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News :: Miscellaneous |
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100s Laugh At, Deride, Curse, Pray About Racist Hale In Champaign |
Current rating: 0 |
by Mike Lehman, U-C IMC
(No verified email address) |
09 Sep 2001
Modified: 11 Sep 2001 |
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Racism decisively rejected by citizens of Champaign County |
A crowd of numbering approximately 300 expressed diverse ways of rejecting the racist message of Matt Hale and the World Church of the Creator in Champaign, Illinois on Sunday evening, Sept. 9. Hale, one of whose erstwhile followers killed a number of people and wounded others (including a University of Illinois student walking on the street) in a bloody multi-state rampage of drive-by hate before committing suicide two years ago, spoke to an angry and derisive crowd. The crowd, apparently composed entirely of opponents of racism, laughed at him when he entered the Champaign City Library Auditorium and then proceeded to harangue him as he advocated white supremacy.
Community members were a diverse group. Church members brushed shoulders with masked black bloc anarchists. All shades of skin color joined in a unanimous rejection of hatred. The only two apparent supporters of Hale entered the auditorium early, then left when they realized they would be alone in the crowd inside. One, wearing a Confederate flag T-shirt, spoke with a News-Gazette reporter briefly. When asked if he was a racist, he quickly changed the subject, asserting he was just an old friend of Hale’s who wanted to "see what he was up to." His curiosity apparently quenched, he departed with his silent friend, pausing to give a Hitler salute to the crowd, before turning tail and fleeing under the protection of the police standing nearby as the crowd threw angry jeers at his disgusting display.
Reports from those inside indicated that Hale’s only supporters at that point were the half-dozen sycophants who accompanied him under police escort in a MTD bus to a side door of the library. Ministers of a wide variety of denominations led a prayer service to ask for deliverance from racism in our society outside the library. After that, anarchists and black bloc members held a free speech forum in the street, where a number of different points of view on combating systematic racism were expressed by those present. Speakers urged the crowd to reject racism in their day-to-day lives, while noting the irony of the same police that often repress the black community working so hard to protect Hale’s rights.
The crowd was generally peaceful. No arrests or injuries were reported, although a handful of individuals were ejected by the police from the auditorium, including one young man who didn’t have a chance to collect his coat before being escorted out. Another man complained that he was ejected for having a pocketknife after being frisked inside the library. He commented that he would have given it to someone to hold for him, if he’d only known it wasn’t allowed inside. Signs which indicated the rules were posted, but the size of the crowd may have obscured the rules, which were hung on the sides of the perimeter fence. Rules restricting any cellphones or cameras, except for the press, were denounced by many as being overly restrictive, although eventually groups were allowed one camera amongst them inside.
More coverage here soon and on Monday’s IMC Newshour. |
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Hale |
by sarah b
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
10 Sep 2001
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I drove by the library on Sunday @ 3 p.m. to see if any of the drama had started early. What I saw was yards and yards of orange fencing which could only be intended to separate people from this ``event''. I am curious to know why people who preach separatism, hate, and violence receive such protection from the police while protesters that work towards open exchange and debate of ideas, answers to ``global economic'' (coporate wealth) plans, and nonviolence never seem to receive the same consideration.
I was disgusted to see WICD news at 10 interviewd a man with a swastika tattooed on his neck (probably the only
pro-Hale individual in attendence). Frankly, and I suppose this shows my true naive nature, I was surprised.
I kept away to show that this community had no interest in his ignorant views. However, I am glad that so many people did show up to voice their contrasting views to Hale. I guess our community wasn't torn apart over the rantings of an idiot. |
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Racism? Let's Change the Subject... |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
10 Sep 2001
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When asked by the News-Gazette on his views of racism, the fellow in the Confederate flag T-shirt quickly changed the subject. It seems that Matt Hale is an old friend of this fellow and he just stopped by to "see what he was up to."
Curiosity satisfied, he and his friend left the auditorium early when it became clear that the audience inside was totally oppossed to Hale's racist ideas. He displayed his ideas most clearly by flashing a Nazi salute at the crowd from across the street, retreating around the corner where the cops could watch his back as he and his associate fled the scene. |
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The Rules of Engagement |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
10 Sep 2001
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I hope this scan will be readable on the Web. It is a photograph of the rules that were posted by the Champaign Police for members of the public who wanted to enter the library auditorium for the Matt Hale hatespeech. They caused difficulties for some of those attending and are the subject of some debate regarding their legality. |
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Summing Up Public Opinion |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
10 Sep 2001
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This woman neatly sums up public opinion about Matt Hale's hateful visitation to our community. |
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I Hope This Is Better |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
10 Sep 2001
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While you won't have to strain your neck, you may have to still strain your eyse to read this version of the "Rules of Conduct" posted by the Champaign Police. |
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Free Speech Zone |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
11 Sep 2001
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Police patrol the perimeter of the "free speech zone" at the Champaign City Library. |
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Pontifex Maximus of White Supremacy Buses In |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
11 Sep 2001
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The Champiagn-Urbana MTD bus arrives at the library carrying Matt Hale and his pitiful band of followers.
The so-called Pontifex Maximus of white supremacy had to rely on public transportation to arrive safely at the Champaign City Library. Irronic to think that that bus probably got there safely because hard-working black unoin people helped build it and the mixed race workforce at the MTD garage maintains it. I wonder if a black person might have driven Hale safely to his gig of hatred? |
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Pontifex Maximus Takes Public Transportation |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
11 Sep 2001
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The Champaign-Urbana MTD bus carrying Matt Hale and his tiny entourage arrives at a side door of the library. |
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Black Bloc Against Hale in Champaign, IL |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
11 Sep 2001
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The photo is a little blurry, but that only adds to the mystery surrounding the black bloc. One thing's for sure, they may have "no comment" to reporters, but it's clear Hale better not come out this way. |
