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Chief stands by department's actions
Mace was used, three were arrested at an illegal immigration rally Saturday in Austin
Published Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Photo by Eric Johnson
A protester from Minneapolis who gave her name only as Sally chants in front of the Veterans Memorial Saturday afternoon during a rally against Communism and illegal immigration held by Samuel Johnson.
The Austin police chief said Monday that his officers acted appropriately Saturday when using a chemical spray and making three arrests at a downtown protest.
Austin resident and member of the National Socialist Movement Samuel Johnson organized the illegal immigration protest at the Veterans Memorial in front of the courthouse, but things escalated when a large group of counter protesters — including many from an anti-racism coalition arrived.
Members of the Anti-Racist Action Network, a Minneapolis-based group that describes itself as a coalition of militant anti-fascists opposed to all forms of hate, gathered, while some in the crowd threw tomatoes, cups of Jell-O and other objects at Johnson and three supporters, according to a police report.
The group of 25 to 30 also pushed its way toward Johnson, at one point stepping on and breaking a speaker.
As the event became more heated, an Austin police officer used the chemical spray to disperse the crowd and help another officer with arrests.
Three people — a 21-year-old male from Memphis, a 20-year-old male from Austin and a 21-year-old female from Minneapolis — were arrested and cited.
Police chief Paul Philipp said his officers did the right thing.
“Our mission is to use the least amount of force necessary without people getting hurt significantly,” he said.
Philipp said he was not aware of any injuries stemming from the rally.
According to the report, one man told officers he was suffering a reaction to the chemical spray but he declined medical attention.
Philipp also said there was no damage done to any public property.
Permit necessary?
Currently, the city does not require people to receive permits for public gatherings, but Philipp said that issue is likely to soon be addressed.
The chief said with a permit requirement in place, his department would be able to better prepare for an event like Saturday’s.
“Certainly, it took a fair amount of manpower,” he added.
Philipp said the city would likely look at other communities that have such permit requirements in place before potentially adopting an ordinance locally.
The city does require people to apply for permits before marches, parades and other uses of public streets.
Johnson says crowd control an issue
The event organizer said he didn’t mind the opposition to his rally, and he thinks arrests were handled well, but he does wish crowd control was handled better.
“I wish police would’ve kept them back more,” Johnson said of the counter protesters that pushed in on him.
Johnson said the Anti-Racist Action Network is known for violence, something he and his supporters don’t condone, he added.
“They say they’re for First Amendment rights, but they’re not,” Johnson said. “They talk about using violence.”
A representative of the ARA Network could not be reached for comment, but their Web site states that the group does not advocate violence as a solution to hate.
Despite the controversy and opposition Johnson has been generating locally — similar rallies he has held in recent months have also spurred counter protests, though without arrests — the NSM member said he will continue holding public events.
“Absolutely we will,” Johnson said. “Illegal immigration is a huge problem in Austin.”
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Comments
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Absolutely incredible!! Of course phillips would love a police state that's probably why nothing was done to the NSM jerk that shoved a camera into a videographer's face. And then ADH, let's not ever mention the Minnesota Peace Camp that came down to be a neutral party and help to keep tempers calm! And then ADH, let's only interview the police and NSM - there were plenty of Austin citizens that were there and saw what happened and no one has asked them anything, including me!!! Way to cover an objective story ADH -- NOT!!!!!! But that's right, I forgot, you don't have professional journalists, you'll hire anyone. Maybe that's why the coverage is minimal and usually wrong!!
Posted by cooper (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
formeraustinian well said what about the other side of the story?
Posted by ChadB (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So in the future, a gathering of 25 to 30 people might require a permit? That's unreasonable. If that comes before the city council I hope that people voice their opposition.
Posted by Rhino (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
where is Paul Harvey when you need him to give "the rest of the story".
Posted by swamprat52 (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhino, Paul Harvey can be reach at Forest Home Cemetery, 863 Des Plaines Ave, Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois USA
Posted by ALYLESTUD (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Formeraustinian,
Are you the guy with the blonde dread hair that hasnt been washed in months?
Posted by gohan1231234 (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The officers made it clear which side they supported by arresting anti-racist protesters, and allowing the Neo-Nazi to destroy the property of one of the videographers.
There is a difference between hate speech and free speech. If you are spewing Hitler worshiping rhetoric, you can damn well expect to be confronted on it. If they had their way they would be committing genocide on anyone who isn't white. Is that a position we want advocated at a WWII memorial in the middle of town?
Hate speech leads to hate crimes, ever heard of the holocaust?
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey NOT a lylestud - You guessed it!!
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh I forgot NOT a lylestud - You got the wrong sex!!
Posted by ALYLESTUD (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Formeraustinian,
Rats!!!! just checkin :-)
Posted by edhaskell (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
25 to 30 people had to come from Minneapolis to stand up to this guy?? I find it unbelievable (and frankly, a little pathetic) that the entire population of Austin isn't in this guy's face every time he tries to spew his garbage onto the streets of your town. He's a NAZI, for crying out loud. See that patch on his jacket? It's a SWASTIKA! What are you people thinking?
Posted by DaveB (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would a rally such as this be held in front of the Veterans Memorial? How about outside of QP?
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey David B - I can answer that - according to Mr Johnson - the Nazi - it's the only place the glorious Mayor of Austin would let them demonstrate, isn't that a kick in the teeth (if it's true??).
Posted by justsayin2 (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First off edhadkell.........the protests from Mr. Johnson HAVE BEEN peaceful that is until last Saturday! Why is that? Could it be because of the protestors from the cities got out of hand?! Now since the protest got out of hand WE(that is the "pathetic" people of Austin) my need a permit to gather. That sounds like a real big accomplishment from the rally! Now to answer your question to why people from Minneapolis had to come down is because that's what Mr. Johnson(the scumbag Nazi)wants. He wants attention. He wants to spread the Nazi ways and what a better opportunity than what happened on Saturday. So I a "pathetic" citizen of Austin chose not fuel his anger.
Posted by leftys2221 (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you ignore him and no one goes, he will quit.
Posted by edhaskell (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
justsaying, I would invite you to go back into the ADH's archives and look at the pictures accompanying the story about his July 11th rally. It was NOT peaceful. (I especially like the one of the NSM member giving the Nazi salute.) Go ahead and ignore it if you wish (which really would be pathetic), but it WILL NOT go away.
Posted by Doufish2 (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, so I have left this alone all day, just can't anymore.
All these idiots spewing their Nazi crap are looking for is attention. They are missing the point of why they should be protesting. I am not sure who it was, but the comment was made that they should be protesting at QPP. Of course the good mayor of Hooterville is not going to let them protest at QPP. Why upset a big employer and possibly have to do something about who may be illegal on their payroll.
If you ignore them, they will not go away. Look at the illegal immigrants, we have ignored it and they will not go away.
If Johnson and his thugs pushed a camera or videographer, they are just as guilty and should be arrested.
Posted by Grumpus (anonymous) on October 21, 2009 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Either the cops admire the Nazis, or they're scared of them, methinks.
Posted by aryan66 (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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