Dear Left Linkers
On July 10, Aryan Nations and hooded Klansmen will once again march in Coeur
d'Alene, Idaho in the United States of America. At last year's parade,
there were 90 white supremacists and over 500 civil rights protesters.
This year, Anti-Racist Action (ARA) and United Front Against Fascism (UFAF)
are joining forces as Coalition Against Nazis (CAN) to organize a large,
orderly, militant counter-protest to this parade. We are mobilizing
advocates of civil rights across the Northwest U.S. and Canada to make sure
the world knows Nazis can't hide in Idaho!
Some think fascists should be ignored
Aryan Nations feels at home in Idaho. That's because the official policy
of Coeur d'Alene business leaders, city officials and the Kootenai County
Task Force on Human Relations has been that Nazis are best ignored.
Mayor Steve Judy is urging everyone to turn their backs on the Hitlerites
and "avoid the parade," as he did last year. The Kootenai County Task
Force on Human Relations, which in 1998 led civil rights advocates
out-of-state for a rally while the Aryans took over one of their streets, is
hosting a human rights celebration on July 10, in Coeur d'Alene, but far
away from the fascists' march.
Business leaders who are heavily dependent on tourism would just like the
publicity created by the civil rights protest to disappear. After all, who
wants to vacation in a state that is world famous for bigotry and racist
violence?
Shine the light on Aryan Nations
CAN believes that the extreme right cannot be ignored. White supremacists
multiply when they can convince their recruits that they are "superior"
because of their capacity for violence and frightening people. The best
antidote for their propaganda is community mobilizations which show that the
majority are not afraid and will stand up for each other and for equality.
That's why we urge the city's civic, religious, and political spokespeople
to lead a civil rights protest at the site of the Aryan Nations parade.
What Australian supporters can do to help
[1] Share this message with a friend.
[2] Endorse CAN's demonstration. We want to show support from a broad array
of people of color, feminist, radical, Jewish, labor, environmental, gay
and youth organizations from around the world.
Send endorsements from Australia c/- [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Or c/- PO Box 266 West Brunswick Vic 3055 or phone Alison Thorne on
03-9386-5065
[3] Sign the pledge below and send it to Coeur d'Alene Mayor Judy.
Circulate it on the Internet. Urge others to sign and send one as well.
This is a good year to take a stand against Aryan Nations. You'll be
standing up for Matthew Shepard, murdered by homophobes in Wyoming; for
James Byrd Jr., killed by the KKK in Texas; for Daniel Shersty and Lin
"Spit"
Newborn, assassinated by Nazi skinheads in Las Vegas; for your friends, your
neighbors and yourself.
Be part of the multi-racial solution to the divide and conquer ideology of
the fascists and help us to make history in Idaho this summer!
Sincerely,
Luma Nichol
Coordinator, United Front Against Fascism
***************************
Pledge to Protest the Aryan Nations
Dear Mayor Steve Judy and City Council,
When the Aryan Nations march in Coeur d'Alene, I pledge to support those who
protest their hate-mongering and violence. I urge you to join the advocates
of equality and anti-fascism by leading this counter-protest and protecting
the constitutional rights to free speech of myself and others who believe in
a multi-racial society cleansed of all forms of bigotry.
__________________________________
(name/city/country)
Send to: Coeur d'Alene City Hall: 710 E Mullan, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814,
(208)769-2284 fax [EMAIL PROTECTED]
______________________________________________________________________
Coalition Against Nazis
PO Box 8775, Moscow, Idaho 83843 (208)992-9755
Yes, I'll endorse C.A.N.'s civil rights protest of the Aryan Nations
in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, July 10, 1999*
______________________________________________________________________
Name
______________________________________________________________________
Address
______________________________________________________________________
City/state Zip
Country
______________________________________________________________________
Phone(s) e-mail
______________________________________________________________________
Organization/Title
____ This is an organizational endorsement.
____ This is an individual endorsement, affiliation listed for
identification only.
*Your or your organization's name will be used in future notices for
events to help build public support for the demonstration.
C.A.N. Contacts:
--United Front Against Fascism: 5018 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118,
USA
(206)722-2506ph, (206)7237691 fax, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--Anti-Racist Action Calgary: P.O. Box 23147, Connaught P.O., Calgary Ab,
T2S 3B1, Canada(403)221-0098 ext.111-0107, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
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