Stone Mountain Park to close Saturday ahead of anticipated white supremacist rally nearby

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — Stone Mountain Park announced that it will be closed Saturday as police prepare for a possible clash between protesters and a white supremacist group.

A group called “Defending Stone Mountain” announced they plan to march to Stone Mountain Park with other groups.

They want participants to show up with their Confederate and American flags.

The group was denied a permit because past protests turned violent. Despite this, they said on social media that they were still coming.

That’s when the park announced it was shutting everything down.

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"I don't want a race riot to occur," said Michelle, who lives in Stone Mountain Village and asked us not to use her last name.

She told Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston that she was concerned after hearing that Defending Stone Mountain planned to protest around the park Saturday.

"Everybody has a right to protest, as long as it's peaceful," Michelle said, but park officials sent an email saying:

“The Stone Mountain Park Department of Public Safety is closing the park tomorrow, Saturday August 15th, 2020. Security concerns have been identified and are being addressed by state and local law enforcement authorities. Stone Mountain Park will resume normal operations on Sunday, August 16th, 2020.”

The park’s spokesperson also told Huddleston only one group applied for a protest permit, a white supremacist group called the “3 Percenters” out of Alabama, and that permit was denied because of violence surrounding past protests.

No other group has been given a permit.

"I just don't want any instigation and bloodshed," Michelle said.

The village of Stone Mountain is still on alert. It sent out a message to residents and businesses to stay safe and consider avoiding Main Street on Saturday.

DeKalb Emergency Management Agency released a statement on behalf of the City of Stone Mountain, saying:

“The City of Stone Mountain is anticipating and preparing for 2 opposing groups of protesters whose intentions are to demonstrate at Stone Mountain Park. Stone Mountain Park has made the decision to close the Park on this Saturday the 15th of August. While the city have little information on what to expect during this time, out of the abundance of caution we are asking the General Public to avoid the City of Stone Mountain on Saturday August 15th beginning at 4:00am to 12:00 midnight.”

Confederate flag rally draws hundreds to Stone Mountain Park Channel 2's Audrey Washington reports.

Cox Media Group