Neo-Nazi rally in LA met with violent counter-protests
180 replies, posted
[url]http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-white-supremacist18-2010apr18,0,4043821.story[/url]
[release][img]http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/AP_Photo/2010/04/17/1271559748_1887/539w.jpg[/img]
A rally of about 40 white supremacists Saturday on the lawn of Los Angeles City Hall drew hundreds of counter-protesters, sparked brawls in which two people were severely beaten and ended with crowds of demonstrators hurling rocks and bottles at police and departing supremacists.
The rally, conducted by the National Socialist Movement, prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to go on tactical alert as counter-protesters from throughout the region flooded into downtown L.A. They included a wide assortment of African American, Jewish, Latino, immigrants-rights and anarchist groups.
While some counter-protesters said they had heard about the event through social media such as Twitter and had come to urge peace in the face of the group's hateful message, others had clearly come for a fight. At least five of them were arrested by the end of the demonstration for throwing eggs and rocks.
Before members of the white supremacist group had arrived, a bare-chested middle-aged man with Nazi insignias tattooed on his chest and back walked into a crowd of hundreds of counter-protesters gathered near 1st and Spring streets.
Surrounded, the man mockingly bobbed his head to the rhythm of demonstrators chanting "Nazi scum." About a dozen protesters suddenly began pelting the man with punches and kicks. He fell and was struck on the back with the wooden handle of a protester's sign, which snapped in two. Police eventually reached the man and pulled him from the melee, as blood poured from the back of his neck.
Another man was rushed by a mob on Spring Street. He was punched in the face and kicked for about 20 seconds before police made it to the scene. After that beating was broken up, the man began running south on Spring Street, only to be chased down by a protester and slugged in the face. He collapsed and his face slammed to the curb as protesters began hitting him again.
The bloodied man was then escorted away by police. Both victims were treated and released, police said.
His sign, unclear in its intended meaning, read "Christianity=Paganism=Heathen$" with an arrow pointing at a swastika.
"Gosh, I think he just didn't have a clear message. I don't even think he was a Nazi," said one man, looking at the broken pieces of the sign left behind.
The neo-Nazi group had obtained a permit for its demonstration earlier in the week, and police prepared the rally area by taping off a section of City Hall's shaded south lawn. About 12:30 p.m., members began delivering anti-immigrant tirades and shouts of "Sieg Heil" that echoed down the street.
"We are tired of you clogging up our streets," shouted one white supremacist.
Another group member repeatedly denounced illegal immigrants, saying, "If the city supports illegal aliens and criminals, that is treason."
A counter-protester shouted back with a bullhorn.
"You're being protected by black and Latino cops, you cowards!" she said.
The rally ended around 2:30 p.m. with counter-protesters rushing toward the criminal courts building parking lot where the white supremacists had parked their cars. Dozens of them hurled rocks and glass bottles at the neo-Nazis and their police escorts.
One vehicle failed to start. As a group of white supremacists attempted to jump-start the car, others raised swastika-emblazoned shields over their heads to protect themselves from projectiles. After the white supremacists left, police allowed the crowds to dissipate.
Cmdr. David Doan said the LAPD's goal was to protect free speech and avoid using force. "There was a tremendous amount of restraint shown by our officers," he said. "We allowed both sides to exercise their 1st Amendment rights."
Doan said it was a frustrating situation for LAPD officers. "We took some rocks and bottles when they arrived, and we took some again when the car had some trouble starting."
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Racists in LA instantly make me think of American History X; anyone else?
[quote]Dozens of them (counter-protesters) hurled rocks and glass bottles at the neo-Nazis and their [b]police escorts[/b].[/quote]
What a brilliant way to get other people to see things your way.
[quote]Before members of the white supremacist group had arrived, a bare-chested middle-aged man with Nazi insignias tattooed on his chest and back walked into a crowd of hundreds of counter-protesters gathered near 1st and Spring streets. Surrounded, the man mockingly bobbed his head to the rhythm of demonstrators chanting "Nazi scum."[/quote]
I don't agree with Nazis but that guy sounds pretty intense
Good.
In before Glen Beck decides that "National Socialist Movement" means Obama is a white supremacist Nazi trying to lead a socialist Nazi takeover of the country.
