NEWNAN, Ga. - In light of the upcoming neo-Nazi rally taking place in Newnan this weekend, one business is deciding to use music to unite people.
The National Socialist Movement will be holding their rally at the Greenville Street Park on Saturday, despite a majority of the city’s residents’ objections to their presence.
But, it’s a free country and the group paid for a permit to be there.
Not only is the neo-Nazi rally taking place on Saturday, April 21, but it is also Record Store Day.
What do these two things have in common, you might ask. Well, one business owner is hoping his actions will give people a chance to unite, rather than divide.
"The first thing that stuck out to me was the date and how unfortunate that is," Jesse Yates, owner of Vinylyte Records said.
Before the announcement of the rally, Yates was already preparing for April 21.
"[Record Store Day] started as just a small group of stores in their geographical area, then people really caught on to it, other stores started celebrating it and it just blew up from there," Yates said.
Record Store Day is a national event that was created back in 2007.
"This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store - the staff, the customers, and the artists - to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities," according to the Record Store Day website.
Vinylyte Records, located at 28 South Court Square in Newnan, will keep their doors open on Saturday, despite many other surrounding businesses closing down during the rally.
Yates published a post on the store’s Facebook page encouraging “everyone to come celebrate unity in Newnan." He strongly believes music can bring everyone together.
"You will find all sorts of people in record stores, just because the music actually draws the crowds of those sorts of people," he told 11Alive.
While Yates will be open for business on Saturday, he also understands other owners who decide to close up shop.
"I'll be here. I own the record store. I don't expect anybody to be here with me if they don't want to be," Yates said. "But I'll definitely be here."
The neo-Nazi rally has caused local business owners to fear not only for their businesses but for their safety as well.
“Nobody’s happy,” said manager Tiffany Shheadary. “Everyone is upset, everyone’s scared. I’m more scared of damage that could happen. I can’t believe it’s 2018 and we’re still here, with white supremacy rallies," said Shheadary in an interview with 11Alive.
There are also rumors of counter-protestors making an appearance on Saturday but according to Newnan Police Chief Douglas Meadows, the group did not submit a permit to hold a counter-protest in the same area.
But that does not mean they won't be there, according to the chief during a city meeting held in early April.
At least 400 officers plan to be in attendance at the rally to keep everything peaceful, but officials are expecting to have more by the day of the actual rally.
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