Neo-Nazis March - University of Central Florida Student Newspaper

Groups of UCF students joined protesters Saturday against a rally held by the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi group now based in Orlando, despite warnings from city officials to avoid the rally.

"There were a lot of people saying we should stay home and ignore [the NSM]," said Eric Eingold, a 20-year-old political science major and recent candidate for vice-president of the SGA. "We decided to come out and show solidarity and show that we don't stand for this happening in our community."

The Progressive Council at UCF and Campus Peace Action gathered students in front of Millican Hall before commuting to the rally. Campus Peace Action organized a car pool for UCF students wanting to go to the rally. At least 50 students took advantage of this, according to Mychel Estevez, chairperson for CPA.

Some groups protested in a different way. The Hispanic American Student Association urged its members not to attend.

"We didn't want any students to get arrested or hurt," HASA president Jennifer Padilla said. "It wasn't so much ignoring them as it was making a conscious decision not to fuel the fire."

The NSM march began in front of the Orlando Police Station headquarters, wrapped around to Parramore Avenue, and ended at George C. Young U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building. Bill White, spokesperson for the NSM, said the goal of the march was not to incite violence.

"We always hope these demonstrations are peaceful," he said.

"We are demonstrating against black criminality, and we want the blacks to know that if they don't behave in a civilized manner, we're going to go into their neighborhoods and demonstrate against them," White said. The group had fewer than 30 members marching, while protesters numbered near 500.

The NSM has chapters in Tampa, Sarasota and now in Orlando. The Orlando chapter is a recent branch-off from the Tampa chapter, according to White. The NSM has been an organization since 1974 and is "expanding to get into electoral campaigns," White said.

Black community leaders and city officials were concerned that the situation could have turned ugly. The NSM sparked a riot in Toledo, Ohio, in October 2005 that resulted in over 100 arrests. "Operation Be Cool" was enacted to prevent similar violence in Orlando.

Police kept NSM members on one side of the street and protesters on the opposite side. They used a barrier of officers in full riot gear, mounted and bicycle officers and slow-moving police cruisers to keep the protesters back. Once at the courthouse, protesters were kept behind police barriers.

Some people used airhorns to disrupt the NSM, while others used drums and chanting. The NSM speakers delivering speeches at the courthouse were inaudible because of the protesters and a lack of any sound system. Seventeen arrests were made, including one for battery on a police officer.

Protesters with Code Pink, a national women's peace organization, carried a blow-up doll in addition to traditional banners. The doll was dressed in bondage leather and had a sign that read "Hate is Bondage."

Cris Field, a member of Code Pink, said that "it's really rude to go to someone else's house and say 'I don't like you.'"

Elgin Grigley, a resident of the Parramore community, believes that the police presence was necessary to preserve peace.

"To walk right down the black neighborhood without police presence… That would've never happened," he said.

Tony Redding, a volunteer for state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, believes that the heavy police presence was to protect the NSM from the crowd. He was also angered at the amount of officers used to do this.

"Actually I wasn't too upset until now, looking around at these few would-be baby Hitlers and all the money and resources being spent to protect these guys," Redding said. "These are our homeland terrorists right here."

Members of NSM threatened to sue the city prior to the rally because of restrictions the Orlando Police Department required of members. Restrictions included NSM members showing ID and going through metal detectors before the march. The restrictions were lifted and the suit was dropped soon after.

"I respect their right to their view," Joshua Eggnatz, a 22-year-old legal studies major and candidate for SGA president, said. "But I don't respect their views at all."

Eggnatz said that "[the police] did their job, but at times they were a little forceful with people. No physical force, but a little demeaning, but they had to… keep the peace."

Eggnatz thinks the big story is the amount of response to NSM's rally.

"It was a really good experience for UCF students to get our names out there and show that we want to be a part of this community," he said. "I think UCF students should be doing this more often."

Other protesters disagreed with the way the OPD handled the rally.

"[The police] ran my ID and asked to see my tattoos," said Jerry Tobin, a welder from Daytona.

"I'm a shady-looking character, but no moreso than anyone else around here."

Eingold didn't like the way the OPD controlled the crowd.

"Granted, I know they have to protect every citizen involved, but nobody was allowed to stay there," Eingold said. "We were always being pushed back. I didn't like that at all. They could have handled it better."

Jody and Scott of O-Rock 105.9 asked their listeners to come to the rally wearing last year's Halloween costumes. However, police were turning away people wearing anything covering their faces.

Bryan Pfeffer, a cafeteria worker at UCF's Rosen campus, came to the rally dressed as a Star Trek character. He said the reason he dressed up was "for fun, to lighten up the Nazi people. Not to get in trouble, not to act crazy." Pfeffer, who described himself as an avid O-Rock 105.9 fan, could not find anyone else in costume.

Matthew DeVlieger, a recent candidate for SGA president, felt like a hero for attending.
"We beat the Nazis. We feel like your grandfather," he said.