2005 Toledo Riot

On October 15, 2005, the National Socialist Movement (NSM), a Neo-Nazi organization, planned a march to protest alleged black gang activity in the North End of Toledo, Ohio. The appearance of the group sparked a four-hour riot by elements within the assembled protesters, and caused a citywide curfew to be implemented for the remainder of the weekend.

Neo-Nazis plan to march through Toledo's North End

Several weeks before the rally, members of the NSM went door-to-door through a North Toledo neighborhood, and discussed with residents the possibility of addressing gang activity. The NSM claimed that a local resident "invited" the group, but the named individual claimed that the group misrepresented themselves and that he did not invite the NSM. [cite web|url=http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=3986988|title=Those Who Watched the Mess Unfold Are Trying to Make Sense Of It|publisher=WTOL|date=2005-11-17|accessdate=2008-01-25] The NSM planned to march through the North End of Toledo, Ohio.

The group stated that the purpose of the march was to protest alleged gang activity in the area. Approximately fifteen supporters of the NSM gathered under police guard in preparation to march. [cite web|url=http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=1474|title=Caught in the Clash|publisher=Toledo Free Press|2005-10-19|accessdate=2008-01-25] They began an impromptu rally at the staging point for the march, shouting insults and other racial slurs at black members of the community. [cite web|url=http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=1474|title=Caught in the Clash|publisher=Toledo Free Press|2005-10-19|accessdate=2008-01-25]

Rally turns to rioting

Responses had been organized during the week leading up to the rally. Neighborhood residents, the Toledo chapter of the International Socialist Organization, local anarchist organizations, Anti-Racist Action groups from other cities, and various street gangs coordinated in planning a massive protest aimed at forcing the NSM rally to be cancelled [ [http://historymike.blogspot.com/2005/10/extreme-showdown-groups-lining-up-to.html historymike: Extreme Showdown? Groups Lining Up To Confront Nazis In Toledo ] ] . After forcing police to cancel the rally, the protesters directed aggression against the police in response to what they claimed were random arrests and police brutality. This set off a four hour conflict between over 600 community members and the Toledo police force. Police cancelled the march as the situation between police and community members escalated. Members of the NSM and its supporters were told to leave town with a police escort. [cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051015/BREAKINGNEWS/51015023|title=Violence in North Toledo after Nazi march canceled; mayor declares curfew|publisher=Toledo Blade|2005-10-19|accessdate=2008-01-25]

While the neo-Nazi group had already left the park, most of the community members and protesters were unaware of this. [cite web|url=http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=1474|title=Caught in the Clash|publisher=Toledo Free Press|2005-10-19|accessdate=2008-01-25] Eleven police personnel suffered injury, and one female officer suffered a concussion after a brick smashed through the side window of her vehicle, hitting her in the head. Police, media vehicles and emergency vehicles were all targeted. A number of stores in the community were targeted by the crowd, including a local bar, believed by many locals to be a regular hangout for police and politicians, which was broken into and set on fire. [cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051015/BREAKINGNEWS/51015023|title=Violence in North Toledo after Nazi march canceled; mayor declares curfew|publisher=Toledo Blade|2005-10-19|accessdate=2008-01-25] A local gas station was also looted. Police arrested more than 120 rioters, most of whom were residents of the North End. According to the mayor, a number of protesters were wearing gang colors. [cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051015/BREAKINGNEWS/51015023|title=Violence in North Toledo after Nazi march canceled; mayor declares curfew|publisher=Toledo Blade|2005-10-19|accessdate=2008-01-25]

Although disturbed by the intentions to march, the city's mayor, Jack Ford, was extremely critical of the community's response, saying that it was "just what they [neo-Nazis] wanted." [cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/15/nazi.march/index.html|title=Planned neo-Nazi march sparks violence|publisher=CNN|2005-10-19|accessdate=2008-01-25] However, many of the protesters noted that the NSM, by their own admission, were unhappy about being forced out of the neighborhood. Ford declared that a state of emergency existed, and the mayor then imposed an 8 pm curfew on the entire city. [cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051015/BREAKINGNEWS/51015023|title=Violence in North Toledo after Nazi march canceled; mayor declares curfew|publisher=Toledo Blade|2005-10-19|accessdate=2008-01-25] Police officers from several jusrisdictions, local SWAT team members, and private security firms patrolled the North End that evening.

