Rallies planned to offset neo-Nazis’
BY DIANE HUBER
THE OLYMPIAN
April 01, 2006


OLYMPIA — South Sound activist groups have planned two 
counterprotests to a possible neo-Nazi rally Sunday in 
Sylvester Park.

The Washington chapter of the National Socialist Movement 
plans a noon rally to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday, 
said chapter President Justin Boyer.

“Our goal is to show our presence,” he said.

They also want to protest the fact that Israeli soldiers 
were not held accountable for the death of Rachel Corrie, 
a local woman who died protecting Palestinian homes in the 
Gaza Strip, he said.

The white supremacist group advertised the rally on its 
Web site up until Thursday, calling it “Goyim Unite,” 
then said the rally was being postponed until Hitler’s 
birthday on April 20.

The cancellation notice was a hoax to throw off 
counterdemonstrators, Boyer said.

No one, however, has reserved a permit to rally at 
Sylvester Park on Sunday, said a spokesman for the 
state Department of General Admissions, which manages 
the Sylvester Park.

Local groups decided to go ahead with plans for two counterprotests:

• A rally called “Not in our town, Not in Rachel’s name” 
will be at noon Sunday in Heritage Park. It is planned as 
a diversity celebration for those who wish to indirectly 
protest the neo-Nazis. The rally will include speakers and 
music.

• Those who want to protest directly will meet at 11 a.m. 
at Sylvester Park. The group plans to have scouts in case 
the neo-¬Nazis don’t show up at the park.

“If they don’t show up, that will be a victory, and if they 
do show up we’ll protest peacefully against them and let 
them know they’re not welcome in our town,” said Larry 
Mosqueda, a member of Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace.

Unity of the Community members titled the rally “Not in 
Rachel’s name” in protest of a link on the neo-Nazis Web 
site to Corrie, who died in 2003.

A local activist sent an e-mail to the group asking them 
not to use Rachel Corrie’s name, said Simona Sharoni, a 
member of Unity of the Community.

An Olympian reporter was asked to leave a Friday meeting 
held to plan the response to the neo-Nazi rally.

This will be the second time the neo-Nazi group rallies 
in Olympia. Eight members rallied on the corner of Bethel 
Street and Fourth Avenue in January, which drew 200 
counterprotesters.

Boyer said at that rally that his group is nonviolent and 
hopes to use media attention to attract more followers.

Boyer was uncertain how many would attend Sunday’s rally, 
but said membership in the area is growing. He said the 
group also plans to distribute fliers in local neighborhoods.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has estimated the group 
has 200 to 300 members nationally and 10 or 12 in the 
Washington chapter.

In the past few months the group has rallied in Seattle, 
Des Moines and Everett, with more planned this spring and 
summer. The group has received a permit to rally at the 
Capitol on July 3, and advertises on its Web site a 
“white genocide” rally and campout with hotel and camping 
information.

Local activists are also brainstorming their response to 
that event.

Olympian reporter Scott Gutierrez contributed to this report. 
Diane Huber covers the city of Lacey and its urban growth 
area for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-357-0204 or 
dhuber@theolympian.com.

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