Detroit Police Slammed For Handling Of Neo Nazis At Motor City Pride Festival [View all]

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Source: Metro Times

June 10, 2019, 11:22 AM. The nation looked on with disbelief and anger as social media lit up with photos and videos of armed neo-Nazis marching in downtown Detroit with what appeared to be police protection during Motor City Pride this weekend.

About a dozen members of the National Socialist Movement (NSM) marched with swastikas and riot shields, tore up a pride flag and hurled slurs at the LGBTQ+ community who gathered at Hart Plaza. One of the neo-Nazis appeared to urinate on an Israeli flag.

Surrounding the neo-Nazis were at least a dozen Detroit police officers, some of whom pushed festival-goers who tried to confront the neo-Nazis. In one video, a person shouts to police, "Why are you protecting them? These are literal Nazis." In another video, someone shouts, "Our police should be protecting us."

Detroit police have not responded yet, but Sgt. Nicole Kirkwood told the Metro Times that a press conference will be held Monday to explain the officers' actions. Coverage of the police "protection" was covered by Newsweek and the U.K.-based Independent, but the neo-Nazis' menacing presence was largely ignored by the local media. -MORE & VIDEO...



Read more: https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2019/06/10/detroit-police-slammed-for-handling-of-neo-nazis-at-motor-city-pride

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One officer with Detroit Police said, on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk with media, that the officers did protect the public by surrounding the armed neo-Nazis. Police feared the gunmen would open fire if they felt threatened he said. Some of the police officers wore rainbow pins shaped like a heart.

Many people who were following the event on social media were outraged over the police response. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I always thought the primary purpose of a police presence at public events like Detroit's LGBTQ Pride Festival was to keep the peace and ensure everyone's safety, rather than facilitate efforts by neo-Nazis to intimidate participants and provoke violence," tweeted Donald Koelper.


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-SLATE, 'Armed Neo-Nazis Get a Police Escort to Disrupt Detroit Pride,' June 9, 2019.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/06/armed-neo-nazis-police-escort-detroit-pride.html

...The members from the National Socialist Movement, which the Southern Poverty Law Center characterizes as one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the United States and one that specializes in provocative protests, made Nazi salutes and openly carried weapons while they were protesting. Video posted on social media shows one small group of neo-Nazis marching while someone yells "fuck you, faggots" into a bullhorn.

While police say their goal was to keep the neo-Nazis and those attending Motor City Pride away from each other, many expressed anger that law enforcement officers were making it possible for white supremacists to disrupt Pride with hateful messages. "Where was Detroit Police when armed Nazis were marching with their NAZI FLAG shouting Homophobic slurs, anti-black racism, and white nationalism you ask? Serving and Protecting THE NAZIS," one activist wrote on Twitter. "It's 2019 and cops are escorting Nazis through a pride celebration. Disgusting," another wrote.

Detroit wasn't the only city that saw its Pride celebrations disrupted this weekend. Seven people were sent to the hospital in D.C. after fears of an active shooter led to a stampede. People gathered around Dupont Circle started running after hearing what they thought was a gunshot. A man was taken into custody and is facing a charge of gun possession, but Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted that police said there were "no shots fired." - More at link above.

- JERUSALEM POST, 'Nazi Group Disrupts Detroit Pride Parade, Urinate On Israeli Flag,' June 10, 2019.
https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Neo-Nazi-group-disrupts-Detroit-Pride-parade-urinate-on-Israeli-flag-591998