Members of the National Socialist Movement burn a swastika and a rune after a Georgia protest. Image by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

By Ari Feldman April 23, 2018

Two dozen neo-Nazi protesters flooded a small Georgia town outside Atlanta with law enforcement Saturday, before retreating to a hillside to burn a massive swastika and rune symbol, the New York Times reported.

The group, the National Socialist Movement, obtained a permit to demonstrate in Newnan, Ga., last month. Over 700 law enforcement agents from 42 different agencies flooded Newnan in the hours leading up to the rally.

The town had estimated 50-100 protesters showing up, but the group’s numbers were small, and 100 people gathered to counterprotest. A few small clashes ensued, but no one was injured. The town reported about ten arrests, but did not immediately say who was charged with what.

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Jeff Schoep, head of the National Socialist movement, said at the rally that the group was “standing on behalf of white nationalism, white patriotism and our history as American people.”

After the protest, the neo-Nazis retreated to a hill about 60 miles from Newnan, Time reported. There they burned a massive wooden swastika, along with a wooden rune, the symbol of the National Socialist Movement.

Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman

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