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photo by David Richards
Austin resident Samuel Johnson speaks during a rally against illegal immigration Saturday near the Law Enforcement Center in Austin.
Latest rally attracts little opposition
Published Monday, November 9, 2009
Photo by David Richards
Local law enforcement officers stand by during a rally against illegal immigration. The event was organized by Samuel Johnson, a member of the National Socialist Movement.
It was a different story this time.
Less than a month after the last rally included three arrests and mace, Austin resident Samuel Johnson held another illegal immigration protest Saturday with less opposition.
Johnson, a member of the National Socialist Movement, stood in an area near the Law Enforcement Center that was sectioned off with barricades and police tape and began his message at about 2 p.m., with a handful of supporters around him.
Johnson and at least two of the people with him wore black shirts that featured a swastika on the arm, just like they did at the October rally that was met with strong opposition.
At that event, a group of about 40 — many of them members of the Minneapolis-based Anti-Racist Action Network — opposed Johnson’s message, with some in the crowd throwing tomatoes, cups of Jell-O and other objects at Johnson and three supporters, according to the police report.
Three people from that opposition group were eventually arrested.
Johnson has held similar rallies over the past four months at the Veteran’s Memorial, located out front of the Law Enforcement Center. Last month’s rally drew criticism from local veterans who opposed Johnson’s use of their memorial for his events.
This past Saturday, the rally was located in a grassy area next to the memorial.
Roughly a dozen law enforcement officers were located just behind where Johnson was standing.
“Please get involved, let your voice be heard,” Johnson said using a megaphone.
At the start of the event, there seemed to be no opposition.
A sign posted with Johnson and his supporters read, “Secure our borders. Say no to amnesty for illegals. Deport, deport, deport.”
Johnson called Saturday’s rally “a victory” and added that he’s likely to hold more of them.
“People got to hear our rally without any interruptions,” he said.
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Comments
Posted by Aletheia_Kratos (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What would it be like if you held a rally and no one came?
For Nazis this is defined as a victory. Johnson said people "heard" his message without interruption. No one came - so who heard?
Johnson, you are like a nearly extinct animal in a zoo. Yes people come walk by and peer into your cave. But it is not because they want to hear your thoughtless speeches. It is because they marvel that such a relic can survive. What an oddity you are, a freak of nature. Worth a glimpse, perhaps a short gasp, certainly some pity, but never support.
Move along. I am sure there are other towns more reddish in their necks, where your brand of hate sells better. You have had half a dozen rallies here. You have attracted a big goose egg in public or individual support.
If you leave, the real men can get back to the business of honestly debating debate. Until then, you are destroying any chance they would have of having any credibility for fear of being lumped in with you and your messages of hate.
Posted by johnypopper1 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with holding rallies against illegal immigration, but there has got to be someone better that can do it besides some nazi swastika patch wearing thugs. I wonder if this guy really knows why he has no followers.
Posted by gohan1231234 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HEY!
Can you guys get the story straight for once and identify these idiots as neo nazis?
Their hate speech and radical message of violence against immigrants is not to be confused with free speech.
Its almost as if you are supporters of their message, this your coverage of their actions is SHAMEFUL!
Posted by chiodos (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whats next? KKK rallies?
Posted by sc1sc2sc3 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
KKK, swastikas - nearly extinct? Are you kidding?! Do you not see all the reports on major/cable networks. Unfortunately there are so many that think this way. They are NOT just a few. And, they bring up their children to be just like themselves, recruit troubled teens and young adults, and so on. This scares me much more than having a Mexican for a neighbor.
Posted by GWAnderson (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, the anti nazi protesters know that the Austin Police support the nazi with unheard of protection.
"Roughly a dozen law enforcement officers were located just behind where Johnson was standing."
The Austin Keystone Kops were ready to arrest anyone who heckled or disagreed with the nazi.
It is time for the nazi to pay the police for the protection and have the proper insurance to spead their filth.
Gordon W. Anderson
Posted by covalentblue (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The KKK still marches every year in Oklahoma City. It's not as far away from home as one may think, Austin just found out. It's not only whites! It's really to bad they are ignorant enough to align themselves with Adolph Hitler when speaking of Illegal Immigration. It truly tarnishes the real issue and does absolutely nothing to resolve it. Anyone can hold a rally, a bit of intelligence with a good message is an essential ingredient Johnson's rally's obviously lack. As far as the memorial is concerned, keep them away from it as they are disgracing our forefathers. If it draws national attention, that Austin Mn will not allow swastikas to be worn around the veterans memorial, that is the best thing that could happen to us! :)
Like Aletheia said, he would be screaming into the wind if nobody came! Ignore him until he figures out he has no audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN5StQAr7...
Posted by Aletheia_Kratos (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GW Anderson - the reporting of the last rally does not support your conspiracy theory. The arrests were of people who refused to follow simple requests by law enforcement that they keep their distance. If they had not refused, had not had physical contact with officers, had behaved in a civilized manner, they would not have been arrested.
If the "neo Nazis" (I guess that makes them either better or worse than calling them what they prefer "Nazis") had behaved in a similarly aggressive manner, they would have been arrested.
