Elliot Golan / Roundup
The National Socialist Movement (NSM) rallied more physical opposition than support Saturday in front of City Hall in Downtown Los Angeles.
On 1st Street, between Broadway and Spring, over 500 people protesting the rally, hundreds of police officers in riot gear and about 50 NSM members gathered for the event.
The white-supremacist group was granted a 90-minute permit by the city to assemble and speak under the First Amendment to The Constitution.
“I don’t think they have the right to present an essentially genocidal message,” said Seth Braslow, a 21-year-old student from Santa Monica City College. Braslow was there as a member of the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition.
Prior to the NSM members arriving, there were two incidents of assault.
According to David Doan, incident commander of the event for The Los Angeles Police Department, the first victim was attacked because of tattoos he had on his body and the second was carrying a sign that made the crowd mistakenly identify him as Nazi supporter, when he was in actuality, a protest supporter.
The first assault took place steps from police lines. After a few moments, members of the police pulled him out of the crowd.
As the second victim was assaulted, cries from the crowd both supporting and opposing the act were heard. After several minutes of abuse, members of the crowd rescued him and began running him off into safety. The swarm gave chase and continued with their assault. The police eventually arrived and escorted the victim out of the area, clubs drawn.
John Guevara, 22, screamed in opposition.
“It’s not right,” said Guevara. “Violence is unjust.”
He also said that moments like those promote “internal division” within the protestors.
Nobody was detained immediately following either instance. Both were treated and release with no significant injuries, according to Doan.
Throughout the day, the crowd was raucous, calling out “White supremacists, get off our premises,” “Down with the Nazi’s, up with the people,” and similar chants.
Different groups were represented within the crowd. Palestinians, Israelis, homosexuals and Communists alike were using the day as an avenue by which to have their voices heard.
Upon the arrival of the NSM group, the crowd, which spent the morning spread throughout the block, approached the police lines.
For 90 minutes, the NSM spoke over loudspeakers on their points of view, with the sporadic calling of “sieg heil,” followed by the well-known Nazi salute from the era of the Third Reich.
They spoke on different countries and cultures independently, at times stomping on flags representing Mexico and Israel.
As the NSM delegation prepared to leave, protestors bombarded their cars with bottles and rocks
“We’re a peaceful movement,” said Joe Taylor, a member of the NSM. “They should just open their eyes.”
Among the issues the NSM discussed was immigration and affirmative action.
“National self-determination is a right of all people,” said Thomas Scholl, who traveled from Pennsylvania to take part in the rally.
As the event came to a close, protestors remained behind, screaming and in one instance, throwing a bottle toward the police.
Doan said that the event was a success and that he was proud of his forces efforts to keep the violence at a minimum.
“None of us like to hear some of the things that were said,” said Doan. “Free speech is free speech.”
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A group of protestors shout in disapproval at National Socialist Movement members outside Los Angeles City Hall on April 17. (Elliot Golan / Roundup)
A protester is detained by Los Angeles Police Department officers after throwing rocks at members of the National Socialist Movement outside City Hall in Los Angeles. (Elliot Golan / Roundup)