Monday, May 11, 1998 - The Michigan Daily - 9
Rally gives community a peaceful alternative
By Erin Holmes
Daily News Editor
"Injustice anyWhere is a threat to justice
ev'erywhere"
In the spirit of these words from Martin
Luther King Jr., nearly 600 University students
and Washtenaw County community members
gathered at Wheeler Park on Saturday to pro-
mote diversity by taking a peaceful stand
against the Ku Klux Klan.
While other protesters rallied with jeers and
physical force against the KKK's message or±
the steps of City Hall, people of all ages and
ethnic backgrounds at the park emphasized the
importance of having an alternative to the vio-
lence in downtown Ann Arbor.
"People should stay away from the Klan;"
said Don Yeatts, an Ann Arbor resident who
brought his young son to the peace rally.
"In 1996 the community didn't do any-
thing," Yeatts said. "This is an opportunity to
make up for that, and give people an option."
The laughter of children, colorful stands
selling food and the stage erected on the grass
to accommodate nearly 20 speakers and 14
musical acts gave the day an aura of festivity.
"It's a party," said Joe Navratil, an . SA
senior who showed iup on roller-blades to enjoy
the event. "I'm glad so many people turned
0 it."
Pasrticiptnts wore T-hirts printed thc King
quotation iiid bagged each other speakecs
addrssedh vicory vec tic. Kl
"For geneaios, petple hae bce itars
an cii away, said *rc Mae, I tano
actioil."
Mayes used his time on stage to speak to the
students of Antt Arbor. It'm happy to be a part of
the L of M community:' Mayes said. "But here,
I see our conmmunity extended to all of Ann
Arbor At Michigan, we hold the rope for those
who come after us. We're doing that today'
Singers who took the stage broight the audi-
ence to their feet, dancing and clapping to tunes
they prepared specifically for the day's event.
"Ring dem bells this 9th of May, we will
drive the Klan away' sang Tiana Marquez, in
the worus of a popular spiritual.
As the sun rose high in the sky, participants
crowded the lawn to listen to University President
Lee Bollinger address the right to free speech.
"It is wrong for people to try and take away
this right," Bollinger said. "Hate comlles in
many forms and always violates the very prin-
ciple of this country."
Peace Team members stationed around the
park ensured the safety of those within the
premises while enjoying the events and friend-
ly conversation.
"We just came to make sure everytlhing stayed
non-violent:' said Laurel Zswisvler, a Michigan
graduate who underwent peace team training.
"But tLthere is a lot of excitittg stut going on here:'
With the knowledge that police aid peace
teamn miemibers vwere patrolliig the area. psrtaic-
pmts enjoed a relxing afternoon vsitli
filnis anid etmtcrainment. Speakers pcsised
iie-i cie ut licic ,tttcidriie and tcock the
Senator Lynn RcIters (D-Ann Arbor). "And you
know what? \We're not buying it!
Contunity leaders said they were pleased
with the optiimlistic attitude of those who
attended the rally.
"This is certainly a testimony of some very
committed conimunity folk:' said Ann Arbor
Mayor Ingrid Sheldon. "We've given them a
positive alternative, and they'e taken it."
MSA President Trent Thompson said the
gentle spirit of the peace rally and not the vio-
lence of the Anti-KKK demonstrations was the
key to making a difference.
"There is so much diversity in Ann Arbor
and it is invaluable that this diversity be con-
sidered a good thing' Thompson said.
Mayor Pro Tem Chris Kolb said the University
needs to listen to the message of the peace rally.
"University students are smart enough to real-
ize ... that sustainable change comes when we
educate ourselves to understanding issues" Kolb
said. "Violence only produces more violence."
The police helicopters looming overhead
and the darkening afternoon sky did not dull
the crowd's enthusiasm.
Songs that marked the Civil Rights move-
ment of the '60s and '70s drew audience mem-
bers closer to the stage as the three-hour rally
came to a elose.
Kolb looked on ats the Mosaic Youth Theater
performed "Wse Shall Oveccotne" neac lie con-
clston of the rally.
"This cthy speoaks yriums fr Ain rbi',"
Ih. stici "liihpc thisis nt ijustan 'eeii unie
Musicians use their talents to caty peacefl at Wheelr
Parts en Saturdy. The pe taly was lntettded as a
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Shock, rage and regret flooded Ann Arbor tso yeai's go as the Ku
Klux Klan rallied on thc stcps of C ity tall aid caused the liberal city to
erupt into violence.
Today, those who witnessed the eight arrests amid acts of rebelhon
still clearly retnember the n e1 atid fear of Juine 22, 1996 that left an
indelible mark on Ann Arbor history.
