK5
— New Raleigh (@NewRaleigh) December 3, 2016
Anti-KKK rally in Albany NY today. #endthehate @nysut @AndyPallotta pic.twitter.com/IHY0LG8Lnf
— Martin Messner (@SchoharieTeach) December 3, 2016
@nysut @nysutTreasurer KKK so not ok!!! Love must trump hate!!! pic.twitter.com/EPcuEB44ig
— Paul Pecorale (@PaulPecorale) December 3, 2016
Counter protesters at time of writing report they have gone from Pelham to nearby Danville, Virginia trying to locate the KKK with no luck. They are demonstrating in the streets in Danville all the same.
Ppl started gathering at Pelham United Methodist Church to protest KKK parade pic.twitter.com/zOgsQuvgDF
— Luis Sequeira (@luissequeiratv) December 3, 2016
Watch demonstrators marching against the KKK in Pelham and Danville.
https://twitter.com/1bodyperlife/status/805112165598371844
Update:
The KKK have been spotted in Roxboro, via Burlington Times-News reporter Natalie A. Janicello:
IT'S HAPPENING. KKK just came through Roxboro. Battle flags & shouting "WHITE POWER!" pic.twitter.com/rcjHbmUUiR
— Natalie Allison (@natalie_allison) December 3, 2016
Just followed them downtown. Lady leaned out the window at me and tailed “Hail victory.” Flying Christian and Trump flags also.
— Natalie A. Janicello (@natalie_allison) December 3, 2016
Just so everyone knows, @NCSHP troopers blocked traffic for the KKK so they could have their parade without any problems.
— Natalie A. Janicello (@natalie_allison) December 3, 2016
And this was even without them having applied for any parade permits https://t.co/S4Vyz7bTXe
— bart (@bart_smith) December 3, 2016
