America
Rival rallies held in US over Confederate flag
Washington, July 19
Two rival rallies were
held in South Carolina state of the US by African-Americans and members
of the white supremacist group Klu Klux Klan (KKK) to support and
oppose, respectively, the recent removal of the Confederate flag.
Members
of the Black Educators for Justice from Florida on Saturday held a
rally on the north side of the Statehouse to support the removal of the
Confederate flag that is regarded as a symbol of the dark history of
black slavery in southern US states, Xinhua news agency reported on
Sunday.
The KKK rally, organised by the Loyal White Knights of
the KKK, was held on Saturday afternoon on the south side of the
Statehouse. About 200 people attended the KKK rally, some of them waving
the Confederate flag.
A heavy police contingent was present at
the venue to prevent possible clashes between the two rival groups, and
the KKK rally was barricaded as more protesters joined the crowd.
James
Evans Muhammad, leader of the Black Educators for Justice, urged
protesters not to get violent or they would be removed by police.
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley issued a statement on Thursday to call on people to stay away from the KKK rally.
"We
want to make the Statehouse a lonely place for them (KKK members). In
doing so, We'll honour those we have lost and continue to make our state
stronger," Haley said.
The racial relationship between the
state's black and white residents has become increasingly tense after a
racially-motivated white gunman shot and killed nine black churchgoers
on June 17 in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Confederate flag was removed on July 10 from the Statehouse of South Carolina.