A rally led by a group of neo-Nazis drew hundreds of angry counter-protestors in the south lawn of Los Angeles City Hall, April 17.

The group who call themselves The National Socialist Movement (NSM) organized the rally through social networking and flyers.

The rally was part of the Reclaim the South campaign and in celebration of Adolf Hitler’s birthday on April 20.

Counter-protestors were outraged that the city of Los Angeles earlier in the week had issued the NSM a permit to rally.

David Faubion a protestor, said, “How can the city of Los Angeles allow them (neo-Nazis) to publicly impose a hate speech.”

The streets of L.A. were flooded with a diverse crowd of counter-protestors from various groups and organizations, that ranged from African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Jewish groups, as well as immigrants-rights, anarchist groups, and gay-rights advocates.

Diana Coleman, of the Spartacus League Organization, said, “We are here today to say stop the Nazis and these fascist scum’s,they oughta be run off the streets by the power of the labor movement.”

Orlando Pardo, ANSWER Coalition Organization, said, “The unity amongst the community and militant chants sent a loud and clear message that racism, white supremacy, and nazis are not welcome.”

A wall of officers was set up to separate the neo-Nazis from the counter-protestors.

Captain III Commanding Officer of the Central Area of the Los Angeles Police Department Todd C. Chamberlain said, “There were more than 200 police officers on duty.”

“Our purpose is to protect the safety of the people and ensure that violence does not take place.”

Although, the officers tried to keep the violence between the neo-Nazis and protestors to a minimum their efforts could not stop the violence that took place among the protestors.

Before members of the neo-Nazi group arrived to the rally, a white male, with swastika tattoos on his arms, was violently beaten by a crowd of counter-protestors on the corner of 1st and Spring Street.

A second individual believed to be a neo-Nazi was beaten by a mob of protestors, on Spring Street, while he was carrying a sign that read, “Christianity=Paganism=Heathens= Nazi,” with an arrow pointing to a swastika.

Officers arrived at the scene, pushing the protestors who surrounded the injured man with their batons, then proceeded by surrounding and escorting him to safety.

As the neo-Nazis took their place on the front steps of city hall the counter-protestors chanted, “Hey-hey-ho-ho, Nazi pigs have got to go home!”

Angered by the fact that police officials were protecting the group of neo-Nazis rather than the counter-protestors they began to chant, “Cops and the Klan go hand in hand!”

Protestors tried harming the neo-Nazis and police officers by throwing rocks, glass bottles, and marbles as they were being escorted back to their vehicles.

Equipped with pellet guns and tear gas, police officers went on tactical alert during the rally to take precaution of any other violent activity that might have occurred.
 

Pardo said, “The nazis had disturbing amount of support by the LAPD as shown by the extreme measures the cops took to protect, escort, and coordinate with the nazis.”

Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Kwame Cooper said, “We only had to treat two individuals, one for dehydration and another for a minor scrape on the leg.”

While two people were severely beaten and five people were arrested during the rally, Chamberlain said, “Overall it was a peaceful protest.”

As the neo-Nazis drove away the protestors rejoiced as they chanted, “These are our streets!”