Kalamazoo Rally Ends Peacefully

Analysis:

This story was based upon the actions of various White Supremacists who came to Kalamazoo for a “Rally Against Black Gang Terrorism” and a counter-demonstration organized by Michigan Against White Supremacy and people from Kalamazoo. What does channel 13 mean by the headline to their online story “Kalamazoo Rally Ends Peacefully?” The second senetence in the story then says “But, thanks to a heavy police presence, it ended peacefully.” Does the story imply that the police prevented any violence at the White Supremacist rally? The first person cited in the story is with the Kalamazoo police, who is also cited responded to a claim by the White Supremacist rally organizer Hal Turner. The story then cites a White Supremacist and someone who participated in the counter-demonstration, but provided no details on what the White Suprecemacists were calling for nor any background information on those groups. The story ends with the claim that the City of Kalamazoo did not support the position of the White Supremacists but because of the First Amendment had to grant them a permit. There was no mention in the story of police intimidation nor the arrests of three counter-demonstrators.

Story:

Protestors clashed with White Supremists at a rally held in Kalamazoo. But, thanks to a heavy police presence, it ended peacefully.

The Kalamazoo Public Safety Department says it learned from other cities like Toledo, Ohio, where riots broke out in 2005. That when a Neo-Nazi group clashed with neighbors in a predominately black neighborhood.

Kalamazoo Public Safety Department Captain Joseph Taylor says, “We’ve learned, as did Toledo from their experience. Lansing had a similar police presence.”

In Kalamazoo, the rally was held in the parking lot of the Public Safety Department. The White Supremist group was led by talk show host Hal Turner. The group says the demonstration is in response to recent assaults in the city. The group called them hate crimes.

“Several of them were Minorities assaulting Caucasians, it was a mix. They’ve taken that and blown it into being a racist, ethnic intimidation case, which we have no evidence of”, says Capt. Taylor.

Dan Hill, a White Supremist who was not part of the group holding the event says, “We’re just here to support the message that Kalamazoo, the city, and police force have to put a stop to these hate crimes.”

One of the protestors, Walter Jones says, “I went to Vietnam. I got shot three times. Then I’m going to let these guys come into town. Nah, it’s not right.”

The White Supremist group finished their rally and left the city without any major problems.

The City of Kalamazoo says it does not support the message the group was trying to send, but they did have to issue the group a permit based on the First Amendment. The Right to Assemble and The Freedom of Speech.