CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Nazi Rally Draws Protesters

Nazi Rally Draws Protesters

By Anthony Austin

While the Nazi's came out to spread a message of hate, protesters gathered with a message of their own. It's time to leave hatred in the past.

The sound of loud chants could be heard over the normal hustle and bustle on the square this weekend.

Protestors fought against the Nazi group that stood on the steps of the courthouse, a group they said spreads a message of hate.

"Have you heard a word they said today? said Ree, Protester, "You know why? That's cause we're here."

"Ree" and her friends want to drown out that message because they believe, no one else should hear it.

They wear scarves over their face for fear of retaliation.

"It's nauseating, I can't even believe people of a community would suffer scum like that," Ree said in disgust, "I can't even come up with a better word."

One man kneeled on the street to pray. Joel Brashear held a sign that read "We are all citizens of the earth."

"They need to get smart, look beyond that," said Joel Brashear, Protester, "Skin is just a color, just a shade."

"I was thinking, we have just moved forward with the presidential election but things like this tell me we really haven't moved at all," said Kenneth Butler, Spectator.

A group of men walked up during the protest, sparking the attention of the police. Many thought they were supporters of the white supremacist group.

"Automatically, when we first walk up the cops are all "stop stop"," said Justin Peek, Spectator "I guess because we have boots and overalls on and stuff. I felt I was getting discriminated against when I was just coming up here to see what was going on,"Peek added.

Many in the crowd though otherwise, but continued on with their protest. A cause they said is necessary.

"We're America, we're all Americans," said Brashear.

The confrontation lasted for over 3 hours. Many of the protestors against the Nazi's were not only from Tyler; but Dallas, Houston, and Austin.