Black Lives Matter rally planned this weekend in Charleston – WDBJ7

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Black Lives Matter rally is set for Sunday, August 20th at the West Virginia State Capitol building.

The group C.A.R.E., or Call to Action for Racial Equality, is helping organize the event. Rally organizers want to distinguish this event from other recent protests.

"We'd like to clear up misconceptions of the rally because I think there are concerns that we are wanting to rally around the removal of the Stonewall Jackson statue, but that's definitely not what we were planning to do," C.A.R.E. executive director Gabrielle Chapman said Thursday.

Charleston Police Lt. Scot Blankenship told WSAZ the event will not be near the Stonewall Jackson statue. It will be on the other side of the Capitol building.

Blankenship said the event organizers have been compliant with police to plan the rally.

The event to discuss race relations has been in the works for months. It was originally going to be at West Virginia State University. After the deadly attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, several different groups reached out to C.A.R.E.

"To give accessibility to other organizations, we decided to move it to the Capitol building," Chapman said.

According to police and event organizers, peaceful discussion about race is on the agenda. Speakers and artists will have the floor throughout the event from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

The Capitol grounds prohibit weapons of any kind. That includes sticks that are attached to signs. Police also said bags and backpacks will be subject to search at the rally.

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Black Lives Matter rally planned this weekend in Charleston - WDBJ7

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