The violence that erupted at this rally was not between anyone associated with Black Lives Matter and those opposed to them. It was between two separate factions of counter-protesters. BLM remained peaceful!

ROGERSVILLE, TN–As the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement has been picking up steam in recent months with protests and actions nationwide in response to George Floyd’s murder, white supremacists have been attempting to further spread their racist agenda.  However, these attempts backfired on them recently at a Black Lives Matter protest on July 11.

On Friday, June 26, a false rumor about a planned BLM protest in downtown Rogersville was widely circulated on social media, resulting in an organized counter-protest which assembled in front of the courthouse.  Racist behavior was observed at the first counter-protest.  In response to the racism at the counter- protest last month, organizers from the New Panthers Initiative (NPI) scheduled the July 11^th protest as a peaceful event.

However, with confirmation of an actual Black Lives Matter protest in Rogersville, an even larger counter-protest was organized.  As the protesters marched towards the town square, they were met with verbal abuse and profanity as they chanted, “We come in peace. We’re not going to hurt anybody or anything. We only want everyone in this community to know Black Lives Matter.”

One of the protesters’ most frequent chants was:

 “All lives don’t matter until what”

“Black lives matter!”

Their chants were met by counter- protesters screaming at them, “Pitiful. You’re an embarrassment. All lives matter.”

At the close of the event NPI co-founder Arron Rashad reportedly told the Times News he felt there were positive results from Saturday’s protest.

“I think it’s going great, everybody is out here peacefully, and I think a lot of people from their side are starting to open up and hear our point — what we have to say,” Rashad said. “At the same time, we’re able to have conversations with people and understand why they feel against what we’re saying. It’s just a good exchanging of ideas right now.”

Rashad said, “I hope that something we said or something we did is going to maybe give them something to think about when they go home. Nobody is guaranteed to change their mind.

“A lot of people are conditioned to believe the things they believe from birth. I just hope that us being out here and showing solidarity is showing that the community can come together and acknowledge these issues.”

He added, “Just like earlier, there was a problem with some neo-Nazis in the crowd, and the counter-protesters are the ones who kicked them out. That’s beautiful. I think that speaks to the fact we are all speaking together, and we are all coming together.”

Karens Gone Wild in Rogersville pic.twitter.com/3sEYPU9P8q

— The Tri-Cities TN Holler (@TriCitiesHoller) July 12, 2020

Seemingly, some conservatives in the area, while still not ready to align themselves with the platforms of NPI and other social justice groups, have grown tired of the violent rhetoric of these white supremacists.  At Rogersville, the other counter-protesters attempted to get the fascists to leave, and a scuffle ensued.  As a result of this scuffle, eight white supremacists were arrested, five of them wearing shirts from a new group called the Nationalist Social Club, commonly referred to as NSC-131, the “131” being alphanumeric code for “ACA” which stands for “Anti-Communist Action”. Headquartered in Boston, the crew local to Rogersville are comprised of former members of another group called the Legion of Saint Ambrose, which itself was a group founded by members of the defunct Traditionalist Worker Party.

1/ Neo-Nazi group the NSC-131 announced in April that they’ll be rallying in Boston tomorrow.@Bos_Solidarity will be there to counter it. Come join them at 11:30 tomorrow morning.

Today, let’s look at the NSC, or the “Nationalist Snitch Club,” the nickname they’ve earned. pic.twitter.com/cO27drhprV

— AntiFash Gordon (@AntiFashGordon) July 10, 2020

This particular group of white supremacists, who just recently re-branded as a chapter of NSC-131, have been operating in the area and travelling to events outside of East Tennessee for several years, including the tragic “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017. Historically, they would counter-protest either on their own or as a part of a larger counter-protest.  They would often cruise the area around a protest in alleged leader Craig Spaulding’s Hyundai Entourage yelling slurs and threats at area activists, but never actually getting out of the van as they did at multiple Black Lives Matter Rallies in Knoxville back in June.  Another tactic that the group has used in the region is standing on a street corner near the event they are opposing with signs promoting fascist ideals and screaming at protesters as they were spotted doing at pride events during the summer of 2019. 

Spaulding, 33 of Knoxville TN and one of the more visible members of the now disbanded Legion of Saint Ambrose, was among those arrested. His new group affiliation with NSC-131 does not have the religious overtones that his previous group had, and some observers have seen this as an escalation in the level of violence that Spaulding advocates for.   He was one of the League of the South members that attended the Charlottesville rally and has been spotted at countless other local and national white supremacist actions over the past several years.

Today in Rogersville, Tennessee the neo-Nazi group NSC Dixie showed up to counter protest a #blacklivesmatter protest and at least three of their members/supporters got arrested, including their de-facto leader Craig Spaulding AKA “George Fitzhugh” . Sad pic.twitter.com/Nk8ZpcNERg

— Garfield but Anti-Fascist (@AntifaGarfield) July 12, 2020

Another known white supremacist that was arrested at Rogersville was Garon Joseph Archer age 25, of Johnson City. Archer was placed under arrest and taken away from the event in handcuffs while blood dripped from his mouth after being assaulted by his fellow counter-protesters Archer, who was also previously been connected to the League of the South, is not new to violent behavior at protests. He is visible in “Democracy Now!” footage of the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia attacking protesters with a baseball bat. Caleb Dane Rose, alias Lerch Geobles, 21 of Knoxville, who has been spotted participating in Legion of Saint Ambrose/ NSC-131 actions and has been active on the Nazi black metal music scene, was another arrested.

One out of state known white nationalist was also arrested: Sean Camron Kauffmann 26, of Vail, Arizona, alias Boog Fuhrer on Telegram. Kaufman claims to lead a Nazi organization called Panzer Strike Division, which he claims has 25 members, but others allege actual membership numbers that are lower.  He frequently fliers Arizona with anti-Semitic propaganda and participates in Nazi fight clubs.  Kaufman’s violent activity is not limited to recreational fight clubs. He has a lengthy record of violent behavior including domestic violence charges and threats to rape the mother of his children.

Four lesser known local white supremacists were also arrested in Rogersville.   Adam Lawrence Rice, 24, of Maryville, TN; Cory Smith, 25, of Knoxville, TN; Stephen Parker Smith, 27, of Louisville, TN; and Joshua Blakeney 20 of Morristown, TN.  All eight arrestees pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned Monday in Sessions Court each on one count of disorderly conduct.  They were all released on $1,000 bond and have a trial date set for October 5^th.

One other person not affiliated with the white supremacist group was also arrested at the protest. Daniel Lee Starnes, 41, of Bulls Gap, TN, was charged with disorderly conduct after he reportedly destroyed a flower arrangement that was placed on the Hawkins County War Memorial in front of the courthouse by police at the request of the BLM protesters to show they had no intentions of doing damage, but could not cross the barrier police set up between the two groups.  Starnes has already pled guilty and was sentenced to ten days in jail, with the possibility of an early release after 75% of time served.