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Austin anti-immigration rally flops

11/8/2009 2:05:02 PM

Comments (34)

By Jim Troyer
Post-Bulletin, Austin MN

On guard for a possible clash with counter-protesters against a neo-Nazi group in Austin, police and firefighters outnumbered those who attended Saturday's downtown rally.

A gallery of photos from the event

Two members of the National Socialist Movement Southern Minnesota branch held a banner near the George Washington statue on Main Street while Austin member Samuel Johnson delivered an hour-long speech on the dangers of illegal immigration.

His audience consisted of two people who sat quietly across the street and did not want to be named.

Others who heard the talk included 13 uniformed police officers, including chief Paul Philipp, Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi and four firefighters, including chief Dan Wilson. The firefighters manned a large fire hose.

Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm, who observed the event from the courthouse roof with a few other officials, was happy with the result.

"I think it is great," he said. "Nobody showed up. It couldn't be better."

The city could enact an ordinance regulating rallies, but such laws are not practical outside of big cities, Stiehm said.

"The biggest problem for the city now is paying for the overtime for the officers," he said.

Stiehm noted that the neo-Nazi group had readily agreed to move down the street from Veterans Memorial area -- where past protests had occurred -- following complaints from some residents about use of that area by the group.

Arrests of three counter-protesters last month during a clash between the neo-Nazi group and human rights advocates prompted a strong police presence on Saturday. Court hearings are pending on those arrested last month. Counter-protester groups have spotlighted the Nazi group's activities and brought protesters to past rallies, easily outnumbering the neo-Nazi group.

Johnson was undeterred by the lack of an audience and offered his opinions on illegal immigration via a bullhorn.

"The stream of immigrants coming over our borders is a scourge that grows and grows," he said through a bullhorn. "This invasion of the United States has no precedence in history. We are being destroyed as a nation."

Johnson blames "political correctness for paralyzing the government."

"The answer is simply to build a great wall along the border and bring our troops home to defend the country," he said.

The event ended without confrontation. Johnson pointed to two new recruits on his side of the police barricade and smiled.

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There are 34 comments - Display All Comments

MAHANGTTA
Everywhere, MN

Posted on 11/8/2009 at 2:30:45 PM

Well I did not hear about it, May have supported, But the prejudice cast on those attending may have had an affect as well… Sure sounds like the POLICE were out wasting money (padding there checks with OT) and no doubt taking photos and video to intimidate

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Austin anti-immigration rally flops

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