One 1996 KKK rally picture that gained itmmediate national atten-
Sloe is perhaps the most vivid reminder of the ah'ernoon. It captured
Keshia Thomas, a KKK protester, shielding a man wearing a
Confederate flag T-shirt from the blows of other protesters.
Her tss sted face and expression of concern were a testimony to
the emotional energy that had the power to unite or divide the crowd.
"I think she did the right thing,; said Bunvan Bryant, an SNRE pro-
fessor who watched video footage of the 1996 rally. "But only 5 min-
utes earlier, she was yelling (protest slogans). She made a sudden ideo-
logical shift in a few minutes:'
Bryant said Thomas' chamnge of heart indicates that many of the '96
protesters did not fully comprehend the implications of their violent acts.
According to police records, the 1996 rally included 15 Klan
nerabers, hundreds of people from outside orgaizations and 277
police officers,
Around City Hall and down Main St., chaos reigned as the pro-
testers, some of them University students, harassed police and shout-
ed at peaceful people nearby to "get off their ass." The scene grew
worse as the protesters shattered windows and tear-gas canisters
exploded on the ground.
Sergeant Michael Logghe called the '96 rally a "disgusting mess,
despite the preparation of the police force and community.
"I think we kind of expected what happened to happen" Logghe
aid. "We knew there would be a lot of rock-throwing and violence."
Logghe said the June 22 rally was reminiscent of the neo-Nazi ral-
lies of the 1980s, which occurred frequently in Ann Arbor and pro-
noted similar racist messages.
"It both cases, the city had no legal right to stop them from com-
ing;" Logghe said. He added that Ann Arbor "obviously didn't want
them here."
accptatcc ic d g ha the ii ' KKK "ciuiin' pay" (or the
miedia cityDerage they rccivcd hrtm the 96 rathy.
"unfortunately, they catiAc An Arb bccausc here thtey could
get the violence and uproar ... that they wanted," Logghe said. "They
got millions of dollars worth of frcc adetisng."
Members of Ann Arbor Oigatizing Agaitst the Kan (AAOAKi)
who attended the '96 rally said they ire prcparcd to' shut (tie KKKi
down by any means available," but blancd tte vtolence of the 1996
rally on Klan advocates - despite polic recotds itsisting that KKK
members were not among those arrested for vitlett behior.
In the aftermath of the fierce rally, many protesters also consid-
ered police forces the source of the day's pandemnomilum.
Demsionstrators said the police arrived in "wshtat lookcd like full com-
bat gear" and "tear-gassed tie hel" ott of the crowd.
But Chiefof Police Carl Ent said the police force simply "did what
(it) had to do."
"Officers were withstanding rocks and glass bottles for an hour and
a half. We didn't step in until the officers begamt taking a barrage of
rocks and bricks, Ent said. "e said 'ihat's it. w e have to etdthis."'
Members of AAOAK and the National \omenss Rights
Organizing Coalition protested arrests tiat sere made and dentand-
etd that the involved officers be suspensded vsithmout pay.
Tobi Hanna-Davies, a member of the lmterltitht Council. had lro-
posed an investigation of police action but decited to have it dropped.
"The police were in an extremely tough position? Hanna-Davies
said. She said they had to maintain peace and do vhut vas best for
eseryone invoclved.
Hanna-Davies added that inadequate community planning led to
the unexpected violence and confusion. "We were extremely busy
when the KKK announced their plans to come to Ann Arbor"
Hanna-Davies said. "We were just not able to pull together the kind
of response that was necessary."
On June 22, hate surmounted the barriers and the violence sur-
prised many -- even those who tried to avoid the scene.
"A lot of people thought staying away would be enough;' said Pam
Hoffer, an organizer of this year's peace rally. She added that in 1996,
people were swept up in the violence.
At the rally in 1996, Keshia Thomas attempted to shield this
demonstrater, who wore a Confederate flag T-shirt, from attack.
"The conimiiunity tmrade an error of omission, Hoffer said.
Tle Klamnimemibers used freedom of speech to proclaim their
reemuimemit message from the secod-level balcony of City Hall,
separuted (ont the crowd by both pohice units and fencing. Manmy
disagreed wsith the governments protection of the Klan, citing the
S72,000 tIe city spent as proof that the government "rolled out the
red carpet" for the KKK.
In the wake of the second Klan rally that occurred on Saturday,
Ent said that, while the events of June 22 cannot be erased, the Ann
Arbor community learned many valuable lessons that proved to be
beneficial this year.
Ent mentioned the work of this year's Peace Teamn, which was sta-
tioned around City Hall and on surrounding streets to prevent violence.
"Today's events were much different than two years ago," Ent said at
a press conference Saturday as he recounted the weekend's KKK rally at
City Hall. "This year, I am very proud of our community."