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As neo-Nazis plan an upcoming demonstration in Riverside, numerous organizations are condemning their actions and joining efforts to counter-protest. Members of the National Socialist Movement first assembled on September 26th outside a day-labor site in the Inland Empire city to voice their anti-immigrant hate. The eight Nazis present were then met by an estimated two-hundred counter demonstrators. A few shoving matches ensued when the small group of neo-Nazis ended their rally early and dispersed. Following the incident, Jeff Hall, the state director of the Nationalist Socialist Movement, and others harassed Jewish worshipers outside the Temple Beth El in Riverside by unfurling swastika flags during Friday night services at the synagogue. Anti-Semitic vandalism was also reported earlier this month at the First Congregational Church in the city. In response to the harassment, the Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Islamic Center of Riverside and the Islamic Society of Corona/Norco recently condemned in public the neo-Nazi harassment outside of Temple Beth El. CAIR –LA has also joined a list of more than twenty organizations planning to counter-protest the upcoming October 24th National Socialist Movement rally.

GUESTS: Brian Levin, Director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, Munira Syeda, Communications Manager for CAIR-LA