Posted on 10/15/2005 3:25:34 PM PDT by Brilliant
TOLEDO, Ohio - A crowd that gathered to protest a neo-Nazi march Saturday turned violent, throwing baseball-sized rocks at police, vandalizing vehicles and stores, and setting fire to a neighborhood bar, authorities said.
Mayor Jack Ford blamed the rioting on gang members taking advantage of a volatile situation. He said he was declaring a state of emergency and setting an 8 p.m. curfew. He also ask the Highway Patrol for help.
"It's exactly what they wanted," Ford said of the group that planned the march, which was called off because of the rioting.
At least two dozen members of the National Socialist Movement, which calls itself "America's Nazi Party," had gathered at a city park just before noon and were to march under police protection. Organizers said they were demonstrating against black gangs they said were harassing white residents.
Violence broke out about one-quarter of a mile away along the planned march route.
About 150 police officers in helicopters and on horses and foot chased bands of youths throughout the afternoon. Officers wearing gas masks fired tear gas canisters and flash-bang devices designed to stun suspects, only to see the groups reappear nearby and resume throwing rocks and bottles. A group pounded on a convenience store and overturned vehicles. A fire was set in a nearby bar. At least six people were arrested.
Police Chief Mike Navarre said officers had a report of a man shot in the area, but they had not found a victim. No other injuries had been reported, Navarre said.
The mayor had appealed to residents the night before to ignore the march.
He said the city indicated it wouldn't give the Nazis a permit to march in the streets but couldn't stop them from marching on the sidewalks like other citizens.
When the rioting broke out, Ford tried negotiate with those involved, saying he would meet with them to discuss any grievances, but he said "they weren't interested in that."
He said they were mostly "gang members who had real or imagined grievances and took it as an opportunity to speak in their own way."
"I am disappointed that some folks who clearly are not strong citizens to begin with took this opportunity to make this statement," Ford said. "I was chagrined that there were obvious mothers and children in the crowd with them. Several intimated that they had guns."
Thomas Frisch, 76, said a large group of men destroyed the exterior of a gas station next to his home of 30 years.
"A whole big gang started to come in here. Next thing you know, they're jumping on the car. Then they overturned it. Then they started on the building, breaking windows, ripping the bars off," he said.
Keith White, a black resident, criticized city officials for initially allowing the march.
"They let them come here and expect this not to happen?" said White, 29.
Anything disturbing about the hate rhetoric coming our way?
Is it only the sensibilities of black people that are to be respected.
I agree that nazi's ought never be allowed to assemble in public and that goes for the New Black Panthers and the KKK too.
However, the ACLU has their own ideas of community standards and we are all paying the price.
The problem is, that would never go for the New Black Panthers
Uhmm...the ACLU did not write this:
"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech...or the right of the people peaceably to assemble..." (U.S. Constitution, Amendment I)
They were denied a permit. The ACLU stepped in and needless to say, the permit was issued.
It's a long time ago, but I think it was Canton, Ohio.
The die was cast way back then.
At least that time, most if not all the residents kept their doors shut, their shades drawn and stayed off the streets.
Still it was a painful thing to happen in their community.
Yeah, and the Nazis were the cause of the riots and looting in New Orleans and Los Angeles and Cincinnati and...
Are you kidding. Nazi 'civility?' Tell that to the 6 million Jews who were so treated with such 'regard' by the Nazis, or the scores of brave men who met their deaths trying to get rid of Nazi 'civility.'
As for 'Black/hispanic' disregard for anything at all. Well, you might be surprised, but I have a deep regard for very many things. Thus it was a great surprise to me that I apparently do not have regard for nigh anything. Apparently I missed the memo.
From my source in Toledo, it's a race riot, complete with looting, vandalism and burnt down buildings. The ACLU, NAACP or famous-name activists cannot alter the connotation people create for themselves and non-deserving others. They themselves are responsible for breaking the stereotype. CNN reports indicate the perpetrators blame this on police action. It's always about "police action" it seems.
Like you said, it would have been some other reason if not that one. Being a policeman amidst this type of violence is no picnic. Riots breed distrust, disgust and hatred on all sides of the issues at hand in and of themselves. It's a sad day for Toledo and those involved in instigating the riots.
Bingo!!!
Merely an excuse for rioting and looting.
"Merely an excuse for rioting and looting."
Hey, why should Los Angeles and New Orleans have all the fun? /sarc
"They let them come here and expect this not to happen?" said White, 29."
Hey Keith.........you IDIOT..........how 'bout blaming your mindless homies for using any excuse to loot, pillage, and burn YOUR OWN FREAKIN' NEIGHBORHOOD(S).
Keith, you and your fellow brain-dead blacks (thank God, not all blacks by any stretch of the imagination) are part of the problem. You excuse animalistic behavior due to "anger"..........at what?????
Sick of such trash. Flush 'em all.
Fine, but the thugs threw rocks at everything EXCEPT the Nazis. A pox on all their houses.
Imagine the glee and joy the scenes they recorded are giving them. The NAZI's can propagandize disaffected White youth with videos of Blacks rampaging and acting like wild animals.
Goebbels would be proud.
Most Lefties don't, either, unless they think I suffer from dual personality disorder: they often accuse me of being simultaneoulsy a NAZI and a Fascist.
I honestly think they believe both mean "anyone neither a Socialist, nor an anarchist".
But were they able to keep the trains running on time?
No, I meant the ones NOT running to the camps.
It's a free country. The nutjob nazi creeps can exercise free speech. Just ignore them and go on about your life. Apparently, those who rioted and looted think they are somehow justified. This is the most amazing thing. What has happened to America?
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