IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — The Ku Klux Klan plans to hold a rally this weekend in Iredell County.
The town of Harmony is a farming community north of Statesville. People taking a break for lunch Wednesday were talking about the planned rally.
While many don't agree with their views, they don't think it can or should be stopped.
“Everybody gets their right to speak. I don’t think it is going to amount to anything,” Howard Johnson said.
“If the Supreme Court can uphold for these radicals in Kansas to be able to protest military funerals, these people deserve the same rights as those people do,” Randy Thomas said.
A flyer has popped up promoting the event, boasting free admission -- spelled wrong -- for whites only. It also says no drugs or alcohol and camping and motels available, with a country band and souvenir vendors.
Eyewitness News emailed the address listed, and imperial wizard Chris Barker called back.
“Carolina has pretty much been Klan country for us ever since I grew up,” he said. “I grew up in the Klan.”
Barker claims 20 new members will be sworn in Saturday. He wouldn't give the location of the rally, saying even new members don’t know yet.
It starts at 3 p.m. Saturday on private property -- a farm nearby.
“It’s more white unity,” Barker said. “The Black Panthers are rallying all across America. It ain’t no different than what they are doing.”
The Iredell County Sheriff's Office is aware of the rally but can't interfere on private property. But they're ready to respond if something happens.
And locals say they're ready to tell the world that this isn't who they are.
“I think it’s bad publicity,” Dwight Padgett said. “This is not Harmony. They have no business here.”