CER & the Rally for Social Justice is not alone in wanting non-violence opposition in Yorktown

The Associated Press has picked up the story of our upcoming Rally for Social Justice. This afternoon I had a long chat with Sue Lindsy of the local AP bureau; what follows is her story.

Hundreds plan protests to neo-Nazi rally at Revolutionary War site

SUE LINDSEY, Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. - Peaceful protesters are planning to show up by the hundreds to exercise their own First Amendment rights to free speech when a neo-Nazi group holds a rally in June on a Revolutionary War battlefield.

Two groups have been granted permits for counterdemonstrations on June 25 at the same time that the National Socialist Movement rallies at the Yorktown Battlefield, Mike Litterst, a National Park Service spokesman, said Wednesday.

The Center for Educational Rights, based in Valley Forge, Pa., expects at least 400 people will listen to speeches, music and poetry supporting social justice, diversity and peace. Congregation Zion's Sake of Newport News estimates up to 500 people from area churches will gather to demonstrate ethnic and racial harmony.

The National Socialist Movement, which claims to be the nation's largest Nazi party, projects a crowd of 300 for its rally.

Commander Jeff Schoep said while his organization is "obviously a pro-white group," the movement is not a hate group. "We're a political party," he said.

The counter groups both plan peaceful demonstrations to what they perceive as a message of intolerance.

The Park Service's Litterst said organizations often overestimate the crowd size for rallies, but he wouldn't be surprised if other groups also seek to demonstrate at Yorktown that day.

"I'm sure this is just the start," he said.

In its Park Service application for a rally permit, Zion's Sake requested "close proximity to the NSM."

The Messianic Jewish congregation wants the neo-Nazis "to see love," Rabbi Eric Carlson said.

"It's a small planet," he said. "When you look at a satellite photo of the Earth you don't see races or borders."

The educational rights group, on the other hand, hopes to be as far from the neo-Nazis as possible, said Peter Stinson of Portsmouth, one of the rally organizers.

"My hope for the day is that I don't see a brown shirt," Stinson said, referring to the Nazi uniform.

The Pennsylvania organization, which is headed by Stinson's brother, Philip, held a similar demonstration at Valley Forge when the National Socialist Movement rallied there last September.

Its plan in Virginia is to act as an umbrella organization for area groups that want to protest the Nazi gathering, Peter Stinson said.

The group received a grant from the Southern Poverty Law Center for the rally last fall and hopes to receive the same backing for Yorktown, Stinson said.

Zion's Sake has asked both Jewish and Christian congregations to join its rally. Carlson said the racially diverse congregation is not experienced at demonstrations and doesn't have a firm game plan, but felt moved to protest.

"Sometimes you have to put some prayer into action," he said.

"This is more significant because of our Jewish background," said Carlson, who lost relatives in the Holocaust. "It's a grim reminder of the darker side of our humanity."

ON THE NET

Center for Educational Rights

Congregation Zion's Sake

National Socialist Movement

I hope that we and Congregation Zion's Sake can get together and merge efforts, showing the neo-Nazis, the KKK, our community, and the country that peace and non-violence, diversity and tolerance, are stronger than hatred and division.

Peace.

For all of you who want to lend a hand with planning & preparation, now's the time. Contact us.