I had a friend who went one of the counter-protests sponsored by the PSL (a communist party). He was one of the ones throwing stuff, and apparently it was lot of fun.
Facepunch should totally do a counter-protest some time. Imagine the chaos
Oh wow, there's still proper neonazism around? :ohdear:[QUOTE=Zeke129;21418685][IMG]http://www.cubeupload.com/files/262800ss20100417231142.png[/IMG][/QUOTE]
I'm tempted to use this as a new avatar
[editline]01:25AM[/editline]
nvm. fucku pris
[QUOTE=Triumph Forks;21418899]Oh wow, there's still proper neonazism around? :ohdear:
I'm tempted to use this as a new avatar
[editline]01:25AM[/editline]
nvm. fucku pris[/QUOTE]
At least I made my own.
[img]http://www.facepunch.com/image.php?u=266095&dateline=1271564688[/img] vs. [img]http://www.cubeupload.com/files/262800ss20100417231142.png[/img]
To be fair, using violence against a Nazi rally doesn't solve anything.
It mainly supports violence against another persons ideals.
[QUOTE=Aurora93;21418497]Neonazism will never do any serious shit[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/25/national/25assault.html[/url]
Gotta hand it to the police who actually escort these people
[QUOTE=PrismatexV8;21418933]At least I made my own.
[img]http://www.facepunch.com/image.php?u=266095&dateline=1271564688[/img] vs. [img]http://www.cubeupload.com/files/262800ss20100417231142.png[/img][/QUOTE]
I wouldn't rub it in your face if it were the other way around :'(
[QUOTE=Triumph Forks;21419000]I wouldn't rub it in your face if it were the other way around :'([/QUOTE]
No, I was trying to explain that I didn't steal it.
These idiots want to invite violence so they can cause a scene or even a riot. This has essentially been what every white supremacist aims to do when they do their marches/rallies.
Nothing would have come of it if these idiots had ignored them.
[QUOTE=thisispain;21418990][url]http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/25/national/25assault.html[/url][/QUOTE]
hmm, wow.
I live 30 minutes from there. I've been to New Port Richey and it does seem like a trashy redneck area. I guess it depends on what area you're in.
[QUOTE=JDK721;21419421]hmm, wow.
I live 30 minutes from there. I've been to New Port Richey and it does seem like a trashy redneck area. I guess it depends on what area you're in.[/QUOTE]
Alright, mentioning NPR made me post a thread about a news article from there I had waiting in the wings.
Place sounds like a total shithole.
[QUOTE=PrismatexV8;21419485]Alright, mentioning NPR made me post a thread about a news article from there I had waiting in the wings.
Place sounds like a total shithole.[/QUOTE]
I was only at one area a few times but there is a lot of drug activity there and trailer homes.
Intolerant people intolerant to other intolerant people. Why can't we all just get along.
[QUOTE=JDK721;21419421]hmm, wow.
I live 30 minutes from there. I've been to New Port Richey and it does seem like a trashy redneck area. I guess it depends on what area you're in.[/QUOTE]
I spent a month or so last summer in New Port Richey. It's pretty accurate to how you described it; most of the town is full of rednecks, with some solid normal areas spread around. Definitely the highest congregation of hobos I've seen in my life, outside of Chicago.
While to dont agree with the ideas of the neo-nazis. They do have the right to free speech, the people here who beat them are in the wrong. Ignorant people and their pack mentality.
In this sort of case, the best thing to do is to ignore them. Just don't show up; abandon the town. They merely do these events to rally up tenson so they can get attention for their cause.
[QUOTE=GeneralGunnut;21420337]In this sort of case, the best thing to do is to ignore them. Just don't show up; abandon the town. They merely do these events to rally up tenson so they can get attention for their cause.[/QUOTE]
Abandon Los Angeles?
[QUOTE=Regulas021;21420395]Abandon Los Angeles?[/QUOTE]
I seem to recall a movie about this.
[QUOTE=Regulas021;21420395]Abandon Los Angeles?[/QUOTE]
Or abandon the area that the Nazis are marching.
LA is definitely not the place to hold a nazi protest.