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White Supremacist Group Clashes with Protestors in LA

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | April 17, 2010 at 05:22 pm

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White Supremacist National Socialist Movement Group rallying against illegal immigration clashes with counter-protesters in downtown Los Angeles

In downtown Los Angeles at City Hall Saturday hundreds of counter-protesters gathered to shout down a white supremacist group which was rallying against illegal immigration, and resulted in a chaos which led to police in riot gear making several arrests. It was reported that rocks were also thrown in the clashes.

On the south lawn of Los Angeles' City Hall, where some 50 members of the National Socialist Movement waved American flags and swastika banners for about an hour, police had to stand between the group and the counter-group which shouted protests.

The white supremacists, many of them wearing flack helmets and black military fatigue uniforms, shouted "Sieg Heil" before each of their speakers took the podium to taunt counter-protesters with racial, anti-Semitic and misogynistic epithets.
"We will meet you head on," one of the white supremacists, whose name could not be made out over the fuzzy public address system, warned the crowd from behind several phalanxes of police in riot gear.

Fearing Obama and Amnesty

This sort of incident may be viewed by some as in keeping with the reports - by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Department of Homeland Security - of the rise of right wing extremist groups and protests which may spark acts of domestic terrorism. Indeed, the FBI has been on heightened alert for such incidents or catalysts for them in recent months.

Some right wing groups have a considerable fear of Obama's alleged plans for immigration reform.

The Supremacist group is reported to be Detroit-based, and picked downtown LA for their rally because of its notorious and expansive immigrant population. Accusations of jobs theft and illegal activities were aimed at the immigrants. The National Socialist movement also said they are alarmed at the call for amnesty for illegal immigrants, which they see as increasing under the Obama administration.

Regional director Jeffrey Russell Hall announced that the group plans to back only those political candidates who agree with their anti-immigrant ideology.

But much of the white supremacists' words were drowned out by such chants as "Hey hey, ho ho, Nazi scum have got to go" from the larger crowd of about 500 counter-protesters who held signs that read "Nazis: Get Out of Los Angeles" and "Racists Are Ignorant."

National Lawyers Guild executive director James Lafferty attended both as a legal observer and counter-protester, and reported to the Associated Press that he witnessed members of the throng begin to fight a man when they saw his Nazi tattoos. Some NSP members attempted to jump-start a stalled vehicle, and had to shield themselves as counter-demonstrators hurled rocks and debris toward them. One shirtless man was reported to be bleeding as he was led away.

Police say it items were hurled at the NSP members by the counter-protesters.

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Paul Conneally

at 23:07 on April 17th, 2010

The rise of the ultra right wing has gained impetus since the economic downturn in the US, UK and France after years of 'bubbling under'. Unless the majority of hard working essentially good people of the world take a stand against such fascist groups then they will continue to rise. Terrorist attacks from within the domestic populace via extreme groups will occur - it's not enough to stand by - folks have to let the fascist white supremacists - including friends, family, and work colleagues flirting with these ideas - know that they are not wanted!

Black and white unite and fight! The Specials - Racist Friend

Barbara McPherson

at 08:25 on April 18th, 2010

Interesting that these 'white' supremacists are upset about immigration. Where do they think their ancestors came from? Or do they think that gives them tenure?

Rory Cripps

at 20:37 on April 18th, 2010

I think that it's probably more beneficial to focus on America's economic problems--which are systemic--than it is to focus on the "right wing".

My off-the-cuff estimate is that, currently, there are about 2 million "take-no-prisoners" hard-core right wing American adults that are really pissed off and will go all the way. The majority of them have extensive training in firearms, survival skills, and have the knowledge and ability to live off the land, as it were. Many of them are ex and current military and have extensive knowledge of modern-day warfare.

Moreover, there are about 30 million American adults that hold the same views as the above described and are equally adept in self-defense and self-preservation. However they tow a tenuous line and maintain an even keel due to their financial status and familial obligations and societal commitments.

And then there are another 30 million American adults that have absolutely no faith whatsoever in their government and are right of center in their political and sociological views. And if pushed, they will no doubt gravitate to the right. And the further they're pushed, the further to the right they will go and inevitably merge with the above described.

America has now approached a political and sociological crossroads. As it now stands, there is no doubt that the Democratic Party will lose many House and Senate seats come the 2010 elections; unless the Obama Administration pulls a rabbit out of its collective hat . . . .