Knoxville church prays for peace in response to planned supremacist protest

[TexasTowelie]

Nearly 100 people came to an historic Knoxville church Friday night to pray for peace, worshiping just blocks from the downtown location of an expected white supremacist rally and counter-protest.

The Second United Methodist Church, 1524 Western Ave., opened its doors for a 6:30 p.m. community "Pray for Peace in Knoxville" service. Members of Second United Methodist and neighboring congregations attended the hour-long service that included a series of prayers, hymns and communion.

Second United Methodist ministers decided to hold the service after learning that a white supremacist rally and counter-protest are planned Saturday, Aug. 26, around a Confederate monument in the Fort Sanders neighborhood.

The 150-year-old church is about half a mile from the 1914 monument erected as a memorial to 813 Confederates who died in the 1863 Battle of Fort Sanders.

Read more: http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2017/08/25/church-prays-peace-response-planned-supremacist-protest/602822001/

[TexasTowelie]

1. Follow-up:

White supremacist group disbands; police still prepared for protest at Confederate marker

The white supremacist group that announced plans to protest at the Confederate monument in Fort Sanders on Saturday announced on its website that it is disbanded.

Early Thursday, Confederate 28's website banner read "DISBANDED" in all capital letters, and the site now has been completely taken down.

Earlier, the group appeared to release a statement through a spokesman using the alias "George Valois."

"Confederate 28 has dissolved due to internal issues, suspended all projects and events, and we have no hand in the rally," the statement reads. "The Knoxville locals have started their own rally, and have taken up the cause of defending their history."

Read more: http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2017/08/25/white-supremacist-group-disbands-police-prepared-protest-confederate/598329001/

[Duppers]

2. Churches, at least two, and more religious groups

Amy McRary | USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee
Updated 14 hours ago
At least two downtown Knoxville churches are holding prayer services in advance of a Saturday white supremacist rally and counter-protest around a Confederate memorial monument in the Fort Sanders neighborhood.

Redeemer Church of Knoxville, 1642 Highland Ave., will host an 11:30 a.m. Saturday prayer service. The church is located off 17th Street in the Fort Sanders neighborhood. Redeemer is a member of the Presbyterian Church of America. Lead pastor the Rev. Shawn Slate will lead the prayer service that is also in response to the Saturday rally.

In addition, the Tyson House Episcopal/Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Tennessee hosts an 11 a.m. communion service. Tyson also will be open for a prayer service hourly until 5 p.m. Saturday. Its doors will be open to the public through the day.

Three other groups are hosting a 1-2 p.m. Saturday Knoxville Kindness Rally in Krutch Park Extension in downtown Knoxville.

http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2017/08/24/white-supremacist-prayer-knoxville-churches-response/597048001/

So proud of my old stomping grounds now; Knoxville is my hometown.