ASHEBORO — The City of Asheboro issued a press release Sunday afternoon in response to KKK plans to hold an event in Asheboro in May.

On Friday, March 10, the News and Observer reported that The Loyal White Knights had announced an event would be held in Asheboro in May.

The City of Asheboro feels it important to respond to this announcement and denounces, in the strongest terms possible, the message of hate and division advocated by the Ku Klux Klan and its affiliates.

“The people of Asheboro have worked too hard to unify our community to let an outside group come in and spread racist views without raising our voices loudly in protest,” said Mayor David H. Smith on Saturday afternoon. “They may have a right to peacefully assemble, but we also have a right to object at the top of our collective voice.”

City Manager John N. Ogburn reports that no applications have been received by the city related to the event. Mayor Smith went on to say, “It’s a shame that we spent countless hours collaborating as a community to win the coveted All-America City award last year, only to be reminded that forces of division are out there seeking to tear communities down. If anything, this announcement strengthens my resolve to make Asheboro the most inclusive and welcoming city in North Carolina to all.”

The city will share any information it receives related to this event upon receipt.

The News & Observer story said that The Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, which is based in Pelham — an unincorporated community about 45 minutes north of Burlington, near the Virginia line — had announced on its website that it would hold a rally — with speeches, dinner and a cross burning at dark — in May in Asheboro.

The group has held other events, including a parade through Roxboro in December. The parade, to celebrate Donald Trump’s presidential election victory, drew more than 100 participants.

In a Facebook posted dated March 8, a group called the Silver Valley Redneck Revolt also addressed the announced rally:

The Loyal White Nights of the KKK in Asheboro, NC recently announced on their website that they will be holding a klavern rally and cross burning at an unknown location on May 6th. Klaverns are meetings for confirmed Klan members and new prospective members to be inducted into their white supremacist cult. We need to let the Klan know that if they leave their enclaves their will be a broad response from the community. This event is to publicly denounce the Klan, thier beliefs, and show that we will not back down.

Exact times and location of the counter demo are TBD. If you wish to co-host this event with a group you organize with please direct message us.