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City Shuts Down Wilson Park on Neo-Nazi Protesters

As mentioned in a Toledo Talk post last week, local residents planned to hold a public meeting calling into question the $700,000 already spent by the city to protect neo-Nazi groups.

The Mayor, in response, decided to close the park in an effort to protect "public safety."

Hmmmm....

More on my blog about the Mayor's decision to close Wilson Park in response to neo-Nazi protesters.

I am curious as to the views of ToledoTalkers on what I believe to be an infringement on our cherished freedoms of speech and assembly.

created by historymike on Aug 13, 2007 at 08:51:57 am     Comments: 13

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Comments ... #

HM:

If the 'memo' you refer to on your website is accurate, I would suggest contacting someone like the ACLU - it sounds to me like that was a First Amendment violation. As I understand it, the government cannot regulate speech based on the fear or possibility of violence.

I don't like making the city look even dumber than Carty has already managed, but this is important enough to justify legal action.

posted by MoreThanRhetoric on Aug 13, 2007 at 09:02:16 am     #



Absolutely amazing.

To say that the Mayor is in bed with the Neo-Nazi's is laughable at best. If it's one thing government actually HAS to provide (not gas cards), it's safety. So the extra funds for security is necessary. But to then censor an ANTI-Nazi rally is just downright illegal, immoral, and it does give off a sense of favoritism.

Of course, the actuality of the situation is that the Neo-Nazi's have big-time big-money lawyers to force their way into places that DO try to block them (albeit, illegally), while the Anti-Fa groups have... well, lots and lots of pachouli oil.

posted by TheTalentedMrC on Aug 13, 2007 at 09:46:04 am     #



Yes, I blogged about this too:

http://thurbersthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/08/prior-restraint.html

posted by MaggieThurber on Aug 13, 2007 at 10:08:19 am     #



From the Blade story, the official line from the city was:

Toledo police received word of a rally with potential for confrontation.

What word? It would be interesting to to know the source and content of that "word." Maybe the "word" came from a member of the American National Socialist Workers’ Party.

From historymike's blog posting :

Dozens of police could be seen in and around the park, and mounted patrols kept watch over the activists when they went to Manhattan Plaza to meet the media. Media personnel were also banned from the park ...

Dozens of police used to watch over, according to the Blade story, eight to 10 people, including some University of Toledo students.

Also, from historymike's blog posting:

I respectfully suggest that the Mayor re-familiarize himself with portions of the Bill of Rights if and when this group decides to hold another legal public meeting.

I wonder if the banned local media will opine about how Carty's police order is a violation of basic rights?

posted by jr on Aug 13, 2007 at 10:16:09 am     #



I believe that the "anarchists" and ANSWP are "mutual parasites" who depend on each other to raise "political consciousness" in the masses who are just try to get through another day. I think they should have been allowed to have their say. I could use a good laugh on local tv.

posted by oldsendbrdy on Aug 13, 2007 at 10:30:06 am     #



I believe that the "anarchists" and ANSWP are "mutual parasites" who depend on each other to raise "political consciousness" in the masses who are just try to get through another day. I think they should have been allowed to have their say. I could use a good laugh on local tv.

I mentioned this to some friends the last time the Nazi's were in town. The Fa's and Anti-Fa's kinda remind me of the Coyote and the Sheepdog in those Looney Tunes cartoons.

"Mornin' Sam."
"Mornin' Ralph."

posted by TheTalentedMrC on Aug 13, 2007 at 12:14:31 pm     #



MoreThanRhetoric:

Agreed that the city will likely find itself in a litigious situation as a result of this blatant disregard for the Constitution.

TheTalentedMrC

Agreed that the antifa are far from well-funded, though there are certain groups with 4-letter acronyms who are supposed to step up at times like this. :-}

MaggieThurber:

Good post, and you are dead on the money vis a vis the Constitution.

jr:

A source I talked to this afternoon said that not a single media person asked Carty about the closing of Wilson Park yesterday during a news conference Hizzoner held today. I find it odd that this is being ignored, but I suspect at least a few media types will begin to dig into this story after the blogosphere fanned the flames.

oldsendbrdy:

I disagree with your assessment of the antifascists as being "mutual parasites" in a cycle with the neo-Nazis. While I disagree with some of the political views of the anarchists and socialists, most of them are involved in a variety of local volunteer activities, especially in soup kitchens and the like. The neo-Nazis, however, roll in from out of town with one goal: sparking the "race war" they fervently believe is their ticket to power. Their Bible is The Turner Diaries, and the idea that these neo-Nazi groups are "peace-loving" or "just articulating their policial views" is absurd.

posted by historymike on Aug 13, 2007 at 12:54:41 pm     #



Oh jeez.

Couldn't the city close the park to everyone EXCEPT the neos and the news media? Call it a private event.

The morons still get to exercise their right to assembly and free speech and get to "speak" to the public (News media sources represent the public and they can even broadcast it live if they choose... which they won't if there's no chance of violence) and there's nobody in earshot to cause trouble.

-Dan

posted by photodan on Aug 13, 2007 at 07:18:17 pm     #



MrC...I LOVE that cartoon...and you're right...

posted by MaggieThurber on Aug 13, 2007 at 08:34:17 pm     #



I just RTFA more closely this time. I don't see the problem with closing the park to other protest groups. The mayor didn't tell the opposition group they couldn't speak their peace, they just couldn't do it at that location.

Sorry Mike, I have to disagree with you on this one. I think it's ridiculous to support allegations that the city cares more about Nazis because they took that step to avoid likely confrontation and violence. The citizen protest did not need to be held at the same place and time as the Neo group's.

I think it's ironic that the people who were there to protest the city spending on events like that would have only necessitated more spending with their actions.

-Dan

posted by photodan on Aug 13, 2007 at 08:37:33 pm     #



Dan, the idea of a "free speech zone" is a modern fiction. It's not Constitutional. On top of that, if one group may meet publicly, and there's a huge amount of space for another group to do the same, then there's no RATIONAL (much less legal) reason to ban another group.

Rights are not pretty, neat and safe. Liberty is actually rather dangerous, which is part of liberty's allure and usefulness. All those who don't want the dangers associated with liberty know full well there are other nations in the world where safety is prioritized over liberty. Go there, please.

posted by GuestZero on Aug 14, 2007 at 12:50:27 am     #



my concern...some people who are defending this group will want to prohibit another group simply because they disagree with the message. If, or when, the Neo-Nazis come to town, we need to defend their right to assemble and speak as well - no matter how 'offensive' their message.

posted by MaggieThurber on Aug 14, 2007 at 08:07:23 am     #



Yup, Carty screwed up, again, but Navarre took an oath years ago - along the lines of "to protect and enforce the laws of Ohio...and of the United States."

Explaining that little Constitutional thing to King Carty might have cost him the position, but integrity speaks volumes, both to the citizens of Toledo and of his fellow Officers!

Leadership is just that, Chief - one must lead by example.

You've tarnished the badge for the others.

posted by GraphicsGuy on Aug 14, 2007 at 04:22:09 pm     #