Latest rally attracts little opposition

Published 7:09 am Monday, November 9, 2009

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.

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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.