Diversity activists show united front Neo-Nazis plan demonstration today By Venice Buhain The Olympian 03 July 06 http://159.54.227.3/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060703/NEWS/607030330 OLYMPIA - Sylvester Park was filled with music, dancing and speeches praising Thurston County's diversity Sunday for the first of what organizers hope will be an annual Unity in the Community celebration. Unity in the Community, which organized Sunday's event, is a coalition of local human rights and diversity groups that formed in response to a rally planned today by the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi group. "It seemed like a wonderful response to tomorrow's rally, instead of meeting the hatred of the rally with more hatred," said Kirstin Batchelor, associate pastor of United Churches of Olympia. People wandered in and out of the seven-hour event, which featured speeches in support of diversity by religious leaders and politicians, and a steady crowd of about 100 people were seated on the lawn throughout the day. "This was a crowd that we were hoping for - a crowd that reflects the diversity that we believe that America supports," event organizer Anna Schlecht said. The length of the event accommodated all of the groups who wanted to speak or perform, Schlecht said. The mayors of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater were among those who addressed the crowd. Marc Brenman, executive director of the Washington State Human Rights Commission, read a proclamation signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire that proclaimed July 3 as "Unity Day" in Washington state, recognizing the importance of diversity to the culture and economic health of the state. It's also the date set by the National Socialist Movement for its rally on the steps of the Capitol. Sister Monica Ellis of St. Placid's Priory in Lacey said there are many ways to respond to the neo-Nazi message, but the celebration reflects how the community feels about diversity. "I am concerned that we are a community that appreciates and cherishes diversity in our community," she said. "I also hope that the neo-Nazis not feel any hatred from us. It's a celebration of how positive our diversity is. And this is fun." *Response rally* Unity in the Community organized the Sunday event and other pro-diversity events in response to visits by members of the National Socialist Movement, a white supremacist group that believes multi-culturalism is destroying the Caucasian race and advocates for segregation of the races at the national level. Members of the National Socialist Movement, which has headquarters in Minnesota, have made three public appearances in Olympia, most recently at the Olympia Downtown Neighborhood Association Street Fair, dressed in the brown shirts and swastika armbands made famous by the National Socialist German Workers's party that rose to power in Germany under Adolf Hitler. Under Nazi rule, millions of Jews and other minorities died in concentration camps in Europe. Maria Pena and her husband, Daniel Sickles, both of Olympia, said they recently moved from a very diverse area of Texas and already had gotten used to less diversity when they heard about the National Socialist Movement rallies. "To hear that there are neo-Nazis in this area, it's distressing," Pena said. Sickles, an Army soldier who returned from Iraq in October, said people supporting Nazi ideas goes against what the United States sought to defeat in World War II. "It's bothering me as a soldier, because it's something that Americans fought 60 years ago," Sickles said. *Foes attended* Several people at the celebration said "plainclothes" members of the National Socialist Movement were in attendance, and John Brandt, the Snohomish County unit leader of the National Socialist Movement, confirmed it Sunday. "We wanted to know the general temperament of the crowd," he said. "We want to tailor our message to their temperament and their concerns." Joelle Brouner, an activist for people with disabilities, said she was heartened to see so many people supporting diversity. "It means a lot to me that you've shown up," she told the crowd. "I think the major point is that every day, there are opportunities to make history. People can make a difference." Dennis Mansker of Olympia said that while he supports the National Socialist Movement's right to free speech, the people of Olympia also have a right to express their disagreement. "Too many people have a sense of apathy," said his wife, Susan Morris. "I would love for the rally to be ignored by everyone, but you don't know what kind of message that sends." "Silence equals consent," Mansker said. Daniel Roselle, 86, who was part of the 30th Infantry Division in World War II, remembered witnessing the remains of the Buchenwald concentration camp shortly after it was liberated by U.S. troops. "I could see the places where they had suffered," he said. "Anything I can do, I want to stop it from happening." Roselle said he's glad the community has an outlet for expressing disagreement with white supremacy. "The value of this session here is that it stresses peace and diversity," he said. "We are not stressing violence and hate." "I have great faith in the younger generation," Roselle said. "There are thousands and millions of young people who have good values and who would prevent this terrible Holocaust from happening again." /Venice Buhain writes for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com./