Response to Aryan march (fwd)

[Ron Faas <faas@wsu.edu>]

"A Community Response Guide to Hate Crime and Hate Groups" by the Southern
Poverty Law Center is mentioned in the latest SPLC Report I received
yesterday.  Key points are posted below, and an electronic copy of the
guide's full text is available on the Center's Web site
<http://www.splcenter.org/intelligenceproject/ip-index.html>.

As many of you may be aware, the Southern Poverty Law Center on January 25
filed a civil action in court against the Aryan Nations. The complaint
alleges that a mother and son who stopped near the entrance to the Aryan
Nations' compound "were assaulted and terrorized on a public road" by
members of the Aryan Nations' security force. The suit seeks monetary
damages and an injunction against the defendants. 


Ten Ways to Fight Hate

"A Community Response Guide to Hate Crime and Hate Groups", Southern Poverty
Law Center

       Hate comes in many forms.

       It can be stark --- from anti-Semitic graffiti and the racist
chanting of Klansmen to brutal assaults by Skinheads. It can also be subtle
--- from the reasoned racism of modern neo-Nazi leaders to the
pseudo-intellectualism of those who claim that the Holocaust did not occur.

       But whatever form it takes, an expression of hatred usually causes an
intense reaction in a community.

       Although some people argue that hate crimes and hate groups should be
ignored, many others look for ways to express their opposition and to send
an unequivocal message that racism and bigotry will not be tolerated in
their community.

       What follows are 10 ways to fight hate, drawn from Klanwatch's
experience monitoring white supremacist groups and hate crimes and from
successful methods used by communities throughout the country.

       They are not the only ways to fight hatred, but they are a place to
start.

        

       1. STAY AWAY FROM WHITE SUPREMACIST EVENTS

       2. ORGANIZE AN ALTERNATIVE EVENT

       3. DON'T TRY TO STOP WHITE SUPREMACIST EVENTS

       4 PLACE ADS IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER

       5. FORM COMMUNITY ANTI-RACISM GROUPS

       6. RESPOND QUICKLY TO HATE CRIMES WITH A SHOW OF UNITY 

       7. FOCUS ON VICTIM ASSISTANCE

       8. RESEARCH HATE CRIME LAWS IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND STATE

       9. ENCOURAGE MULTI- CULTURAL EDUCATION IN LOCAL SCHOOLS

      10. FIND UNIQUE WAYS TO SHOW OPPOSITION



---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Wed, 7 Jul 1999 09:35:05 PST

>Subject: Response to Aryan march
>
>Dear Members and Other Interested Parties,
>
>At the Task Force meeting last Saturday, it was decided to sponsor an 
>event here in Moscow to show our opposition to Neo-Nazi activities in 
>Coeur d'Alene and elsewhere.
>
>On Saturday, July 10 in Friendship Square at the Farmer's Market we 
>will hold Remembering Anne Frank, which will be a kick-off of a drive 
>to raise funds to help build the nation's only Anne Frank Human 
>Rights Memorial which will be located in Boise. Our goal is to raise 
>at least $ 1,500, which will enable us to have a plaque on a seat as 
>part of the memorial.
>
>In the square we will have flyers about Anne Frank for people to 
>write messages on, and paper dolls for children to dress and 
>decorate. These will be hung in the square as we did last year with 
>the hands against hate.
>
>Any of you who have the time to come and help would be welcome and 
>appreciated - especially the time slot from 10 to 12.
>
>Call me if you have any questions.
>
>Re the neo-nazi march - it is not clear whether it will in fact take 
>place - but opposition people will gather at 5th and Front at 9am in 
>Coeur d'Alene to be ready in case there is a march. At 11 am the 
>Kootenai County Human Rights Task Force is having a human 
>rights rally with music and speeches at the North Idaho College. 
>
>I think those who are planning to go to Coeur d'Alene should know 
>that last week the police did nothing to stop violence by Butler's 
>group.
>
>I will e-mail with updates as they occur.
>
>I hope everyone will want to do something in opposition to those who 
>would spread hate.
>
>Cheers
>Joann
>




Ron Faas
Extension Economist
Department of Agricultural Economics
Washington State University
PO Box 646210
Pullman WA 99164-6210
e-mail: faas@wsu.edu
509-335-2824; fax: 509-335-1173