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PrintThe Neo-Nazis found somewhere else to march on Nov. 8.
The Jefferson City Police Department on Tuesday approved the National Socialist Movement's parade permit and rally requests for that day.
The permit is for a route leading from the governor's mansion to the state capitol.
Steven Boswell, head of the Missouri Chapter of the NSM, said the parade will last about a half-hour and will be followed by a rally in front of the capitol building. Boswell said it is difficult to pinpoint the exact number of participants, but he said 50 to 150 NSM members from around the country would march in the parade.
The NSM originally filed for parade permits in Columbia for Nov. 8. The Columbia Police Department denied the permit because the Kansas State football game and the parade would put too much strain on local police forces.
When the NSM filed for the permit in Columbia, the organization was not aware that there would be a conflict with the football game, Boswell said.
Boswell said the movement changed locations because Nov. 8 is close to an important date in NSM history. Each year the NSM marches on or near the anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch, which occurred in Munich on Nov. 9, 1923, he said.
Roger Schroeder of the Jefferson City Police Department confirmed that the permit had been approved. Jefferson City police officials are gathering data and compiling resources to prepare the best course of action, Schroeder said.
"We're in the midst of preparing a plan," Schroeder said.
Schroeder said the Columbia Police Department has been very helpful with the preparation process. Area agencies will be used to help keep both participants and observers safe during the parade and the rally, Schroeder said.
The NSM held a parade and rally in Columbia on March 9, 2007, which attracted around 500 spectators and counter-protesters. Around 20 NSM members participated in the march. The parade and rally were relatively peaceful; there were no serious injuries, and the only reported vandalism act to a law enforcement vehicle involved a magic marker. Seven counter-protesters were arrested.
On the same day in Douglass Park, around 300 residents attended "Spark in the Park," an event which the city organized to celebrate diversity and tolerance.
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Comments
It's good to see the National Socialist Movement and the police working together for First Amendment rights and the NSM being able to protest the problem of illegal immigration.
Has Rabbi Feintuch accepted the challenge from the NSM for a public debate?
Granting a permit to parade, around the state's capitol building, does not endorce the beliefs or actions of any hate-group. It's just a piece of paper.
NSM is snubbed by all legitimate religous leaders. I suspect that Columbia's Rabbi, and all Columbia religous leaders, will silently convey for this Nazi group to go jump in the river and get cleaned up.
A public debate with any extremist hate group would only play into their obvious agenda. (To "incite" as many people as possible and get free advertisement/publicity.)
Any "movement" that can only muster about 20 members to march, in an imaginary 150 member march, must be full of themselves.
I have a "movement" at least once a day. Like the NSM, it's flushed down the toilet!