Another test for the limits of 'free speech'. Should there be time and place restrictions applied here given what happened in Ohio the last time these same White supremacists decided to march in a minority neighborhood? http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-hatemarch23_106feb23,0,6887260.story Calm urged as neo-Nazis set to march Saturday's event won't escalate if the group is ignored, city and black leaders say Black community leaders urged residents Wednesday to ignore a scheduled march through Parramore by the same group of neo-Nazis that sparked a riot in Toledo, Ohio. "If a fire has no oxygen, it goes out. Don't fuel the fire," said the Rev. Charles Jackson, pastor of Hurst Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, during a news conference on the front steps of the Callahan Community Center. Members of the National Socialist Movement received a permit for a one-mile march through the predominantly black neighborhood beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday in front of the Orlando Police Department. A spokesman for the Roanoke, Va.-based group said the purpose of the march is to increase local support and publicize that "the crime problem is a race problem." "We are going to show up, demonstrate, make our point and leave Orlando with a better understanding of its problem," spokesman Bill White said. Under a response dubbed "Operation Be Cool," community leaders and the Police Department hope to avoid a repeat of Toledo, where angry counter-demonstrators clashed with police in anticipation of a march by a few members of the National Socialist Movement. The riot in October resulted in 114 arrests and 12 injured officers. The Orlando police, NAACP, black ministers and other leaders are urging people to avoid the area during the march. Posters on storefronts along West Church Street urge residents to "Dis & Dismiss Ignorant Racists . . . They expect you to come downtown to confront them. Be Cool! Don't be drawn into violence." "Stay home. Stay away. There won't be a problem. Everybody will be safe, and it will be over," police Chief Michael McCoy said. Earl Dunn, who runs Paradise Island Cafe on West Church Street, said he plans to close his business Saturday. "Customers will be afraid of what these guys can do," he said. "It's best for us to close that day." But down the street, Andria Brown said she intends to keep her store open in defiance of the white supremacists. "Let them have their silly thing. I'm going to be right here," said the owner of Zion's Daughter Alterations. Several Parramore residents questioned why the city would allow white supremacists to parade their hate through a black neighborhood. The city said it had no choice. "We live in a country where there is freedom of speech," said Reggie McGill of the Orlando mayor's office. Orlando police tried to require the marchers to pass through metal detectors and wear something that identified them as members of the movement. But when the group threatened to file a lawsuit contending those restrictions were unconstitutional, the city backed off. At the Wednesday news conference, the black leaders and police officials were joined by a member of an Islamic organization that is opening its headquarters on Parramore Avenue. "We have a unity of different faiths and different backgrounds to show we are against this particular show of racism and bigotry," said Christopher Cusano, director of the Orlando branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. While black pastors urged their congregations to avoid the march route, some of the ministers plan to be there to help quell any violent response to the demonstration. "We would only be there as part of a peace-keeping core," said the Rev. Rollie Murray Jr., pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, who plans to attend a funeral instead. Murray said about 25 to 30 neo-Nazis are expected to show up. "I'm assuming they are coming to this area to get an audience, to gain some ground in terms of publicity," Murray said. "The less attention they get, the better it will be."
Absolutely not. If you did that, you'd be saying that all someone has to do to not have their beliefs challenged or their feelings offended is commit acts of violence and/or civil disruption. That would send a bad message. The problem always lies more with those that show up to protest these things. I never understood why someone would do that except to feel hatred. Why show up at all and make this event newsworthy? If nobody showed up, its not news and there is no confronation. I'm not saying they shouldn't be ALLOWED to show up and protest just that it seems to legitimize what the neo-nazi group is doing.
I don't understand, why is it wrong to hold counter-protests (peaceful of course) at the same time with these neo-Nazi marches? It's OK to let them know that their ideology is rejected by society. I agree they should be allowed to march, but they should also be prepared for possible reprecussions, human beings are emotional and some times they do act on those emotions, so confrontation isn't out of the question.
I didn't say it's wrong. I said it does nothing but legitimize and bring attention to the march in question. It is up to those protesting to not engage in any violent activities. If they initiate the violence they're the ones to blame. We can't justify violence because it's against someone we don't agree with. What would that lead to?
I agree with you, I am just saying 'violence' IS a possibility, people are people, they're not robots devoid of emotions. It's not an excuse, but it's reality. As I said before, imagine yourself (a light-skinned person) walking through the streets of Jamaica Queens while throwing racial slurs at everyone you encounter...do you think that's smart? It would almost be suicide, it's like you're asking for someone to bust a cap in your arse. That's all I am saying, things happen, and the one thing most people aren't willing to tolerate is being 'disrespected' -- that's just human nature.
When I was in college, the KKK wanted to have a march in Huntsville. A bunch of students wanted to organize a 'counter' march but they decided that it would be better to do nothing because a counter march would just draw attention to them, which is exactly what they wanted. So no one did anything and about 7 people total showed up to this silly march. It didn't even make the Huntsville newspaper. Just ignore them.
I see what you're saying. And I'm not exactly light skinned (but yes lighter than what I would see in most of Jamaica ). It's just we have to learn to practice restraint and control our emotions. If we give into emotions we see what happened with the cartoon riots or the 80 muslims killed by Christians. I'm not saying it's wrong to feel that way or wrong for the people to even want to do it. What I'm saying is that it sends a much more powerful message by doing absolutely nothing.
Hehe! Sorry, I remember you saying once that you had White and Hispanic in you, so I guess 'lighter' skin would be more appropriate (I know, I know, I am stereotyping ) Agree with you there wholeheartedly, but there seems to be a whole lot of history that suggests that type of reaction is to be expected in certain situations.
Why not march through their own d*mn neighborhood this is liken to trespassing Folx feel like they came on their 'turf' to basically spit on them I saw kewl .. . nothing that a nice well place indigo dye paint gun couldn't cure would be fun Rocket River
