Do Neo-Nazi's Have Rights?

For a lot of reasons, this is a really weird thing for me to actually write about. Not so much because I'm discussing Nazi's, or the fact that I'm dealing with a really odd topic.

No, its because I'm asking if a group of American's actually do have rights.

Now, let me set something straight now: I'm not a fan of Neo-Nazi's. In my personal experience with them, they tend to be quiet. The last time I encountered one was at Ozzfest in 2008. One thing was clear; we both were there because of our love of the music, so personal hatreds and differences aside, that's all that mattered.

That being said, Neo-Nazi's still have rights... right?

On April 23rd, Murphy's Law played the Khyber here in Philly. On Tuesday the word was out around town that 3 men dressed in Nazi attire went to the show. Now, mind you, Murphy's Law has played around with Nazi imagery in the past, but they haven't touched it in a long time. They show up to the show, and the crowd largely ignored them, periodically making fun of them. They wound up leaving the show and going down 2nd Street.

A crowd of 50 people attacked the 3 men.

Straight from Philly.com:

He said the crowd kicked and punched the Nazi-wannabes and used weapons that included beer bottles and cue balls, although postings on other online- message boards describe the attack as more tame.

The only information police have on the incident is that they responded to a report of a disturbance on 2nd Street at 11:33 p.m. No arrests, hospitalizations or assaults were reported, a police spokeswoman said.

That's pretty interesting to hear. Post and comments on Philebrity say the guys basically got their asses kicked and left with bloody noses. The photos and police reports say otherwise, and the entire thing amounted to people stealing their hats.

But as you can see from the comments, the sentiment is that they deserved what they got.

Did they?

The reports indicated that the men didn't do anything during or after the show other than to wear what they wanted. One account says they wore "camouflaged combat pants; woolen, WWII-era coats adorned with SS emblems and authentic Third Reich hats with Nazi insignias emblazoned atop them." Other than that, they were basically just going to a concert to have a good time. Once they leave the place, they're attacked by 50 people.

So, lets go over this again: 3 men were attacked for no reason by a crowd of 50 people simply for standing at 2nd and Chestnut.

In this country, everyone has the right to do and say whatever they want as long as they don't interfere with your rights. To be clear, no, you do not have the right to not be offended. If anything, it's a right to be allowed to be offended. If these guys wanted to stand around and look like SS troopers, they have every right in the world to do so. If you want to stand across the street from them, give them the finger, and tell them to fuck off, you have every right in the world to do that, too. You don't have the right to physically harm someone, though, unless they're actively are trying to kill you.

Isn't going around and beating people who look, act, or think differently than you a Nazi-esq thing to do?

Again, I don't like Neo-Nazi's that much. I also hate racist pricks in general. There's a group of black men who stand on Market Street every Saturday preaching hatred and racism, about how "white people are evil". Yet I'm not allowed to hurt them, no matter how much I want to. These guys are actively preaching hate, but all I can do is fight back by yelling at them and flipping them off. And, in the end, sometimes that's all you can do to stay a little ahead morally.

Photo courtesy of The Fifth Column.

South Philadelphia High School: How The NAACP Got Involved (For the Wrong Reason)

The NAACP.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons.

Periodically over they years, I've wondered why we need organizations like this. Not so much because I think racism is dead (I know its not, and I deal with it every single day from people you may not suspect), but because it seems there isn't a ton of need for them in this day and age. Sometimes I see why we need them, and I think to myself, "You know, for every time it seems they go after something stupid or dumb, they tend to get it right as well."

For the past few months, if not years, South Philadelphia High School has had a serious problem where Asian-American students have been getting bullied by black students simply because they're Asian. It's horrible, its disgusting, and the very fact that this level of racism still exists disgusts me! Hurting someone over the color of their skin? Where they come from? Who they are?! I'm simply appalled!

The problem has gotten so large, so intense, a group of Asian-American students marched to School District headquarters demanding action. Sadly, it still goes on to this day.



So when I heard the NAACP was going to take action, I was a little excited, and reminded why these organizations need to exist. The fact that one group of people was oppressing another, the fact that racism was an issue and that there was a serious problem that needed to be taken care of... I was proud.

And then I found out why. They were offended by this cartoon:

At first, I agreed with them. "Oh, they must be mad because the principal has been virtually asleep at the wheel about what's going on at her school. OK, that make sense. I mean, she's most likely is doing her best, but things have been pretty bad there for a while."

Not even close.

Mondesire, head of the city's NAACP, denounced the cartoon, called it disgusting and called on the School Reform Commission to condemn it.

"It is a lie. It is offensive. The Inquirer should be ashamed of what it did to Mrs. Brown," Mondesire said.

Source: NBC Philadelphia.

Which is really, really sad. Here they have a chance to advance colored people in Philadelphia, to come to the aid of people in need who are be discriminated against and having a tough time because of their skin color. Instead, they spend their time and effort saying that the cartoon is offensive and disgusting. This, from the same organization that wanted to have a pro-Michael Vick rally.

