Bill:  Once again....The sponsorship of the demonstation was clear and open...a consortium of White supremacist/white nationalist organizations.  They made absolutely no secret of it.  The statues were, as I'd hope you know, erected either during the days of the Jim Crow South or during the 50's/'60s in reaction to the Civil Rights Movement and the C.R.Act.. They were a clear statement of racism.  Anyone who protested "unknowingly" must have been seriously clueless.  Let's not forget Mr. Trump presented a false equivalency when he remarked there were "good people" demonstrating with the white supremacists.. Sorry, IMO, "good people" do NOT demonstrate in support of and in concert with, White supremacists.  

  I don't know how these protests and counter-protests can be held w/o a strong liklihood of violence.  It would take a huge police presence (maybe National Guard) and a very strong cordon to avoid it.  There are some on both sides who support violence.. Gary tough question..GCrum