BELLEVILLE, IL (KTVI - FOX2now.com)—
Screaming and yelling, but no arrests and no major problems as white supremacists rallied in the middle of Belleville Saturday. About 22 members of the National Socialist Movement protested the St. Clair County prosecutor's decision not to charge two teens accused of beating a classmate with a hate crime. And hundreds of gawkers showed up to watch."Anytime it happens when the white is the aggressor," said a member of the National Socialist Movement, over a bullhorn. But the rest of his message was drowned out by the yell of "go home" from hundreds of people who hung out the side of a parking garage.
The gawkers far outnumbered the people they came to see. So did police. Dozens of armed officers, all in bullet proof vests, many dressed in riot gear, patrolled the streets to keep the peace.
Several of the white supremacists marched carrying the American flag, just as counter protesters clung to. Reverend John Curry of Conquerors Christian Center organized the peaceful demonstration one block from the nazi's. They held tightly to American flags, but perhaps more tightly to their faith.
"We've gotta wave those flags," Curry told those gathered supporting his efforts. "That's what this nation is all about. We'll make our statement, our statement is love. We love you and we're one, period."
On the corner where the counter demonstrators stood there was no screaming. Just a quiet unity. And there was no anger over the awful incident that got them all here: two African American teenagers beat a white schoolmate on a bus bound for Belleville West High School. Prosecutors charged the 14 and 15 year old boys with felonies but found no evidence of a hate crime. That's what brought the white supremacists to town. They want hate crime charges filed.
Some of them carried signs spelling that out: "It was a hate crime," they read.
Belleville Police had backup thanks to officers from the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, O'Fallon, Swansea, and the HIghway Patrol. Besides telling gawkers what boundaries they needed to respect, and sometimes telling them to move along instead of egging the demonstrators on, there were no problems.
"It's just speech," said Belleville Police Chief William Clay. "As long as it stays just speech, we're ok with that."
"It's a drain on our department, but something we have to do and will do for the public safety," he added.
Some just stood and shook their heads at the spectacle on the courthouse steps.
"I believe everybody has the right to the first amendment, the right to speak their mind, but I also believe that everybody has the right to equality," said Belleville Resident Tiffany Muskoph.
