Nazi march shut down

CLAREMONT, Calif.--Anti-racists turned out to block neo-Nazi members of the National Socialist Movement (NSM) from marching here on March 19.

A mixed crowd of approximately 300 people arrived in the morning at Memorial Park to block the Nazis' access to streets and sidewalks. Organizers from local peace and justice groups, together with other community activists, began the day's activities with a prayer circle.

The organizers' original intent was to establish a sizable crowd for a non-confrontational peace rally that would ignore the neo-Nazis as they marched by--the goal being to provide no fuel to racist provocations. The racists' numbers quickly dwindled as young people moved to the intersection of Indian Hill Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard, occupying all four corners.

Police in riot gear were already in place for crowd control and to direct traffic congestion. Their presence was considerable, but they seemed deferential to the anti-racist protesters, who easily made their way back and forth between corners.

Amid lively chants of "Nazis go home!" and "Whose streets? Our streets," the small group of 12 neo-Nazis found themselves surrounded by protesters. Without permits to march on the streets of Claremont, they were forced to leave after an hour under police escort, taunting the crowd. Activists advanced and retook the corner to punctuate the day's activities.

Victor Fernandez, a member of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) in Los Angeles, addressed the crowd as it dispersed, making an impassioned call for activism in the Claremont community. He urged the crowd to remain vigilant concerning hate groups such as the NSM and to join groups like the ISO that not only stand up against such racism, but also engage in the broader struggle for justice.