Is this why we have an NAACP in Philadelphia? To attack people who make valid points and arguments, and use satire to bring them to light? To defend ineffective people? To claim racism or take offense to things when you don't always agree with them?

To the Principal of South Philadelphia High School, I simply say this: If you find this cartoon so offensive, if you're so upset over it, prove him wrong. Show him, show us, but most importantly, show your STUDENTS wrong. Show them that you are doing something about this. Show them that you do care. Show them that hatred and racism in your school with NOT be tolerated! Expel students commiting hate crimes, report them to the police... do something to show you care.

Otherwise, madam, you are asleep at your desk, even if not literally.

Westoboro Baptist Church in Philadelphia: Feel Free to Share the Love

• 2:20 PM - 2:50 PM -
  527 Lombard St
  
  
• 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM -
  2100 Arch St
  
  
• 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM -
  420 Walnut St

They're hear to "protest the Jews". Make them feel at home.

WBC in Philly

FIGHT HATE! - We Need To Fight Back Against These Racist Bastards!

Over the past week, we've seen two acts of terrorism in America. the first was the assassination of George Tiller, a doctor who preformed late-term abortions on women who needed them. His murder was a pro-life believer who is not sorry for what he has done and is rallying others to support him. He is making calls from prison.

Today, we saw an 85-year-old White Supremacist walk into the Holocaust Museum. A man who stormed the building on the same day a play was to open about Anne Frank. A man who was in jail for 11 years because of his hate.

We have seen the face of hate, and today I am telling you that we need to fight back.

In Philadelphia, there seems to be a feeling that racist groups do not exist, nor could, in this city. Those who think that are wrong. Very, very wrong.

For the past few years, a group of men have gathered on the street corners of Philadelphia spewing hatred in every bitter sense of it. They have stood on soap boxes and platforms. They have taken Market Street as a method to preach hatred and racism to any and all who walk by. I have been appalled time and time again to see them attract minds of like-minded people who those that they speak out against do not decry their actions, lest they seem like racists themselves. They spew hatred, taking the Christian Holy Bible and twisting it into their own form.

I speak of a group of Black Supremacists that are called The Israelite School of U.P.K. The group is also known as "The Twelve Tribes of Israel".

The group is no different in terms of objectives than the Ku Klux Klan or the Creativity Movement, formerly the "World Church of the Creator".

It is nothing short of amazing to me that people give these bastards the dignity of respect. In this country, if we like it or not, we are allowed to let others speak and say what they want. To that end, to the means, I will forever hold that close to my heart. But there are lines, there are limits, and even more importantly, there is the right to protest and decry what you hate.

Seeing many black men stand around and listen, as if these idiots are speaking the truth, scares me. It scares me to think that these men are gullible enough to fall for the lies and discrimination these men put forth.

To that end, we as a society need to make a decision. To simply stand idly by why they spew hatred and grow their numbers, to simply stand by and let their hatred breed. If, for nothing else, than to stand back and watch them possibly create domestic terrorists who are inspired by their hatred of non-blacks.... We are saying, as a society, that we are permitting hatred to go forth and rise unopposed.


Two months ago, a memo was released by the department of Homeland Security that stated that there was a "rise in right-wing radical extremists that could be potentially dangerous." That their rhetoric would fall short of telling people to commit acts of violence. It is up to us, right now, to stand up and shout "ENOUGH!"

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Racism is, to me, the biggest evil a society can ignore in this day and age. We ignore it, only to hope that it goes away, hoping that by not giving it negative attention, the type of attention we know it craves, it will simply burnout and die. As a so-called "Attention whore", I can tell you for a fact that that is never the case. Ignoring them makes them try harder and once they find an audience, they will not let go. They will continue to grow if they are not opposed.

In the end, not opposing hatred racists simply lets them breed and grow like mildew.

To that end, I am asking you to do something. These men tend to arrive on Market Street on Saturday's . The spots are in front of the Pennsylvania Convention Center around 12th and Market, The Gallery at 9th and Market, and the CVS at 11th and Market around 2PM to 6PM. I want anyone and everyone who reads this to do one simple thing: Protest.

Protest.

PROTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go out there and TELL THEM they are hateful! TELL THEM they are racits! If you see them, tell them that you don't want their brand of hatred in Philadelphia, in your community! TELL THEM! Yell at them, scream at them, hold up signs, chant, sing protests songs... DON'T do anything violent, but just use your First Amendment Right to go out there and PEACEFULLY PROTEST THEM!

Saturday at 3PM, I'll be there at 12th and Market . I'll have a sign that says "Fight Hate". I'll scream at them, call them the slimy racist bastards they are, and I'll stand until they leave! I'll protest the other racists I see! I'll scream until I lose my voice!

And I'll do it again and again and AGAIN! I WILL NOT let them stand and preach their racism unopposed! I WILL NOT stand idly by why they simply brainwash others to their side!

I have chosen to stay and fight. I hope you will, too.