The*Empress
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17 Arrested at Florida Neo-Nazi Rally
Sat Feb 25, 7:30 PM ET
ORLANDO, Fla. - Fistfights broke out and police made 17 arrests Saturday at a neo-Nazi rally and march through a predominantly black neighborhood.
In khaki uniforms, tall black boots and red arm patches bearing swastikas, about 30 members of the National Socialist Movement were barricaded on one side by SWAT team members at the rally. On the other side of the SWAT officers, a group of about 100 black-clad counter-demonstrators, many covering their faces with black masks, held anti-Nazi signs.
Several counter-demonstrators were arrested before the march officially began when pockets of violence erupted, police said. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was hurt.
The march went on as planned through the Orlando neighborhood of Parramore, with about 500 spectators and counter-demonstrators following the group. Grandparents held the hands of their grandchildren as they watched the march from the front of their homes.
"The older generation grew up seeing hate. They grew up seeing these kinds of groups being open and I think for some African-Americans they want the younger generations to see that hate still exists," said the Rev. O'Hara Black of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
No members of the neo-Nazi group were arrested, police said.
Fourteen of those arrested are members of out-of-town groups such as the Skinheads Against Racial Prejudices and the Southeastern Anarchist Network, said Orlando police spokeswoman Barb Jones. All faced charges including disorderly conduct, battery on a law enforcement officer and wearing a mask, police said.
More than 300 law enforcement officers were on hand, hoping to avoid the violence that marked another gathering of the Minneapolis-based neo-Nazi group in October in Toledo, Ohio. A march there led to a riot in which businesses were burned and looted and bricks were thrown at police.
On Saturday, neo-Nazis held signs with such slogans as "White People Unite" and statistics claiming that crime is predominantly committed by blacks. Later, they made Nazi salutes at City Hall as a SWAT team separated the demonstrators from a jeering crowd.
During the march, the neo-Nazis walked on one side of the road and the protesters on the other, separated by two lines of police. Both groups hurled insults.
Counter-demonstrators held signs including ones that read, "Stop the hate. Stop the violence" and "Love everyone."
"For them to come into our neighborhood, it's wrong; it's a slap in the face," said Donnell Jones, 33.
Sat Feb 25, 7:30 PM ET
ORLANDO, Fla. - Fistfights broke out and police made 17 arrests Saturday at a neo-Nazi rally and march through a predominantly black neighborhood.
In khaki uniforms, tall black boots and red arm patches bearing swastikas, about 30 members of the National Socialist Movement were barricaded on one side by SWAT team members at the rally. On the other side of the SWAT officers, a group of about 100 black-clad counter-demonstrators, many covering their faces with black masks, held anti-Nazi signs.
Several counter-demonstrators were arrested before the march officially began when pockets of violence erupted, police said. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was hurt.
The march went on as planned through the Orlando neighborhood of Parramore, with about 500 spectators and counter-demonstrators following the group. Grandparents held the hands of their grandchildren as they watched the march from the front of their homes.
"The older generation grew up seeing hate. They grew up seeing these kinds of groups being open and I think for some African-Americans they want the younger generations to see that hate still exists," said the Rev. O'Hara Black of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
No members of the neo-Nazi group were arrested, police said.
Fourteen of those arrested are members of out-of-town groups such as the Skinheads Against Racial Prejudices and the Southeastern Anarchist Network, said Orlando police spokeswoman Barb Jones. All faced charges including disorderly conduct, battery on a law enforcement officer and wearing a mask, police said.
More than 300 law enforcement officers were on hand, hoping to avoid the violence that marked another gathering of the Minneapolis-based neo-Nazi group in October in Toledo, Ohio. A march there led to a riot in which businesses were burned and looted and bricks were thrown at police.
On Saturday, neo-Nazis held signs with such slogans as "White People Unite" and statistics claiming that crime is predominantly committed by blacks. Later, they made Nazi salutes at City Hall as a SWAT team separated the demonstrators from a jeering crowd.
During the march, the neo-Nazis walked on one side of the road and the protesters on the other, separated by two lines of police. Both groups hurled insults.
Counter-demonstrators held signs including ones that read, "Stop the hate. Stop the violence" and "Love everyone."
"For them to come into our neighborhood, it's wrong; it's a slap in the face," said Donnell Jones, 33.
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