Bush supporters rally in Ohio

[destruction]

Neo-Nazis demonstrate in Ohio

Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:41 PM ET

By Julie Ingwersen

TOLEDO, Ohio (Reuters) - A small band of brownshirted U.S. neo-Nazis demonstrated in Toledo on Saturday, surrounded by hundreds of police called out to keep peace two months after an aborted rally by the same group led to a riot.

"Fight for white rights today!" shouted one speaker.

Another said: "We have terrorism and it is not being performed by white terrorists."

A line of police officers in riot gear and dozens of officers on horses formed a barrier between about 60 members of the National Socialist Movement and around 170 anti-Nazi demonstrators and spectators.

Police said there were 26 arrests, none from among the Nazi group. The demonstration ended after about an hour with no major problems.

"The Nazis bring hate to our city and we have to protest that," said Susan Purviance, 49, of Toledo who joined the anti-Nazi demonstrators.

The tiny Nazi movement's members hold occasional protests in the United States, often sparking violence and debate over whether they should be allowed to march.

The Minneapolis-based Nazi group had said the purpose of Saturday's rally was to protest the way the police handled the demonstration they had planned to hold on October 15.

On that day, the Nazis called off a march against gang violence in a racially mixed neighborhood, saying police had not provided adequately for their protection.

They left, but violence broke out anyway as rival gangs clashed and residents joined the fray. There were 114 arrests and some looting.

On Saturday, the Ohio city had rolled out extensive security precautions after granting the Nazis a permit to demonstrate in a confined area. Those entering the area had to pass through airport-style metal detectors.

Toledo police said 700 law enforcement personnel had been deployed, including state police, sheriff's deputies and police from surrounding communities.

"We want to say to the non-white community: we hope that you do something about the criminal subculture," said one neo-Nazi speaker.

"If those problems are not handled by the black and Hispanic communities they will be handled by the white community."

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-12-10T224116Z_01_KWA081619_RTRUKOC_0_US-LIFE-NAZIS.xml&archived=False