Posted 10:07 pm Sunday, November 02, 2008
Demonstration Against Mass Immigration Planned
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
Tyler police are asking citizens to refrain from giving a group of demonstrators against mass immigration into the United States an audience when they hold a rally in downtown Tyler Saturday afternoon.
Staff Writer
Tyler police are asking citizens to refrain from giving a group of demonstrators against mass immigration into the United States an audience when they hold a rally in downtown Tyler Saturday afternoon.
Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle said members of the National Socialist Movement, an American Nazi organization, has asked to hold a rally between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. near the square and they have been given the OK to hold a rally only. The group does not have a permit to march in a parade and police are considering blocking several city streets to through traffic just to avoid any possible trouble.
Swindle said there would also be a police presence, but it would not have officers visible in riot gear.
“We are not expecting a large crowd of demonstrators, but we have done our homework and checked with other cities where this group has held rallies and we are ready to meet this with a measured response,” he said.
He added there would be sweeps of the area and that every precaution would be taken to make sure everyone is protected.
Swindle said in some instances the anti-protestors have caused more trouble than those with the NSM, but he added he is urging citizens to “just stay away.”
An anonymous blog page found during a Google Web search is asking for people to show up in Tyler and confront the NSM and shut down their rally.
“Every spectator that shows up gives them an audience and some credibility. If people don’t show up then they would do their protest, pack up their things and head to the next city,” he said. “We really want this to be over and for them to come and go without any problems.”
Swindle said there would also be a police presence, but it would not have officers visible in riot gear.
“We are not expecting a large crowd of demonstrators, but we have done our homework and checked with other cities where this group has held rallies and we are ready to meet this with a measured response,” he said.
He added there would be sweeps of the area and that every precaution would be taken to make sure everyone is protected.
Swindle said in some instances the anti-protestors have caused more trouble than those with the NSM, but he added he is urging citizens to “just stay away.”
An anonymous blog page found during a Google Web search is asking for people to show up in Tyler and confront the NSM and shut down their rally.
“Every spectator that shows up gives them an audience and some credibility. If people don’t show up then they would do their protest, pack up their things and head to the next city,” he said. “We really want this to be over and for them to come and go without any problems.”
