TOLEDO, Ohio
Twenty educational, religious and community groups have organized a rally they hope will take the steam out of a neo-Nazi march through a north Toledo neighborhood.
The Erase the Hate event this weekend will counter a National Socialist Movement march scheduled for the same day. Members of the neo-Nazi group planned their march through a neighborhood they say has been beset by gang violence that threatens White residents.
“We believe the Nazi group does not represent anyone in this community,” neighborhood resident Tina Gott said. “We will stand against this Nazi rally, and we are asking people not to go to their event.”
The unity rally will give residents and community leaders a chance to change minds about the neighborhood, said Terry Glazer, head of Lagrange Development Corp., a group that promotes economic and ethnic diversity in the area.
The leader of the National Socialist Movement’s chapter in Roanoke, Va., said the rally won’t sway the movement’s support base.
“We stated repeatedly … that the local Blacks and their political leaders are a bunch of loudmouthed cowards, and that we expect that, when confronted with their criminal behavior by strong and organized White people, would run, hide, and whine. And it appears that is exactly what is happening,” Bill White said in a statement.
