ACLU defending Nazis again
Posted on April 14, 2007
Shortly after I graduated High School in 1977, the ACLU defended the American Nazi Party here in Skokie when they wanted to march there. I felt that was an rude and audacious move, since so many holocaust survivors and their families live in Skokie; I’ve met some of them, and seen their tattoos from the concentration camps of Auschwitz, Bergen Belzen, and others.
The Captain has a post referring to that old debacle, plus a more recent one here:
The ACLU lost a number of members in 1977 when they defended the American Nazi Party when they wanted to stage a demonstration in the town of Skokie, Illinois — a city where a number of Holocaust victims and their families had settled. Over 30,000 ACLU members staged a demonstration of their own when they marched out of the organization, even after the ACLU won the case, and even though the Nazis never did march in Skokie.
It was disgusting! I was watching the news coverage over that then. The idea of these people marching through the streets of holocaust victims and their families was infuriating. The fact that the ACLU propped their right to do it, completely ignorant of the shattered lives and feelings of these people went beyond bad taste and crossed the line.
Thirty years later, the ACLU proves that they have not learned their lesson. The Ohio chapter has agreed to represent the American Nazi Party again in a conflict over a demonstration permit, this time in a predominantly black neighborhood in Cincinnati. Holly at The Moderate Voice shares the e-mail:
On April 20, 2007, the American National Socialist Workers Party of Roanoke, VA—a neo-Nazi group—plans to march through the predominantly African-American neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati. The city initially issued a permit to the group for its march, but the permit was soon revoked and prohibitions were added by city officials limiting the group’s demonstration to a three-block area. Believing their constitutional rights to free speech and free assembly have been violated, the ACLU of Ohio will be defending the demonstrators.
This looks to me like a call to Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and seems timely because of the Don Imus firing over racism. In their world, you’re a racist if you’re white! To me, you’re a racist if you’re a leftist. If these people are allowed to do this, Don Imus should be reinstated.
The ACLU condemns violent action and supports its prevention. Yet we also believe that our government must allow citizens their unhindered right to free speech. The City of Cincinnati should stand behind this basic freedom while taking steps to ensure a peaceful demonstration.
As in previous cases where the ACLU has come to the defense of people or groups with whom we disagree, our position is rooted in certain fundamental principles. While we in no way endorse the views of the American National Socialist Workers Party, we believe that the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and press would be meaningless if the government could pick and choose the persons to whom they apply.
I think the American National Socialist Workers Party is seeking our destruction, and I’m not sure that ‘allowing their freedom of speech’ is something anyone should sanction or approve.
I agree that the government should not be in the business of determining the acceptability of political speech. I would not want to have to get permission to hold a public assembly that hinges on the political content of the speech for myself, and I would want government have the same approach for others as well.
However, that isn’t what has happened in Over-The-Rhine, at least judging by the ACLU’s description. The city did revoke their permit, but then apparently issued another that gives them three blocks in which to demonstrate. That does not sound like an overwhelming burden for the Nazis to meet, and it does not keep them from conducting their protest. They’re not being stopped from demonstrating; they want to complain because of the boundaries placed on their protest, even though such permits routinely impose boundaries on demonstrations.
That’s interesting…during the DNC, there was a place for protesters to protest, but it was surrounded by a fence, outside of the view of media cameras. Although many people showed up to demonstrate, the media didn’t cover it. It will be interesting to see how much coverage the Nazis get.
The ACLU will put themselves in the position of arguing that the city of Cincinnati has no authority to determine the geographical boundaries for a protest — on behalf of a group that would, if given the chance, strip everyone of the right to demonstrate in any form at all. They do so even though they have no requirement to represent Nazis; the Nazis could hire their own lawyers to handle this case, and unfortunately they can probably afford it, too. The ACLU has determined that they can get a lot of publicity for their flacking on behalf of Nazis, and have climbed into bed with racists as a result. They’re doing nothing more than unnecessarily enabling the Nazis.
Indiana Jones once said, “I hate these guys.” In this context, it would be difficult to determine which group he would have meant.
The ACLU’s support of Islamic terrorists has become quite apparent over the past few years, why should this reminder come as a surprise to anyone? The ACLU is about destroying the spirit of the laws we have in place to convict and put away criminals to make America safe; and to prop the rights of NAMBLA, felons, drug dealers and murderers – not to mention the fascists that want to attack us of the Islamic variety.