Neo-Nazis return for rally

The NSM were granted the authority to rally at the Government Center in downtown Toledo on December 10, 2005. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was responsible for security at the Center. The stated purpose of the rally was to protest how the city dealt with the previous planned march. Approximately 45 people participated in the one-hour rally, separated from 170 observers and counter protesters by approximately 700 law-enforcement personnel. [cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051210/DEVELOPINGNEWS/51207026&SearchID=73229250356576|title=Nazi rally ends with no major violence|publisher=Toledo Blade|date=2005-12-10|accessdate=2008-01-25] The assembled police forces - which included local, state, and federal officers - had at their disposal such ancillary support as mounted patrols, armored personnel carriers, and rooftop snipers. [cite web|url=http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051211/NEWS16/512110396/-1/NEWS|title=Nazi rally sparks protest, prayer|publisher=Toledo Blade|date=2005-12-11|accessdate=2008-01-25] In addition, a legally questionable, last minute injunction was granted by Judge Thomas Osowick on December 9, barring public gatherings of any kind for the following two weeks.

Aggressive policing of the counter-protesters, which included the reported use of police Tasers, resulted in a total of 29 arrests. [cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051213/NEWS03/512130349|title=Police to probe use of Taser on woman at neo-Nazi rally|publisher=Toledo Blade|date=2005-12-13|accessdate=2008-01-25] Three of those arrested were photojournalists covering the event. [cite web|url=http://www.nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2005/12/toledo.html|title=Three Photojournalists Arrested Covering Nazi Rally|publisher=National Press Photographers Association|date=2005-12-11|accessdate=2008-01-25] People entering the rally zone, including members of the media, were subject to searches, and police engaged in videotaping all persons near the rally site for what was termed as "intelligence gathering for future investigations." [cite web|url=http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051211/NEWS16/512110396/-1/NEWS|title=Nazi rally sparks protest, prayer|publisher=Toledo Blade|date=2005-12-11|accessdate=2008-01-25] The majority of arrests occurred in the police controlled observation area; however, several people were arrested near public libraries for violating a court order banning unauthorized protests. [cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051213/NEWS03/512130349|title=Police to probe use of Taser on woman at neo-Nazi rally|publisher=Toledo Blade|date=2005-12-13|accessdate=2008-01-25] Local attorneys and civil rights activists protested the unusually strict police tactics, summed up by one attorney: "What you have in Toledo is martial law for a day." [cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051213/NEWS03/512130349|title=Police to probe use of Taser on woman at neo-Nazi rally|publisher=Toledo Blade|date=2005-12-13|accessdate=2008-01-25]

None of the neo-Nazi participants in the NSM rally were arrested, and they were escorted from the rally site by buses protected by police.

In retaliation, a local tattoo parlor that had allegedly been used as a base of operations for the NSM rally was vandalized later that night. The front window was smashed out with a rock marked with the anarchist circle "A" symbol. The owner of the parlor blamed the attack on a group called "The A Project" [cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=3715574 |title=Toledo Business Vandalized]

References

ee also

* Police riot
* Anti-Racist Action
* List of riots
* International Socialist Organization
* National Socialist Movement (United States)

External links

* [http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_289150647.html Toledo Under Curfew Following Neo-Nazi Riot] includes video
* [http://www.clamormagazine.org/passions/ Something's Happenin' Here: An On-The-Ground Analysis of the North Toledo Riots] A progressive analysis of the riots
* [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/15/nazi.march/ CNN: Planned neo-Nazi march sparks violence]