Nick Wooten

Shreveport Times

The Caddo Parish Courthouse will be ringed with metal barriers Friday evening before weekend rallies in support of the Confederate monument that organizers say they hope will be "the largest gathering of southerners to ever happen."

The organizer of the rallies Saturday and Sunday said Thursday that he doesn't know how many people to expect.

Caddo Parish employees will place barricades around the perimeter of the courthouse grounds starting at 5 p.m. Friday, said Krystle Grindley, a parish spokesperson.

The barricades — interlocking steel barriers like those used at music festivals — will divide the sidewalk, which is city property, from the courthouse grounds, Grindley said. The courthouse is bounded by Texas, Milam, Marshall and McNeil streets in downtown Shreveport.

Parish officials decided to install the barriers after the rally organizer, Rex Dukes of Keithville, representing the Gulf Coast Patriot Network, refused to sign an agreement clearing the parish of all legal responsibility, Grindley said.

The Shreveport Police Department will handle security during the rallies, and Caddo Parish sheriff's deputies will be available if needed, representatives of both departments said.

"The Shreveport Police Department maintains a large degree of contingency plans in place for all type of situations to include those of the referenced matter," police Cpl. Marcus Hines said in an email late Wednesday. "While it would prove inappropriate to discuss specific security measures, I can tell you that we will address any needs for police services should they arise."

The rallies have been billed as a way to support the Confederate monument erected in 1906 on the Texas Street side of the Caddo Courthouse. A committee of the parish commission in September recommended removing the monument. The full commission may take up the question in November.

Dukes filed paperwork with Caddo Parish to get a permit that would have allowed rally attendees onto courthouse grounds. But he refused to sign the required liability agreement because, he said, it held him responsible for things beyond his control — such as any damage if someone throws a rock through a courthouse window.

"They could literally hold me responsible for any outsiders that raise hell," Dukes said. "Who in their right mind would sign that?"

The Gulf Coast Patriot Network is the organization planning both rallies, Dukes said. He describes the organization as individuals who stand up to those who attack constitutional rights. The group's Facebook page has 280 likes.

Communication about the rally appears to have been done mainly on Facebook. The event page page welcomes all southerners, U.S. citizens who love U.S. history, and various other Christian and patriot groups to attend. From the event page:

"It is time we show just how United we our as southerners and to show that we will nolonger (sic) allow the destruction of are country. And to show that the SOUTH HAS RISEN once again to show that we will fight to keep our history and heritage in place ... This event must go down in the history as the largest gathering of southerners to ever happen."

A sign in front of the monument cites a parish ordinance requiring any person or group to have approval from the parish director of facilities and maintenance to use the courthouse grounds or steps.

In his initial event application, Dukes said rallies would be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Dukes said Thursday that he doesn't know how many people will attend. The Facebook event page lists 45 people as "Going" and another 245 are "Interested," although those numbers could include people who are not supporters.

Groups such as the Ku Klux Klan have contacted members of the Gulf Coast Patriot Network about the Shreveport rallies, Dukes said. A KKK-affiliated group from the Monroe area expressed interest, he said.

"My friend told him 'Nope, you aren't welcomed here,'" Dukes said. "I don't want people worried about them showing up."

The Dixie Rangers of the Ku Klux Klan used to have a Monroe chapter about eight years ago, said Lee Shoebroek, imperial wizard of the Dixie Rangers. The Livingston Parish-based group has no plans for the Shreveport rallies, Shoebroek said.

The Dixie Brigade Knights from Franklinton have no organized plan for the Shreveport rallies, but a few individual members may be there, said Justin Davis, imperial wizard.

Dukes said he also is concerned about outside groups like Black Lives Matter and Antifa (anti-fascist) appearing at the rallies.

"I get word that any of these idiots show up ... I'll ask them to leave," Dukes said.

To prevent violence, Dukes said, the Louisiana Patriot Militia, made up of armed, private citizens will provide security for the rally.

"My rallies have always been peaceful," Dukes said.