» Filed Under 1st Amendment, ACLU, News
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7 Responses to “ACLU defending Nazis again”
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while i, in no way, support the aclu and their ridiculous politics and posturing, nor do i, in any way, supoport or agree with the nazi party, i have to disagree with the idea that because we disagree with them (the nazi party), they have no right to demonstrate or relay their opinions (however ignorant or just plain wrong). many groups seek out the most densely populated, opposing areas in which to make their point with nary a ‘boo’ from opposition. in fact, many groups who disagree(d) with the skokie march support those other groups and their right to demonstrate as they wish.
the thought that ‘you don’t jive with my politics, therefore you have no right to say anything’ is an all too common reality in our left-leaning world as the arrogant liberal machine has taken root and proven that the ‘open-minded left’ is anything but, and it saddens me to see a person/group, like you(rs), with whom i agree on so many things, would buy into this. i am someone who does not believe in ‘open’ protest myself (i feel sit-ins, marches, etc., are the lowest common denominator of dissent – juvenalia in a world where there are many more mature and intellectual routes to change). i am against them, personally, but realize we are living in an increasingly juvenile world that believes this type of action makes you a hero of some sort and, thus, have to swallow my tongue when it… daily.
however, one reality remains true – we cannot deny rights selectively. if we want to continue to possess and use the right to free speech ourselves, these other arrogant, ignorant, juvenile morons cannot be denied their right to the same. if we wish to continue to prove our intellectual superiority over the ignorant left, we need to take the high road and show them that, though they believe that limiting speech to a specific time or area (the stated dnc fencing; the three-block limitation, etc.) or any other limitation beyond the true scope of the free speech laws, we will allow them to get out there and rally (as all these left-wing groups do everyday). let’s be honest, their ignorant ideas will do far more damage to them than good, so why not let them get out there and let those same ideas create the noose that will hang them?
Actually, ACLU is very selective. They didn’t defend Jewish Defense League or Kahane Chai which was banned in the US and even its website assigned Foreign Terrorist Organization status after Kach called for peaceful transfer of Arabs from Israel. I contacted ACLU out of curiosity when Google banned advertising of http://www.samsonblinded.org but ACLU did not want to take our case. Not surprisingly. And don’t forget that ACLU defended yahoo’s right to stage auctions for Nazi memorabilia, for which yahoo was sanctioned in France.
“The City of Cincinnati should stand behind this basic freedom while taking steps to ensure a peaceful demonstration.”
I agree with “The City of Cincinnati should stand behind this basic freedom”.
I disagree with “while taking steps to ensure a peaceful demonstration”.
IMO the responsibility of protecting demonstrators falls to the permit holders. The city of Cincinnati is only responsible for the protection of property and innocent bystanders.
Free speech is a two edged blade. Whatever you speak, it will always invite the ire of those that disagree.
Your thoughts?
wasn’t there a similar march in Cleveland last year… and i believe that while the Nazis were indeed shouting and carrying on like the idiots they are, it was the black community and members of the neighborhoods that threw bricks at ambulances and burned black owned businesses. if i recall correctly, not a single one of the marchers became violent or were charged with a crime….
The only way that the ACLU can be stopped is to fight them in the courts. I am a member of the ACLU and have been for many years and there are many thousands of members just like myself. A judge and/or a jury decide the outcome of the ACLU law suits. The ACLU have the laws of the land on their side. The only thing that the Neocons have on their side is their bodies draped in the American flag.
That is why you people need mental help. There is nothing that excuses nastiness, even mental illness.
Luckily, there are a majority of people who don’t feel that same way…
And you’re wrong. There are living breathing people who know what you’re up to, recognize the threat, and will fight you in every way possible to raise awareness as to your sick agenda.
Perhaps someday, people would realize that ignoring the nazi party is the worst thing you can do to them. They NEED the attention this will give them. If they want to goose-step up and down the street and nobody bothers to watch them, sooner or later they will get frustrated and go home.
The problem is, that too many people will get angry with this, and something will happen that makes the locals look bad, and that’s just what the nazis want. Time to realize that they are learning how to use the system instead of fight it, which will make them dangerous.