‘It Will Never Be Tolerated’: NAACP, Mayor Condemn White Supremacist Group After Controversial March Through Downtown Louisville.
Louisville, KY — Tensions ran high this weekend as a self-identified white supremacist group marched through downtown Louisville, sparking widespread outrage and swift condemnation from civil rights leaders, elected officials, and the broader community.
Videos circulating on social media show the group, dressed in paramilitary-style uniforms and chanting incendiary slogans, moving through city streets in a display that many are calling both threatening and deeply offensive. Local police monitored the demonstration, which remained nonviolent but caused significant alarm among residents and business owners.
In an urgent press conference held Sunday afternoon, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stood alongside leaders from the NAACP and other community organizations to denounce the group’s actions in the strongest terms.
“This city will never be a platform for hate,” Mayor Greenberg said. “Let me be absolutely clear: what we witnessed this weekend does not represent Louisville. Racism, white supremacy, and intimidation have no home here — and they will never be tolerated.”
The Louisville chapter of the NAACP echoed the mayor’s condemnation, calling the group’s march “a deliberate act of provocation and a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by organized hate.” Chapter President Raoul Cunningham urged local and federal authorities to investigate the group’s ties and monitor their activities closely.
“These aren’t just fringe actors — they are part of a national network that has no place in a society built on justice and equality,” Cunningham said. “We’ve fought too long and too hard for progress to allow this kind of public intimidation to go unanswered.”
Local residents also took to the streets in response, holding a peaceful counter-demonstration on Sunday evening under the banner “Louisville United Against Hate.” Hundreds gathered in Jefferson Square Park with signs, music, and chants calling for unity, equity, and vigilance in the face of extremism.
While no arrests were made during the white supremacist march, officials confirmed that they are reviewing footage and working with federal partners to identify individuals involved and assess whether any laws were violated.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has reported an increase in the number of extremist group activities nationwide over the past year, citing growing online recruitment and emboldened public displays.
Mayor Greenberg concluded the press briefing by reaffirming the city’s commitment to diversity and safety for all its residents:
“Our message to hate groups is simple: You are not welcome here. And we will meet your presence with unity, resilience, and the full force of the law.”
