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The KKK rallies in Ann Arbor
Often when serving on a peace team it is easy to feel discouraged. Violence
erupts, situations escalate and we feel discouraged – like we have failed. Yet,
in the midst of the chaos success is often found.
In May 1998 the KKK rallied in Ann Arbor, MI. Two years prior
to that the same group had held a rally in Ann Arbor, and many had chosen to
protest by staying away – by removing any audience. Some who choose to come
responded to the violence of the Klan with their own violence - throwing rocks,
bottles and the like. The local police overreacted with tear gas; pepper spray,
clubs and many were hurt, the KKK was able to paint themselves as victims and
made international news. They vowed to come back. The community determined we
needed to do it differently when they did.
For 2 years community members met and talked, organized and
planned. Many people trained to join a violence reduction peace team should the
Klan return. A peace team of 109 people turned out when the Klan returned. Below
are a few of the many stories from that day:
1) The original plan was to have several blocks around city
hall fenced off. To get to this area, people would need to submit to a search
and being “wanded” with a metal detector. Within this fenced in area there would
be separate fenced-in areas for Klan supporters and Klan protesters. Police in
riot gear would be stationed along the perimeter of the fence, in the “free
speech” area and elsewhere
There were huge concerns with this: that any violence in the crowd would be so
spread out along the outside fence it would be harder to deal with, that the
fence designated “free speech area” and segregated inside areas, and the
presence of so many riot police were at worst in and of themselves violent, and
at best not calling the crowd to act at their best. Also, given the amount of
police violence at the previous Klan rally – many in the community had real
concerns about everyone being fenced in and “trapped”.
With input from representatives of the Peace team, the plan was changed.
Although not want we wanted entirely a compromise was reached. Klan spoke in
front of City Hall underneath an overhang in front of the door. Cyclone fencing
and Plexiglas was dropped down from the overhang to the ground completely
surrounding the KKK and giving the impression that they were in a cage. City
Hall, and its parking lot were fenced all-around with a 6 to 8 foot high cyclone
fence. Inside this area was the “free speech” area. Once inside this area people
could get very close to the KKK – almost within reach of the fence and Plexiglas
“cage. “ To get to this area, however, one had to submit to a search and metal
detecting wand. Visible police would not be in riot gear, however, there would
be a large number or riot police just out of site. While not ideal, this was a
more limited curtailing of assembly rights than originally planned and the more
limited show of force may have mitigated some responsive violence
2) At one time a person in the crowd took off his shirt to reveal swastika
tattoos. The crowd begin to push him and his head was scratched. Before anyone
could hit him further I interpositioned myself, leaning over him with my hands
on the fence essentially providing a protective roof over him. We inched down
the line of the
 fence until the opening where the police stood to allow those
searched into the “free speech area”. Once inside the free speech area the
police provided him with first aid.
3) A man and his girlfriend were in the crowd. The man took off this jacket
revealing both swastika and “white power” tattoos. The crowd began to push and
shove them both, throwing things at them. At one point someone cracked a bottle
over the woman’s head. An affinity team was able to get between the crowd and
the couple. The team formed a protective circle around the two, escorting them
out of the crowd and out of harm’s way. The team provided some simple first aid,
offered to call an ambulance and (when the 2 declined that) walked them to their
car. Ben who was a member of that particular affinity team later told me that as
they walked the couple to the car he pointed out to them “an African American,
an Asian American and (referring to himself) a queer Jew just saved your life
today. I would hope I could expect the same treatment if I came to your town.”
To which the woman responded quietly “you are all helping us today, so perhaps
we do bleed the same blood.”
4) At the fence put up around city hall- when the peace team was attempting to
keep it up- a young man that had been hitting and kicking the peace team became
aware that several of those targeted were grey haired women. He suddenly stopped
his attack and said “man, I just can’t keep beating up on grandmas”. Another
counter demonstrator who moments before had been yelling insults at a peace team
member offered her a vinegar soaked bandana to mitigate the effects of the
pepper spray when the peace team member was sprayed. As the fence was coming down someone reached in and pulled
out one of the peace team members – pulling her to safely “we don’t’ want to
hurt you” he said.
5) Later, a group of counter demonstrators broke away from the main crowd and
went around the back of city hall. The fence there – at the bottom of the stairs
was not attached as well as the rest of the fence, and came down fairly easily.
It was pulled down and counterdemonstrators ran up on the mezzanine of city
hall. People threw rocks though windows, ripped lights out of their holders and
knocked them down. At this point the siren was sounded and within a short time
tear gas we deployed. As the crowd (now having a difficult time seeing) and
feeling rather panicked attempted to run back down the steps the situation
turned dangerous as tripping and trampling seemed likely. Peace team members
worked with leaders of the counterdemonstrators (who previously had seen us as
“targets” or “the enemy ) to encourage people not to panic and to move quickly
down the stairs but without running and being cautious of others along the way.
It was great how those who only minutes before had been “at odds” with each
other worked together to ensure safety of all. |
