Red Carpet for the Aryan Nations

Appeasement of Nazis in the city of Coeur d'Alene inspires anti-Fascist movement

opinion by Andrea Bauer, Free Press contributor

inety members and supporters of the Aryan Nations took their politics of violent racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, and homophobia to the streets of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on July 18, and more than 500 champions of civil rights turned out to oppose them. With the fascists unable to be heard over the powerful chanting of angry demonstrators, anti-Nazi forces carried the day.

Nevertheless, I found the experience a chilling one, because city officials put out the red carpet for the Aryan Nations while treating the anti-bigotry forces like criminals. To a dismaying extent, the modern-day Nazis, who want to remake the Pacific Northwest into an all-white enclave, have already made themselves at home in Coeur d'Alene. To my shock, I learned that uniformed Aryan Nations members regularly visit city restaurants and pass out literature at local malls without being confronted.

I traveled to Coeur d'Alene with the Seattle-based United Front Against Fascism (UFAF), a coalition founded by feminists, queers, radicals, and Black community leaders that is justifiably proud of its 10-year record of effectively challenging the ultraright in the Northwest.

Says Guerry Hoddersen, a UFAF founder and state legislative candidate for the 37th District, "What we saw in Coeur d'Alene was horrifying--a prosperous town of 24,000 built on tourism turned over its main street to men who advocate genocide. The SWAT team acted like storm troopers themselves, guarding Reverend Butler's marchers and attacking protesters. It was disgusting."

People came from Washington, Montana, the Midwest and Canada to take a stand against the Aryan Nations. Gordon Christie of Alberta, Canada, executive secretary and organizer for the Calgary and District Labour Council, told me that he was there because "Those of us with the CDLC have spent our lives fighting discrimination and racism. I thought it was very important that we be visible."

Christie was also critical of the strategies the city used to deal with the Aryan Nations parade and rally. He said, "I would have liked to see the $100,000 they spent on law enforcement put instead into anti-discrimination programs in schools and worksites."

Coeur d'Alene authorities responded to the Aryan Nations by accommodating them, turning over and roping off a city park for their post-parade gathering and designating a special parking lot for them. They encouraged downtown business to close for the day, and police told local community groups that anyone who shouted at the Nazi paraders would be arrested.

Members of a contingent of students and Earth First!ers from Moscow, Idaho, were among the more than a dozen people arrested by police for stepping off the sidewalk onto the street where the Aryan Nations were marching or for refusing to allow their bags to be searched without cause.

Says UFAF activist Hoddersen, "We obviously have our work cut out for us. The Aryan Nations plan to march again next year, and there will be more of them since they got such kid-glove treatment from Coeur d'Alene this time around."

City leaders say that they must by law protect the constitutional rights of the white supremacists. But, says Hoddersen, "That doesn't have to stop them from taking a strong, unambiguous political position against the fascists. If officials don't want the Aryan Nations marching every year, they need to make a 180-degree turn and get out and lead civil rights advocates in exercising our First Amendment rights."

For information about UFAF's future activities, call (206) 722-2506 or write to UFAF, 5018 Rainier Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98118. Letters protesting treatment of arrestees may be sent to Mayor Steve Judy, 710 E. Mullan Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 and to Kootenai County Sheriff Clegg, P.O. Box 9000, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816.