No injuries were reported, and no damages occurred during a rally Saturday in downtown Murfreesboro.
Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh and Murfreesboro Interim Police Chief Michael Bowen said they were pleased the rally was held without major incidents.
"We are relieved everyone was safe and the downtown area was protected," Fitzhugh and Bowen said.
When the rally began, teams of law enforcement officers screened protestors and about 800 to 1000 counter protestors for prohibited items before entering. Law enforcement officers monitored the rally.
The League of the South, who requested a permit for the event, did not attend the rally. Before 3 p.m., the counter protestors began to leave.
Fitzhugh and Bowen said a team of first responders spent countless hours developing the plan to protect citizens, the rally participants and the downtown businesses and residents.
"We thank our law enforcement partners in the county, neighboring counties and state and federal agencies, firefighters, paramedics, emergency management and other first responders for supporting us and helping us staff the rally," Fitzhugh and Bowen said. "This shows what we can do when we join forces."
"We also appreciate the help from city and county departments who helped secure the area safely," the sheriff and chief said.
The sheriff and chief also thanked the residents who donated food, snacks and drinks for the first responders.
Murfreesboro City Manager Rob Lyons said in light of the League of the South's decision not to attend, #MurfreesboroLoves concluded their event. NOTE: City Manager Rob Lyons will be on WGNS this coming Tuesday (10/31/2017) morning from 8:10-9:00AM. Tune to AM 1450, FM 100.5, and FM 101.9.
Barfield-Crescent Park is closed until Sunday.
Unwanted, Not Welcome
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) stated, "While the Constitution gives everyone the right to assemble, the Constitution makes it absolutely clear that we are all Americans without regard to race. The views of the white nationalists, Nazis, white supremacists and the Klan are wrong, they are un-American, they are not welcome, and we need to be loud and clear about that."
