Aryan Nation march this Saturday at Lincoln Park, Counter-Protest Planned

Photo by PoPville flickr user gc-dc

Dear PoPville,

A notice/reminder that this upcoming Saturday, September 22, 2012, there is an Aryan Nation march and protest that is organizing and starting at Lincoln Park.

Needless to say, this is troubling to have in our community but apparently free speech is free speech.

The organizers have a website which, along with terms associated with racism and bigotry, has info for attendees:

The plans are to gather at RFK stadium located at 2400 E Capitol St NE, Washington, DC 20003 at 11AM Saturday September 22nd. Cars will be parked at RFK Stadium and watched over by D.C. Metro Police. Aryan Nations is providing a passenger bus escort to and from the gathering at Lincoln Park and Union Square Reflecting Pool for all who care to attend and march with us this day. Be there and stand up for our kinsmen in South Africa.

No word on counter-protests.

Ugh.

A counter-protest has been organized called STAY AWAKE IN FRIENDSHIP:

Calling on neighbors of all colors, creeds, kinds…
STAY AWAKE IN FRIENDSHIP, September 22, 2012

Dispel ugliness with friendship
WITHOUT IMPEDING ANYONE in exercise of rights.

Dispel outside, divisive forces
with the power of our own community!

****This project IS NOT MEANT TO IMPEDE anyone, however hateful, from exercising their legal rights to gather and march.****

“The Church of Jesus Christ Christian”/Aryan Nations — long recognized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/aryan-nations — is “Calling on White America to a Day of Awakening.” THEIR EVENT is organized for Sep. 22, beginning at noon, with activities in Lincoln Park and a march to the Capital. STAY AWAKE IN FRIENDSHIP IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THESE HATE GROUPS.

INSTEAD, neighbors and friends of Lincoln Park CALL ON ALL
to do two things:

1) Make use of the park as usual, or make a special visit….
Lincoln Park, 11th & East Capital Streets, Washington, DC
Gather, beginning at 10 a.m.
ENJOY THE PARK AND THE COMPANY

2) Remember the children’s song: “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver. The other gold.”?
In that spirit, we ask everyone — individuals, merchants, houses of worship — across Washington, DC to WEAR OR DISPLAY GOLD AND SILVER as a sign of friendship and unity.

3) Sep. 22 is also Shabbat Shuva — a day set aside in the Jewish calendar to help prepare for the upcoming Day of Atonement. All interested in this observance are invited to pray and learn — in the park or elsewhere — with special attention to combating bigotry and hatred.

“Calling on White America to a Day of Awakening” is being organized by the “Church of Jesus Christ Christian”/Aryan Nations (http://southafricaproject.info/)

Stay Awake in Friendship IS NOT ASSOCIATED with these hate groups. Stay Awake in Friendship IS NOT ASSOCIATED with those who are trying to impede the hate group.