Local activists are organizing a Dec. 2 unity rally "against white supremacy" on the state Capitol Steps to coincide with a similar event in Washington, D.C.

The rally was organized by Harrisburg Rising, a relatively new organization that trains activists in nonviolent tactics.

"[The rally's goal is] to unify the different communities--poor, urban, rural, all of the spectrum--so we make it understood to hate groups that this is not the place to rally," organizer Katherine Lugaro told PennLive.

Lugaro has been involved in a number of social causes, including anti-hate initiatives in York County. She recently moved northward and began Harrisburg Rising.

On Tuesday evening, she was prevented from speaking at the City Council meeting to consider police riot gear because she currently resides in New Cumberland. However, she met with Police Chief Thomas Carter outside of the meeting to discuss the rally.

Lugaro said she met with Capitol Police earlier in the day and now has a permit to hold the event in front of the Capitol.

At this point, she said she's not sure how many people will attend or if the rally may draw white supremacist or other far-right groups in opposition.

"People say they'll go but you never know," she said.

According to the event's Facebook page, 938 people said they were planning to attend and another 9,000 were interested as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The event on the Capitol steps is slated for 7 p.m. on Dec. 2. Organizers plan to meet there again at 7:30 a.m. Dec. 3 in order to drive to a planned Unity March Against White Supremacy in D.C.

That D.C. march is part of a larger response to the bloodshed at a "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Va., that drew thousands of white supremacist and other far-right activists, as well as a range of counter-protesters.

Lugaro said the Pennsylvania event is less about responding to any one incident than it is about rejecting white supremacy and institutionalized racism more broadly.

Harrisburg has seen a number of protests and rallies over the years, including from white supremacist groups.

Legacy of protest in Harrisburg 34 Gallery: Legacy of protest in Harrisburg

Recent demonstrations included a so-called "March Against Sharia," in which local police were called on to support Capitol Police.

This summer, those events led police to ask City Council for permission to reallocate $65,000 in order to upgrade its riot gear. That money would allow for the purchase of shields, riot sticks, body pads and new helmets.

Council members approved the purchase, albeit with strings attached, near the end of a meeting Tuesday that lasted nearly four hours.

Wallace McKelvey may be reached at wmckelvey@pennlive.com. Follow him on Twitter @wjmckelvey. Find PennLive on Facebook.