AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas African-American History Memorial was officially unveiled on the Capitol grounds Saturday, but not without protests from a group of white supremacists that led to eight people being arrested. 

The public dedication of the bronze and granite memorial was the culmination of nearly two decades of efforts by multiple groups.

Saturday's unveiling was attended by preservationists, members of the public, Gov. Greg Abbott - and, from a short distance away, about a dozen protesters.

Their presence was quickly countered by groups demanding a stop to inequality and hatred.

Signs carried by the counterprotesters included one that read "United we stand against racism" and another reading "We won't go back."

Spectrum News reporter Carlos Garcia reports that the number of counter protesters quickly outflanked and out-voiced the supremacists, and were preventing them from moving forward near the memorial.

By 11:30 a.m., the number of people outside the Capitol had grown to the point that Austin police deployed a crowd control team to the area. Eight adults were arrested, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety; those arrested were 

Joseph Wayne George, 36, Austin, interference with public duty,

Ryan Christopher Garl, 27, Austin, assault,

Joseph Clyde Hinkle, 28, Austin, assault,

Robert M. Ussery, 52, Lockhart, assault,

David Chau, 32, Nacogdoches, evading arrest,

Richard Murry, 28, Pennsylvania, disorderly conduct,

Robert Francis Glynn, 25, Round Rock, evading arrest,

and Thomas Francis McGuire, 31, Austin, assault. 

The group of supremacists, who carried signs saying things such as "White lives matter," were led back to a nearby parking garage by police officers on horseback as their protest ended.

Counter-protesters, some with their faces obscured with bandannas, jumped the gates of the parking garage, where it is believed many of the "White lives matter" group parked, only to be rebuffed by police who ordered them to leave.

Those who attempted to confront them pledged to record the license plate numbers of the supremacists as they left the garage.