Some 300 members and sympathizers of a
self-described neo-Nazi organization waved swastika-adorned flags and loudly
protested U.S. support of Israel yesterday as about 1,000 police officers kept
the peace.
The protesters from the National
Alliance rallied for two hours on the Capitol grounds near the Reflecting Pool
to complain about U.S. aid to Israel. They drew hundreds of
counter-demonstrators and the watchful eyes of what U.S. Capitol Police Chief
Terrance W. Gainer said was a force of 1,000 police
officers.
Alliance members held signs that read
"Nuke Israel" and "We Don't Care About Your Holohoax," and carried the image of
founder William Luther Pierce, who died last month. They also hoisted the red,
black and white National Alliance
flag.
Alliance leaders urged the crowd not to
taunt counter-demonstrators, who chanted, among other things, "Stand up and
shout, kick the Nazis out."
Park Police
charged one onlooker with disorderly conduct early on after he threw a large
rock at a neo-Nazi, Lt. Tom Neider
said.
Counter-demonstrators also knocked down a
barricade that police put up to control the crowd during the
rally.
Billy Roper, coordinator of a group
called Taxpayers Against Terrorism, addressed the protesters, most of whom
appeared to be men and women in their 20s and early 30s. Mr. Roper, 30, wearing
a dark suit in the sweltering heat, also moved through the crowd and talked with
reporters.
"The U.S. government in our names
gives $6 billion to Israel in direct aid," Mr. Roper said. "It gives more aid to
Israel than any other country in the
world."
Someone threw a cobblestone, taken from
Columbus Circle, at a Park Police officer on a motorcycle. The officer was not
struck, but his motorcycle was damaged.
"I
think we were really lucky. We really missed the blow. I'm feeling very
fortunate," said one officer who helped provide security. "There were large
groups of anarchists who left behind really huge book bags full of baseballs and
rocks."
"It went pretty smoothly," Lt. Neider
agreed.
D.C. police did not arrest anyone in
connection with the rally, spokesman Sgt. Joe Gentile
said.
The rally broke up at 12:15 p.m., when
police escorted the protestors toward Union Station. On the way, Capitol Police
confiscated a homemade anarchist flag that was on a staff police said was too
large.