Police, counter-demonstrators outnumber participants at Olympia neo-Nazi
rally
BY VENICE BUHAIN
THE OLYMPIAN
January 22, 2006

OLYMPIA ? Scores of counter-demonstrators ? and a dozen or so police
officers ? easily outnumbered eight neo-Nazis who rallied in a parking
lot at Fourth Avenue and Bethel Street this afternoon.

The rally, which was across the street from The Olympian building,
originally had been scheduled as a march from Martin Way and Fourth
Avenue to Sylvester Park downtown.

Justin Boyer, Seattle unit leader of the neo-Nazi group National
Socialist Movement said he was happy with the group?s turnout after two
weeks of organizing.

Boyer said today's National Socialist Movement demonstration was a
prelude to a larger march on the Capitol Building planned for July.

But if Boyer was happy, anti-neo-Nazi organizers were delighted with
their turnout, which brought about 150 to 200 protesters to the
intersection of Fourth Avenue and Martin Way, where the rally was
scheduled to start. One man said he gave away 150 anti-neo-Nazi signs at
Sylvester Park.

Word about the rally spread quickly throughout local progressive groups
Saturday.

?I think for one night of organizing, this turnout is ... awesome,?
Marisa Kaneshiro said.

Though participants from both sides chanted slogans at each other and
occasionally traded insults, there was little direct physical
confrontation between the sides. One protester threw glitter at the
neo-Nazis, and a few spat at the police cars that escorted some of the
Nazi demonstrators out of the area.

City police had extra officers on duty but did not disclose exact
numbers, said Patrol Sgt. Paul Johnson. Troopers from the Washington
State Patrol assisted the city police, he said.

/Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at
360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com./

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