A Neo-Nazi group marches through Knoxville in 2010
A group of white supremacists is heading to East Tennessee this weekend.
Organized by "Stormfront," the oldest and best known website devoted to the "white pride, white power" movement, the private gathering will take place in the Smoky Mountains and will only be open to a limited number of members.
Southern Poverty Law Center is a non-profit organization that tracks "hate groups" throughout the country.
"White supremacy may have been the law of the land before the Civil Rights Act in 1960, but today, most people don't agree with these beliefs," said Director of the SPLC Intelligence Project Heidi Beirich.
Regardless, she says the number of hate groups has nearly doubled in the past decade. In 2000, SPLC counted 608 active groups in the United States. In 2011, that number reached 1018.
Beirich says a growing tolerance in America is forcing those with an agenda of hate to band together.
"Obviously if you're a white supremacist, you look at the majority of Americans and they're moving away from you -- not toward you," she said.
"So if you have racist leanings, this is the kind of social changes that would drive you into the arms of hatred."
Knoxville attorney and activist Chris Irwin regularly protests against white supremacists in East Tennessee. He says engaging the groups in debate is one way to remain anti-violent.
"We found that was an effective tactic after the first few rallies -- was just getting up there and debating them. The whole marketplace of ideas!" he said.
As other white supremacists arrive in Tennessee this weekend, Irwin does not expect group members to plan a public event.
"These guys can't march on our streets any more; they know they'll be confronted," he said. "It's a victory on our part. They have to hide out in the woods, and hide their location and not have public meetings anymore in the rest. Things have changed."