Stone Mountain, GA— The Georgia-based white supremacist group known as the Knights of Stone Mountain has politely declined an invitation to hold a protest in South Central Los Angeles, according to reports from CNN.
The invitation came from Community Action Now (CAN), a South Gate-based organization committed to fostering dialogue between opposing viewpoints. CAN had invited the Knights of Stone Mountain to participate in a “free speech” event in the historically Black neighborhood of Watts, CA. The event, scheduled for August 2024, was intended to provide a platform for open, if uncomfortable, conversations. However, after what they described as “careful consideration,” the Knights issued a statement via their social media channels—Facebook, Twitter, and, for some reason, MySpace—announcing their decision to back out of the event.
“The Knights of Stone Mountain have a long tradition of speaking our mind for the rights of the common white man,” the group posted. “However, we’ve decided not to attend the upcoming event due to a conflict in our calendar.”
A Conflicted Schedule
The group’s leader, Jim ‘Bodean’ James, a 56-year-old unemployed welder with a penchant for conspiracy theories and an outdated MySpace profile, assured followers that the decision was not due to any concerns about the group’s safety in South Central Los Angeles.
“I know what you fake news, Lügenpresse people are thinking. We’re not stupid,” Mr. James grumbled during a phone interview shortly after the announcement. “We’re sponsoring a church flea market that day and can’t make it. Maybe next time, OK?”
Despite Mr. James’ insistence that the cancellation was purely logistical, speculation abounds that the group may have reconsidered the wisdom of bringing their message to a community with a rich history of resistance against systemic racism.
CAN Do
The event, dubbed “CAN Do,” was organized by CAN with the intention of giving fringe and marginalized racist groups like the Knights of Stone Mountain an opportunity to “get their message out” in what CAN described as an environment of “understanding, love, and free communication.”
“We wanted to give the Knights a chance to connect with the people of Watts in a way that they haven’t before,” explained CAN Director Jayla Zari, expressing disappointment at the hate group’s decision to decline the invitation. “We thought it could be a powerful moment for them to speak directly to the people they usually target with their rhetoric. Our invitation remains open, and they’re welcome to join us anytime.”
Ms. Zari, known for her idealistic belief in the power of dialogue, remains committed to moving forward with the “CAN Do” event despite the absence of any hate groups. “We’re disappointed, but not surprised,” she said. “It seems that when offered a real chance to face the people they demonize, they’d rather stay home.”
An Open Invitation
As of this writing, none of the other hate groups invited to the event have accepted CAN’s invitation either, a development that has led some to question whether these groups are as committed to “free speech” as they claim.
“Perhaps it’s easier to preach hate from a distance than to confront the human beings on the receiving end of that hate,” Ms. Zari mused. “But we’re going forward with our event, regardless. It’s important to show that dialogue, no matter how difficult, is always possible.”
The “CAN Do” event is set to proceed as planned, with local activists, community members, and various civil rights organizations expected to attend. The focus, according to CAN, will now shift to creating a space for positive, constructive discussions about race, justice, and the ongoing fight against bigotry.
As for the Knights of Stone Mountain, their church flea market is still on, where they’ll be selling used lawnmowers, hand-me-down clothes, and perhaps a few old copies of “Mein Kampf”—if anyone’s still interested.
