Sindorin
17th April 2007, 05:07
Originally posted by Cinci Post.Com
A neo-Nazi march through Cincinnati scheduled for Friday has been canceled following news that the state's former party leader has outstanding warrants for his arrest.
The American National Socialist Workers Party said in a press release that it decided to remove Justin Boyer from his position after learning of an outstanding warrant for domestic assault in Des Moines, Wash.
"I believe in divine intervention," Cincinnati City Councilman Cecil Thomas said Sunday. "People from all over Cincinnati and the region were praying for this type of outcome. Now we've got to work together to ensure that others don't make these attempts to bring negative viewpoints to our city."
In a press release e-mailed over the weekend, the party said Ohio leader Boyer has been replaced by Kenny Fields, who had been the deputy Ohio leader.
Bill White, the commander of the Roanoke, Va.-based group, said the group would reschedule the march without a permit at an unknown time and date.
"We will hold this march in the near future without a permit and with little prior announcement of date and time," White said. "Members of the press who have been cooperative should expect an announcement within an hour of the time the march is to be held. We do not have a specific date except for 'soon,' which could mean Saturday and it could mean June."
White said the warrant for Boyer's arrest had not shown up on a criminal background check when Boyer joined the organization, nor had it shown up on a police check for outstanding warrants when Boyer was stopped for distributing fliers at Wilmington College.
The organization has not been able to contact Boyer since learning of the warrant, White said.
"As to the charge against Mr. Boyer, it stems from a long running domestic dispute and custody battle, and we have no opinion as to its validity," White said. "We urge Mr. Boyer to surrender himself to the authorities of the state of Washington so as to allow this matter to be adjudicated and settled."
Boyer was originally granted a permit for the Friday march to commemorate the 118th anniversary of Adolph Hitler's birth. A portion of the march was to go through predominantly black Over-the-Rhine, and many worried it could have sparked violence, as similar marches have in other communities, including a Toledo neighborhood last year.
Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. revoked the permit April 6, citing safety concerns, and placed a condition on re-issuing the permit that takes the group on a different route along Central Parkway. The group said it would not comply with the new route and threatened to sue the city.
Thomas hopes the neo-Nazi group will reconsider holding a march in Cincinnati.
"I hope they rethink coming to Cincinnati," Thomas said. "Somebody could get seriously hurt, and it is not anything the city needs to be associated with."
They tried to reschedule for a mid April march, but were denied access to 6 blocks of Fountain Square. The Nazis are now taking it to the courts in an effort to get thier message of hate and racism across.
A neo-Nazi march through Cincinnati scheduled for Friday has been canceled following news that the state's former party leader has outstanding warrants for his arrest.
The American National Socialist Workers Party said in a press release that it decided to remove Justin Boyer from his position after learning of an outstanding warrant for domestic assault in Des Moines, Wash.
"I believe in divine intervention," Cincinnati City Councilman Cecil Thomas said Sunday. "People from all over Cincinnati and the region were praying for this type of outcome. Now we've got to work together to ensure that others don't make these attempts to bring negative viewpoints to our city."
In a press release e-mailed over the weekend, the party said Ohio leader Boyer has been replaced by Kenny Fields, who had been the deputy Ohio leader.
Bill White, the commander of the Roanoke, Va.-based group, said the group would reschedule the march without a permit at an unknown time and date.
"We will hold this march in the near future without a permit and with little prior announcement of date and time," White said. "Members of the press who have been cooperative should expect an announcement within an hour of the time the march is to be held. We do not have a specific date except for 'soon,' which could mean Saturday and it could mean June."
White said the warrant for Boyer's arrest had not shown up on a criminal background check when Boyer joined the organization, nor had it shown up on a police check for outstanding warrants when Boyer was stopped for distributing fliers at Wilmington College.
The organization has not been able to contact Boyer since learning of the warrant, White said.
"As to the charge against Mr. Boyer, it stems from a long running domestic dispute and custody battle, and we have no opinion as to its validity," White said. "We urge Mr. Boyer to surrender himself to the authorities of the state of Washington so as to allow this matter to be adjudicated and settled."
Boyer was originally granted a permit for the Friday march to commemorate the 118th anniversary of Adolph Hitler's birth. A portion of the march was to go through predominantly black Over-the-Rhine, and many worried it could have sparked violence, as similar marches have in other communities, including a Toledo neighborhood last year.
Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. revoked the permit April 6, citing safety concerns, and placed a condition on re-issuing the permit that takes the group on a different route along Central Parkway. The group said it would not comply with the new route and threatened to sue the city.
Thomas hopes the neo-Nazi group will reconsider holding a march in Cincinnati.
"I hope they rethink coming to Cincinnati," Thomas said. "Somebody could get seriously hurt, and it is not anything the city needs to be associated with."
They tried to reschedule for a mid April march, but were denied access to 6 blocks of Fountain Square. The Nazis are now taking it to the courts in an effort to get thier message of hate and racism across.