Nazi rally sparks huge protest (Madison WI)

[undeterred]

A crowd of counter-demonstrators estimated at 800 drowned out two hours of speeches by a neo-Nazi group on the stairs of the State Capitol today, but remained peaceful. A corps of 300 officers from Capitol, Madison and University police and the State Patrol made only five arrests, Capitol Police Chief David Heinle said in a news conference after the rally.

"We consider this day a success," Heinle said, noting that the rally by the National Socialist Movement was kept within its planned 2-4 p.m. time slot. Four arrests were for disorderly conduct, and one for resisting arrest, Heinle said. No injuries were reported. Heinle ordered the Capitol Building closed at 3 p.m., he said, because of concerns over rowdy behavior by Anti-Racist Action.
Sixty-four members of the neo-Nazi group stood at the top of the Capitol steps at State Street, separated from counterdemonstrators by a ring of mounted police and state troopers in riot gear and a double row of fencing. The white supremacists' mostly inaudible speeches were punctuated by calls of "Sieg Heil" and the Hitler salute, raising a chorus of "Boos" and raised middle fingers from the crowd below.

"Madison has gone on record today, these people are not welcome here," said Chris Dols, an organizer with No Nazis in Madison. Counterdemonstrators began with chants denouncing racism, but their shouts degenerated into vulgar taunts. "It's understandable," said Ryan Spangler, an organizer with ACORN. "Their message is ugly and people are angry." Anti-Racist Action, faces covered with bandanas and waving black flags, marched back and forth through the counterdemonstrators to a drum beat, sometimes breaking out in a run.

A group of nine men dressed in pink bunny suits paraded through the demonstration, drawing a flurry of attention from cell-phone camera and camcorder wielding demonstrators. "When else can you come down to the Square in bunny suits and not be the most ridiculous people there?" asked bunny-clad Mike Quieto of Madison.



http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=96468&ntpid=0

[Warpy]

1. Oooh, I like Mike

His attitude is great and media will pick that one up.
The only responses to Nazis are laughter and the call "SHAME!"

[undeterred]

2. Yeah, I wasn't there but the picture I am dying to see is the pink bunny

suit guys- wonder if its anyone I know! Perfect response!

[tanyev]

3. I wondered what happened to Arte Johnson.

Verrrry interesting.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. Wow. I haven't used the "hold your nose and point" thing since I was 6

:rofl:

[intaglio]

5. The Guy in the photo

Looks a lot like the Nazi in "The Blue Brothers"

[undeterred]

6. maybe they hired some actors?