The cops were there on both occasions to make sure there was not violence. If both sides kept their distance, then both sides could say whatever they chose to say.
Do not come here to pretend that the cops went to either rally to pick a fight with either side, or to defend and protect either side more than the other.
It is sad to think that Neo Nazis had more civility than those here to protest them. The only bright side is that the offending parties were all from out of town. Our anti-Nazi protesters know that behaving like a Nazi does not help tramp down on Nazi thinking.
Posted by johnypopper1 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Really GW, I'm pretty sure the Austin Police are not supporters of the neo nazis. Give me a break. They had to be there just as any police department have to be there for the KKK marches and any other march/rally that may have opposition present. Don't put the Austin police in the same category as the nazis, that is plain ignorance. The Austin Police Officers do a good job here, despite contrary belief.
And as far as the nazis pay the police for protection? On one hand you say the cops are supporters, but then you must think its ok as long as they pay? Does not make sense.
Posted by GWAnderson (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 12:39 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by Grumpus (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Treblinka. Buchenwald. Auschwitz. The names of those places still terrify those that survived them.
Who in their right mind would embrace that horror?
Samuel Johnson has the right to spew his hate. And We have the right to call him out on it.
Maybe someone should organize an anti-nazi rally.
Posted by leftthehatebehind (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Giving this guy the media coverage is like giving this guy the attention he craves... It would be nice if he no longer got media coverage and no one went to his rallies. He probably would not go away, but it would not give the attention he obviously craves.
Posted by nomoredrama (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would realy like to know the mind set of this man and like to know exactly why he holds these rallys at the veteran's memorial and talking about Hitler? My Grandfather would be rolling over in his grave to know this kind of stuff is going on.
Posted by gone4good (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by chiodos (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What does Keystone Kop mean?
Posted by people (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know alot of people don't like the National Socialists of Austin but I have to say I was one of the people who were standing out side of mickeys and heard what mr. Johnson was saying. He was right on par with his message. It tugged at my heart to hear a man speak with such conviction and love for his country. He stated I quote " we are hate mongers yes but we do not hate people because of the color of their skin that would be redicules to hate someone for something they can't help. We hate traders to the United States of America the greatest country on earth." end quote. So I think alot of people get the wrong perception of Johnson and his cronies. I am not for nazism or anything of the sort but I think if people heard him speak they would have to agree with some of his beliefs. I think it's great that someone is finally standing up for Americans. I don't think many people have the balls to do what this guy is doing. It would be better if someone else was trying to address the problems our country is facing, but who? Where are the people who agree with some of his points why aren't they out there making their voices heard? I think it is silly for people to complain on line and talk smack about someone. If you agree with some of the things he's fighting for get out there and make your voice heard, don't sit here and complain about who's doing it. just a thought.
Posted by mahimahi (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 2:18 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by mahimahi (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the ppl that work at qpp and hormel prob make more money than this worthless piece of skin "johnson" ever will. he is tryin to make the white man proud of his color and he is just making a disgrace of himself. . . like i said he is a looser. . . i would really like to know where he lives so i can tell all the MEXICAN AMERICANS that i work with, to go there and give him a piece of mind, among other things.....
Posted by people (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mah you are brainless
Posted by sc1sc2sc3 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems pretty clear. Bottom line: Johnson and his crew wear swastikas, and they support the nazi / white supremist movement. If you support Johnson, you support the same crap he does. He looks up to Hitler. As if people with white skin are superior?! I have white skin, born/raised in Austin and thank God, I wasn't raised with those values!Any way you look at it, all he stands for = disgrace.
Posted by leftthehatebehind (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People... you say it is "silly for people to complain on line and talk smack about someone" and in the next post you call mahimahi "brainless"....
Humm....
Posted by jiggy (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess I don't understand why some people think that Johnson has love for this country? Having rallies at the Memorial where loved ones fought and died for this country. It's disrespectful and it's wrong! I would suggest to "people" to get on the NSM websites and check it out before you let these kind of people "tug at your heart".
Posted by burnittotheground (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
White trash on welfare, this is where OUR hard earned tax money goes. Our Country might have money to protect the borders if it wasn't for people like this.
Posted by bkaejo (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 4:51 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by GWAnderson (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
16 policers officers behind the Nazis; four firemen with fire hoses, plus the Mayor, Chief of Police, Fire Chief on the roof of the Law Enforcement Center. Who are they afaird of? It can't be three Nazis, it must be the citzens who protest the Nazis and their message of death.
Gordon W. Anderson
Posted by genevieve470 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have always held the personal theory that Nazis are merely incompetent, insecure people who are over-compensating accordingly. (Just in case the pieces of human filth are reading the comments.)
Posted by leftys2221 (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GW, why do they need to be afraid of anything? Ensuring that nothing happens is why they are there. I would like to see none of them go there and cover it and no one show up because then maybe they will stop it.
Posted by covalentblue (anonymous) on November 14, 2009 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Say it with class!
www.hatecards.net!
www.madcowcards.com
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