Neo-Nazi Group to Hold Rally At L.A. City Hall

from KTLA News
April 17, 2010

LOS ANGELES — Dueling rallies are expected Saturday outside Los Angeles City Hall, held by the National Socialist Movement and various groups opposing the neo-Nazi organization.

The planned NSM rally has drawn fire from activists and community leaders.

Members of the Jewish Labor Committee, Union del Barrio, the Southern California Immigration Coalition, riKu Matsuda and 25 other groups asked Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa to pull the plug on the National Socialist Movement’s rally.

An LAPD spokeswoman said a permit was issued in March to the group.

According to NSM leaders, the rally is being held to remember the birthday of Adolph Hitler, the former German leader of the Nazi Party. Hitler’s actual birthday is not until the 20th of April.

According to Danielle Heck, a spokeswoman for the community groups, the National Socialist Movement group should not be allowed to hold its demonstration because their speech is focused on hate and violence.

Heck expects thousands of people from opposing groups to gather Saturday as well.

The National Socialist Movement regional director, Jeffrey Russell Hall declares the First Amendment, which allows the group the right to gather at City Hall. He also tells KTLA that, in spite of the fact his group is observing the birthday of Hitler, they are not a Neo-Nazi group.

The NSM rally is scheduled to begin Saturday at 12:30 p.m.