Monday, December 05, 2005
Nazis Return on Saturday
TOLEDO -- In [5] days, the same Nazi group that caused turmoil in Toledo last month will return. This time, members of the National Socialist Movement will rally in front of Government Center.
Several law enforcement agencies are working together, holding meetings to prepare for any possible scenario during the Nazi demonstration. Since Government Center is a state-owned building, it was the state, not the city, that sent a letter granting the group's request to rally.
The letter to the Nazi group reads, "The Ohio Building Authority has agreed to grant your request for members of the National Socialist Movement to hold a rally in front of the DiSalle Government Center on Saturday, December 10, 2005 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m."
A very large police presence is expected outside of Government Center, but Lt. Dean Laubacher from the Ohio Highway Patrol will not talk specific numbers.
"We don't want to jeopardize ourselves or anybody else's lives. The Highway Patrol is prepared to protect One Government Plaza. That is our job and that is our responsibility and that's what we're going to do," says Lt. Laubacher.
In October, the Nazi's planned march through North Toledo never got started before a riot erupted. Bottles and rocks were hurled at officers, stores were looted and a bar was burned down.
The Ohio Highway Patrol is not expecting the same problems for the downtown rally.
"I think the public is well aware of what happened last time. They don't want to see a repeat of it and I expect a very light turnout in regards to the public. I don't think that the public wants to give them an audience," says Lt. Laubacher.
In a statement to News 11, Mayor Jack Ford said, "The city has conferred with the state of Ohio concerning various confidential strategies for the management of the event."
It would be up to the state to file any court action against the Nazi group, but "It has chosen not to implement that strategy because the National Socialist Movement has agreed to reasonable time, place and manner limitations for this event."
The city's statement also urges citizens to stay away from the December 10th rally.
We wanted to talk with Police Chief Mike Navarre about the city's plans for the rally, but he declined to talk on camera.
From here.
Several law enforcement agencies are working together, holding meetings to prepare for any possible scenario during the Nazi demonstration. Since Government Center is a state-owned building, it was the state, not the city, that sent a letter granting the group's request to rally.
The letter to the Nazi group reads, "The Ohio Building Authority has agreed to grant your request for members of the National Socialist Movement to hold a rally in front of the DiSalle Government Center on Saturday, December 10, 2005 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m."
A very large police presence is expected outside of Government Center, but Lt. Dean Laubacher from the Ohio Highway Patrol will not talk specific numbers.
"We don't want to jeopardize ourselves or anybody else's lives. The Highway Patrol is prepared to protect One Government Plaza. That is our job and that is our responsibility and that's what we're going to do," says Lt. Laubacher.
In October, the Nazi's planned march through North Toledo never got started before a riot erupted. Bottles and rocks were hurled at officers, stores were looted and a bar was burned down.
The Ohio Highway Patrol is not expecting the same problems for the downtown rally.
"I think the public is well aware of what happened last time. They don't want to see a repeat of it and I expect a very light turnout in regards to the public. I don't think that the public wants to give them an audience," says Lt. Laubacher.
In a statement to News 11, Mayor Jack Ford said, "The city has conferred with the state of Ohio concerning various confidential strategies for the management of the event."
It would be up to the state to file any court action against the Nazi group, but "It has chosen not to implement that strategy because the National Socialist Movement has agreed to reasonable time, place and manner limitations for this event."
The city's statement also urges citizens to stay away from the December 10th rally.
We wanted to talk with Police Chief Mike Navarre about the city's plans for the rally, but he declined to talk on camera.
From here.
