protest
i've been sitting here trying to figure out a way to make this post amusing, but the topic isn't funny at all, so i'll just get right to it.
a group that calls themselves "america's nazi party" is having a pro-white rally in lansing on the 22nd of april. there has been a plea for protesters from the lansing coalition against nazis (who knew?), and i thought maybe some of us could go. here's the letter from them:
The National Socialist Movement (NSM) is planning a public demonstration on April 22nd on the steps of the State Capital in Lansing, Michigan. The NSM, who refer to themselves as "America's Nazi Party"ˇ have chosen to come to Lansing following their visits to Toledo, Ohio in October and December of this past year.
We, the Lansing Coalition Against Nazis (LCAN), feel that their message should not go unopposed. We are planning a visible and vocal counter-demonstration to combat their message of hate. We are inviting all those who believe in freedom and equality to join us in sending the NSM a strong message that fascists and racists are not welcome in Lansing!
Please join us in opposing the NSM rally in Lansing, Michigan on April 22nd. A strong, creatively confrontational presence against the Nazis is the best way to show the neo-Nazis that their hate will not be tolerated in Lansing, or anywhere else.
It is important that those present are disciplined and principled in their actions. The counter demonstration is our time to express direct opposition to the NSM while also providing relative safety to those community members who are low risk. If you are coming to do your own thing without thinking about how it will effect the people of Lansing then stay home. If you are coming to stand in solidarity with the people of Lansing in their visible and vocal opposition to the Nazis, then you are welcome and encouraged to attend. We'll see you in the streets!
The Counter-Demonstration will begin around 12:30pm. The NSM Event is scheduled from 2-4pm. Further details will be provided closer to April 22nd. There will be a strategy meeting the night before the rally in Lansing for coordinating with people from out of town. To receive updates on details for the 22nd or for more information email: afdlansing ( at ) riseup.net.
Yours in struggle,
Lansing Coalition Against Nazis (LCAN)
afdlansing ( at ) riseup.net
Statement of Purpose
Although some people say that ignoring the Nazis is the best way to oppose them, we know from experience that ignoring a problem never makes it go away. Some people say that the NSM is just a fringe group but their websites: www.nsm88.com www.overthrow.com get over 9,000 hits a day.
If hate groups do not encounter opposition to their activities in a community, they'll take that to mean no one is willing to stand against them. Not directly opposing the Nazis isolates the people they target - people of color, immigrants, religious or ethnic minorities, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people, the disabled, womyn, etc. - making these communities feel like no one will support them. Because we recognize the struggles of these targeted groups of people and do not wish to ignore them, LCAN supports a visible and vocal counter-demonstration to the Nazi rally on April 22.
Other opponents of counter demonstrating say the Nazis should be allowed to speak because of the constitutional right to free speech. We say that giving racists and other bigots "free speech" silences the voices of entire groups of people through intimidation. We say that it is not just free speech because racist propaganda leads to racist violence
first of all, it's making me really mad that they're calling themselves the "national socialist movement." i don't understand why they would claim a socio-political stance such a socialism, when they are obviously not all about socialism. they got it all wrong. i'm a socialist. these guys (and gals) are fascists. to clarify, here's a really great site on socialism: http://www.worldsocialism.org/
anyway, i'm interested in possibly going to protest this bullshit (no, not the bullshit that is them using "socialism" in the worst possible way. i mean the bullshit that is their existence in general.), and am wondering if anyone else on here would like to tag along. the issue that i'm having this this, though: i don't want to have your average, run of the mill protest. with that sort of protest, they won't be suprised, and they'll probably feed on our energy. i'm not for that. i'm for catching them off guard, letting them know that they really aren't welcome in michigan. demonrow had the idea to bring newspapers and read them along the route, completely ignoring their rally, which i love. i mean, they're just there for some attention, so i think giving them as little attention as possible is a cool tactic.
i have lots of ideas from this book i've been reading called globalize liberation. the one i really think would work is really simple: get a hundred or two hundred or six hundred people and, in one mass movement, lay down or stand or sit in the street in front of the march. like this:
.
i don't think that's something we can just do, though. i don't know. i wish i could get in on some sort of planning session.
anyway, morgan and i are considering going, so if anyone's interested, you could ride with us.
a group that calls themselves "america's nazi party" is having a pro-white rally in lansing on the 22nd of april. there has been a plea for protesters from the lansing coalition against nazis (who knew?), and i thought maybe some of us could go. here's the letter from them:
The National Socialist Movement (NSM) is planning a public demonstration on April 22nd on the steps of the State Capital in Lansing, Michigan. The NSM, who refer to themselves as "America's Nazi Party"ˇ have chosen to come to Lansing following their visits to Toledo, Ohio in October and December of this past year.
