Rasp
Senior Editor
NSM to crash diversity festival?
Neo-Nazis might crash diversity fest
Group objects to police plan for fence at Capitol
A neo-Nazi group that plans to gather at the state Capitol on April 22 may crash a diversity rally held the same day, a spokesman for the group said.
The National Socialist Movement - a white supremacist group - said it would consider that alternative if the Michigan State Police moves forward with plans to erect a chain-link fence on Capitol grounds.
Lansing police said they have no plans to stop the group from attending the diversity event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Eastern High School.
"If the Nazis attend our diversity rally, they will
see for themselves how this community celebrates different cultures because that is what Lansing is all about, and that's what makes this a great
place to live," Police Chief Mark Alley said.
The fence in question would be built to keep supporters and protesters separated during the rally, slated to run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., state police Lt. Eric Johnson said.
"Our plans change from one day to the next," Johnson said Wednesday morning. "The bottom line is, we are going to keep everybody there safe and recognize people's right to free speech."
He added state police will have the final say on whether the fence goes up.
Police built a 6-foot-high chain-link fence on Capitol property during two Ku Klux Klan rallies in 1994, said Jerry Lawler of the Michigan Capitol Committee.
Another option police are considering is to have metal detectors set up for protesters and anti-protesters to wal
k through during the neo-Nazi rally.
Bill White, spokesman for the Minneapolis-based National Socialist Movement, said both options infringe on the group's rights.
The group is against the fence because it would prevent the public from j
oining its permitted demonstration, he said.
White expects about 200 members to attend the rally.
The neo-Nazi group is considering alternate locations for the rally if state police follow through on plans for the fence, he said.
Depending on the group's plans, a new permit could be needed, city officials said.
"We may just decide to join the city's diversity rally, which is free and open to the public, and help them celebrate our white heritage," White said.
Mayor Virg Bernero, who will tape radio and television spots today urging people to attend the diversity event, said he w
ants Lansing's downtown streets empty during the neo-Nazi rally.
"We want them talking to empty streets," Bernero said. "We need to beat them at their own game and be unified that day."
:clap: :Swastika2:
Neo-Nazis might crash diversity fest
Group objects to police plan for fence at Capitol
A neo-Nazi group that plans to gather at the state Capitol on April 22 may crash a diversity rally held the same day, a spokesman for the group said.
The National Socialist Movement - a white supremacist group - said it would consider that alternative if the Michigan State Police moves forward with plans to erect a chain-link fence on Capitol grounds.
Lansing police said they have no plans to stop the group from attending the diversity event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Eastern High School.
"If the Nazis attend our diversity rally, they will
see for themselves how this community celebrates different cultures because that is what Lansing is all about, and that's what makes this a great
place to live," Police Chief Mark Alley said.
The fence in question would be built to keep supporters and protesters separated during the rally, slated to run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., state police Lt. Eric Johnson said.
"Our plans change from one day to the next," Johnson said Wednesday morning. "The bottom line is, we are going to keep everybody there safe and recognize people's right to free speech."
He added state police will have the final say on whether the fence goes up.
Police built a 6-foot-high chain-link fence on Capitol property during two Ku Klux Klan rallies in 1994, said Jerry Lawler of the Michigan Capitol Committee.
Another option police are considering is to have metal detectors set up for protesters and anti-protesters to wal
k through during the neo-Nazi rally.
Bill White, spokesman for the Minneapolis-based National Socialist Movement, said both options infringe on the group's rights.
The group is against the fence because it would prevent the public from j
oining its permitted demonstration, he said.
White expects about 200 members to attend the rally.
The neo-Nazi group is considering alternate locations for the rally if state police follow through on plans for the fence, he said.
Depending on the group's plans, a new permit could be needed, city officials said.
"We may just decide to join the city's diversity rally, which is free and open to the public, and help them celebrate our white heritage," White said.
Mayor Virg Bernero, who will tape radio and television spots today urging people to attend the diversity event, said he w
ants Lansing's downtown streets empty during the neo-Nazi rally.
"We want them talking to empty streets," Bernero said. "We need to beat them at their own game and be unified that day."
:clap: :Swastika2: