Seeking to reopen old wounds and cause racial tension, the neo-Nazi Creativity Movement has announced plans to hold a white power rally in York, PA on April 29th. Joined by members of the Harrisburgh-based Keystone State Skinheads, these neo-Nazis are seeking to use the Martin Library for this meeting, just as their racist brethern did back in January of 2002 when several hundred white supermacists came to York to support the former mayor then on trial for his role in a 1969 race riot.

During that 2002 rally, hundreds of community members, joined by anti-racist activists from all over the East Coast, successfully forced the racist recruitment meeting to end early and physically ran the neo-Nazis out of town. It is important that the York community show the same resolve this time around, and stand up against the neo-Nazi threat and address the atmosphere of racial violence they are trying to create.

Pennsylvania has long been an area of concentration for neo-Nazi groups to try and spread their racist propaganda. Recently, the Keystone State Skinheads have been holding a number of concerts in the Harrisburg and York areas, supporting white power politics and advocating genocide against all non-whites. In the past few years, a number of KSS members also have been arrested and charged with assault and ethnic intimidation. Matt Hale, the former leader of the Creativity Movement, is currently serving a 40-year sentence in federal prison for conspiring to have a federal judge assassinated. These are just some examples that show the dangerous and violent nature of fascist groups across the country.

At a time when a large power vacuum exists in the white power movement, we must be even more vigilant about opposing neo-Nazis every time they attempt to organize publicly. We must take advantage of the situation and stamp out the seeds of hate and not let any group fill this power vacuum. Ignoring the neo-Nazis is not the answer. This will only lead the racists to believe they have little or no opposition, allowing them to recruit openly and unopposed and leaving them comfortable to return to York in the future.

We CANNOT give the neo-Nazis any room to organize and recruit. We must not allow the existing power vacuum to be filled. We must be there on April 29th to take away any illusion of organization and power the Creativity Movement is trying to present. We need to stand up and join together in solidarity and diversity, sending a clear message that such activity is not welcome in our communities.

Please join us in opposing the Creativity Movement outside the Martin Library on April 29th. Let's send these neo-Nazis home knowing that their behavior will not be tolerated here in PA, or anywhere else. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Please bring banners, signs and anything else that will help get our message of equality and unity heard over the hateful rhetoric of the neo-Nazis.

The Creativity Movement has recently stated that if they are not allowed use of the library, then they will have their white supremacist rally in front of the library building, starting at noon. We will be meeting at 11AM in front of the Martin Library (159 East Market Street) - an hour before the white supremacists are scheduled to gather - to have a loud and visible anti-Nazi presence as the members of the Creativity Movement and other assorted fascists arrive for their rally.

In unity,

Philadelphia Residents Against Racism
philly.residentsagainstracism-AT-gmail.com