We, the Lansing Coalition Against Nazis (LCAN), feel that their message should not go unopposed. We are planning a visible and vocal counter-demonstration to combat their message of hate. We are inviting all those who believe in freedom and equality to join us in sending the NSM a strong message that fascists and racists are not welcome in Lansing!
Please join us in opposing the NSM rally in Lansing, Michigan on April 22nd. A strong, creatively confrontational presence against the Nazis is the best way to show the neo-Nazis that their hate will not be tolerated in Lansing, or anywhere else.
It is important that those present are disciplined and principled in their actions. The counter demonstration is our time to express direct opposition to the NSM while also providing relative safety to those community members who are low risk. If you are coming to do your own thing without thinking about how it will effect the people of Lansing then stay home. If you are coming to stand in solidarity with the people of Lansing in their visible and vocal opposition to the Nazis, then you are welcome and encouraged to attend. We'll see you in the streets!
The Counter-Demonstration will begin around 12:30pm. The NSM Event is scheduled from 2-4pm. Further details will be provided closer to April 22nd. There will be a strategy meeting the night before the rally in Lansing for coordinating with people from out of town. To receive updates on details for the 22nd or for more information email: afdlansing ( at ) riseup.net.
Yours in struggle,
Lansing Coalition Against Nazis (LCAN)
afdlansing ( at ) riseup.net
Statement of Purpose
Although some people say that ignoring the Nazis is the best way to oppose them, we know from experience that ignoring a problem never makes it go away. Some people say that the NSM is just a fringe group but their websites: www.nsm88.com www.overthrow.com get over 9,000 hits a day.
If hate groups do not encounter opposition to their activities in a community, they'll take that to mean no one is willing to stand against them. Not directly opposing the Nazis isolates the people they target - people of color, immigrants, religious or ethnic minorities, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people, the disabled, womyn, etc. - making these communities feel like no one will support them. Because we recognize the struggles of these targeted groups of people and do not wish to ignore them, LCAN supports a visible and vocal counter-demonstration to the Nazi rally on April 22.
Other opponents of counter demonstrating say the Nazis should be allowed to speak because of the constitutional right to free speech. We say that giving racists and other bigots "free speech" silences the voices of entire groups of people through intimidation. We say that it is not just free speech because racist propaganda leads to racist violence
first of all, it's making me really mad that they're calling themselves the "national socialist movement." i don't understand why they would claim a socio-political stance such a socialism, when they are obviously not all about socialism. they got it all wrong. i'm a socialist. these guys (and gals) are fascists. to clarify, here's a really great site on socialism: http://www.worldsocialism.org/
anyway, i'm interested in possibly going to protest this bullshit (no, not the bullshit that is them using "socialism" in the worst possible way. i mean the bullshit that is their existence in general.), and am wondering if anyone else on here would like to tag along. the issue that i'm having this this, though: i don't want to have your average, run of the mill protest. with that sort of protest, they won't be suprised, and they'll probably feed on our energy. i'm not for that. i'm for catching them off guard, letting them know that they really aren't welcome in michigan. demonrow had the idea to bring newspapers and read them along the route, completely ignoring their rally, which i love. i mean, they're just there for some attention, so i think giving them as little attention as possible is a cool tactic.
i have lots of ideas from this book i've been reading called globalize liberation. the one i really think would work is really simple: get a hundred or two hundred or six hundred people and, in one mass movement, lay down or stand or sit in the street in front of the march. like this:
.
i don't think that's something we can just do, though. i don't know. i wish i could get in on some sort of planning session.
anyway, morgan and i are considering going, so if anyone's interested, you could ride with us.