Race riots in Toledo, OH

[KevinTheOmnivore]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1217317

This story sort of drifted under the radar this week, did anybody catch it?

A group of neo-nazis got a permit to hold a march in a lower-class, predominantly Black neighborhood of Toledo.

The march got called off, but still managed to draw crowds of counter-protestors, who proceeded to destroy store fronts, assault cops, and set fires. Essentially giving the nazi assholes precisely what they wanted.

The mayor blamed the rioting on gangs, which ironically was the same thing the neo-nazis were blaming all of the area's problems on, too.

After talking extensively with folks throughout Ohio this week (not to get too descriptive, but my job requires this), the vibe I got from them is that the neo-nazis were really just a catalyst for a state that's ready to burst. The governor is hated, the budget is a mess, teachers are getting layed off left and right, and industry has consistently been flowing out of the region.

So, anyway, we shouldn't be apologists for public destruction and criminal behavior.....BUT, should we look at this as yet another "Katrina" type incident, one which exposes the reality of the racial and economic disparity that remains in this country??

[ItalianStereotype]

WE HATES US SOME NAZIS SOS WE'S GON ROB US DIS HERE STO'

[El Blanco]

(not to get too descriptive, but my job requires this

You organize neo-nazi marches?

[KevinTheOmnivore]

You guys are both banned from this thread. only Jonathan Clement and Guitar Woman may post here now. :|

[AngPur]

You guys are both banned from this thread. only Jonathan Clement and Guitar Woman may post here now. :|

Nazi...

[ItalianStereotype]

LEZ GO ROB SOME SHITZ

[Immortal Goat]

Strangely enough, I live in Ohio, and this is the first time I have heard of it.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

You're all racists. :(

[Guitar Woman]

only Jonathan Clement and Guitar Woman may post here now. :|
Clement? what

[Pub Lover]

Hey Kev, what about us other members of the peanut gallery? I assure you that Esouhlim and myself can ruin your thread just as fast. :)

[Guitar Woman]

Also more efficiently than clement >:

[Pub Lover]

Clement isn't so bad, give a few months & he'll be the new ArrowX. :)

Wait... Do I like ArrowX? :/

[Guitar Woman]

Does anyone?

[Pub Lover]

Well, not everyone can be as popular as you, my dear. :rolleyes

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Hey Kev, what about us other members of the peanut gallery? I assure you that Esouhlim and myself can ruin your thread just as fast. :)

Mission accomplished! :bestthread

[Guitar Woman]

Not yet we have to make it about something else

How bout we make it one of those "What are you ___________ing right now" threads? The Political forum could use one.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

What are you POLITICIZing right now??

[Guitar Woman]

FUCK YEAH, NOW WE TALKIN'
THIS IS NOW THE ONLY OFFICIAL "WHAT ARE YOU POLITICIZING RIGHT NOW" THREAD

[kellychaos]

Chicken or the egg?

Are the gangs more at fault for taking the mere threat of a racist parade and escalating it into violence even though the parade never happened ...

OR

Are the rascist paraders more responsible for originating the planning the parade, planting the seed and inciting the violence.

I'm far from trying to take away anyone's civil rights but, as in Spiderman, "With great power comes great responsibility.". Not to mention that the Constitution only guarantees the right of "peaceable assembly" and the paraders intentions hardly seemed peacable in this instance.

The old civics class analogy about "screaming fire in a crowded movie theater" comes to mind. Yes, you have civill rights but inherent in those rights is the expectation that you'll use common sense.

[ItalianStereotype]

it's the same thing that happened in Memphis a few years back. the KKK held a rally downtown and protesters turned over cars, assaulted police officers, and robbed and looted stores. there was no semblance of civility there, nor of peaceful protest. despite their intentions, the neo-Nazis did have a permit to hold their rally and the protesters only brought themselves down to their level. I suspect, however, that most of them had every intention of causing trouble and merely used the Nazi rally as an excuse.

[Mr. Vagiclean]

Chicken or the egg?

Are the gangs more at fault for taking the mere threat of a racist parade and escalating it into violence even though the parade never happened ...

OR

Are the rascist paraders more responsible for originating the planning the parade, planting the seed and inciting the violence.

I'm far from trying to take away anyone's civil rights but, as in Spiderman, "With great power comes great responsibility.". Not to mention that the Constitution only guarantees the right of "peaceable assembly" and the paraders intentions hardly seemed peacable in this instance.

The old civics class analogy about "screaming fire in a crowded movie theater" comes to mind. Yes, you have civill rights but inherent in those rights is the expectation that you'll use common sense.

fuck feed the chicken its goddamn egg and EAT it, who cares what came first when there is no love :(

[Immortal Goat]

I just don't understand why, when something like this happens, violence is the main form of "protest". Surely people must realize that this is exactly what the neo-nazis and KKK members want. Any bit of ammo that gets sent there way will definitely be used. I just don't get why they (the protesters) can't just line up in the streets in front of the paraders, not moving, but not harming them in any way. That way, if violence DOES break out, it is entirely the fault of the racists bigots.

[Lye]

I love race riots.

On your mark. Get set. Riot!

[Pub Lover]

Mission accomplished! :bestthread
You're welcome. ;)

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I just don't understand why, when something like this happens, violence is the main form of "protest". Surely people must realize that this is exactly what the neo-nazis and KKK members want.

Right, and had there been a well organized counter-protest, it probably would've been peaceful. This however wasn't a demonstration, it was a mob.

So my question is does a mob get truly this outraged over a couple of geeks wearing swastikas and waving their dumb white power flags, or was this more like the whole straw and camel thing...?

[kellychaos]

Maybe one might have to know more about the socio-economic climate of Toledo itself? Although I'm loath to give too much credit to them, perhaps the paraders researched their target well. :shrug

[ziggytrix]

So my question is does a mob get truly this outraged over a couple of geeks wearing swastikas and waving their dumb white power flags, or was this more like the whole straw and camel thing...?

Why not both? You'd only need relatively few people who have had all they can stand and once a small mob is formed, it really doesn't take much for more to join in.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

If the mob were truly outraged over the neo-nazis, then they'd go after the nazis. They wouldn't necessarily go after convenient stores.

And Kelly, btw, pockets of Toledo, like other parts of Ohio, are in poor economic shape.