Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Scrapbooks 1998

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July march to raise $450 • per llllilUte B Ken 01 en taff writer

OEUR d'AL NE - Nearly 900 pc pie llectively are pledging 1 give human righ group 4 0 ~ r ev ry minute the Aryan ati n march in d wnt n ur d'AJene next m nth. 'At thi rate w c uld r ach a um f 1,000 per minute b th time of the march n July 1 ,' aid T n t wart f t.h Kootenai unty T k or e on Human R lati ns.

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Friday, June 12, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash/Coeur d'Alene. Idaho To contact the North Idaho of!lce. dial (208) 765-7100, toll-free800-344-6718: Fax: (208) 765-7149

Connnunities unite to oppose neo-Nazis Opposition to Aryan Nations parade to take place away from march site By Ken 01 en Staff writer

COEUR d' ALENE - Head for the border when the Aryan Nation bring it parade to the tre t f C eur d'Alene next month, human right leade ay. Joining rallie march and rvic in Spokane · more productive than confr nting and giving credibility to the tiny Hayden Lake-based neo-Nazi gr up that unfairly colors the Inland Northwest a hateful, the leader contend. lh addition to being more productive, 'the afety of the citizen of Coeur d Al n will be better ·erved " by people avoiding downtown during the parade, Mayor teve Judy aid. Mo t of these theme were repeated b · veral of 16 Wa hington and Idaho leader,

who gathered at the tat Line Thursday to formall Plans for a announce counter-event to the plan for Aryan Nations count ring parade on July 18 the Aryan Na, include a caravan to tion Jul 18 Spokane and a parade. The human rights rally at plans include Gonzaga University. a caravan to There will be an Spokane and interfaith service in a hum a n Coeur d'Alene the right raJI al day after the parade. Gonzaga Univer ity on the da of the parade and an interfaith ervice in Coeur d Alene July 19.

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It is ironic, and perhap unfortunate, that the Aryan Nations parade i the cataly t for greater co perati n b tween Idaho and Wa hiogton, Spokane and Kootenai coun-

tie aid Doug Creswell pre ident of the Kootenai County Ta k Force n Human Relation . But ooperative effort to figh t bate and th perception that the Inland Nortbwe t i a haven of bate, wiU continu . That involve a d dicated effort to tell a different tory about the area aid Tony Stewart, of the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations. We want all of th pe pie of the Inland North~ est, the tale of Idah and Wa hington, th Northwe t the United tatei and around the world to ee and hear our unity in promoting ju tic , fr dom and equality for all people ' tewart aid. ' When v ice ri e up with a me age of bate or hara ment in an of our communiti , we haJJ re pond with a clear me age of no' to hate and 'ye to a celebration of human rights." Ben Cabild . of th pokan Human Rights Cornmi i n empha ized that part Continued: Parade/88


Parade: March may raise cash Continued from B1

Tony Stewart of lhe Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations leads a group of human rights leaders to the border with Washington for a symbolic hand shaking of lhe two stales' leaders. The leaders gathered at the stale line to announce plans to counter !he Aryan LliKlshlmolo{Tlle Sp()kesman-Review Nations parade.

of the effort i to make ure that what happened in Texa a few day ago doe n t happen here. Three ex-convicts inducting two cJaiming to have ties to a raci t prison gang, were charged Tuesday with the brutal killing of a cti abled black man in Jasper. In otra t "we want to eradicate hate from where we live,' Cabildo aid. One of the joint effort betw en the Wa hingtoo and Idaho human right groups is coUecting pledge for very minute the Aryan march. Coeur d'Alene Mayor Judy i pubing to give.that permanent file. If the Aryan don't march "I would hope the pledge would last until there i a parade Judy aid. 'The thought of rai ing 45 000 for human rjgbts group may be Lhe only thing that keep them from marching."


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Ben Cabilbo, left, of the Civil Rights Commission in Spokane shakes hands with realtor Marshal Mend, member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, Thursday at the Washington-Idaho border. The ceremony representing the partnership between human rights officials, politicians and educators from both states.


Idah , Wa hington civil rights lead r offer option to Aryan parade By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer

people to see and hear unity in promoting freedom and justice for all.

When oices rise with a message of hate and hara ment, we haJJ re pond." -Tony Stewart, task force member


This boom was heard around the country

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The Spok man-Review

ational journali t who love bedeviling Idaho uch as Timothy Egan of the New York Time , hould c ut the May 19 issue of lnc. magazine. According to an article pa ed along by Dick Wanclrocke D.F. ldabo i the fifth-leading tale in the O liveria nation per 100 re ident for tart-up bu ine e . And Boise trail only La Vega as the second top metro hot pot -67 place ahead of Spokane. Idaho econ mic vitality houJd erve a a reality check on the dire torie printed about us. Then, Egan' type doe n't eem to let facts get in the way of a good tory.

AWisconsinthumbs up Columni t George Hesselberg of the Wisconsin Stat Journal bailed the idea of u ing neo-Nazi to raise money for human rights. Recently be drew hi readers attention to the ' Lemon to Lemonade" strategy promoted by the Kootenai County Ta k Force on HullUUl Relation . The Ku Klux Klan apparently plans t ch in Madi on soon. Hesselberg labeled a 'geniu '' t~e task force' deci ion to collect pledge for each minute the Aryan Natfon marches in CDA July 18. He' right.


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Hot Potatoes

Butler, neo-Nazls should l1roll llowly Unless racist Richard Butler hustles his sorry carcassi Sherman Avenue, he's going to raise big-time bucks for human ri ts. Some 900 people have pledged a combined $450 for every minute utler and his 100 goosesteppers march July 18. The final tally for the ''Making Lemonade out of Lemons" project of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Rights could reach $1,000 per minute. In other words, Butler & Co. could raise $60 000 for local human rights by parading for an hour. And every dime would be used to combat the hate Butler promotes. That's poetic justice. Hmmm. Make that social justice. • D.F. Oliveria's "Hot Potatoes" runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.


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Racism talks tum painful Issue forces Christian leaders to look inward By Kelly Mc.Bride ta.ff write r

After a year of low, tortu us talks about raci m 60 Chr' tian leaders in pokane have littl lo how for their efforts. That may low them down a bit this morning when they try to convince their congregation that racism not only divide communitie , but further

separat people from God. Their one tool is a covenant that condemns raci ma uoA conversation Chri tian. about race AJotof people say That' it? It took you a year to do that? aid the Rev. Ken Bea on, a pastor at St. John' Episcopal Cathedral. ''Well no that' not it. It i

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one mall tep on a long journey that we in this community need to embark upon. The committee of clergyChurches Against Racism - is in some way a controlled experiment of what would happen if Inland Northwe t re ident tackled racism head-on. Participan ay that while they origi.naJJy held out high ho~ for achievement, the now believe the proce it elf as bitter a it's been i more important than the lofty goal f Continued: Churchel/A10

By Chris Peck Editor

We who live here don't think of the Inland Northwest as a haven for raci ts, white separatists and others who bate. Like all communities we have a mall minority who feed on bate and try to divide people on the basis of skin color or ethnicity. This is not where most people living here would want to begin a conversation about race. Still, the few in our midst who tum racial hate and fear into a religion or political tatement get Continued: Racism pro)lct/A10


Churches: No plan of action emerges Continued from A1 eradicating raci m. ''We've gone about a far a we can go with the civil rights movement,' said Linda Kobe-Smith, parish administrator for St. Ann s Catholic Church. "What we need to work on right now i more than ju t changing tructures. We need to work on changing people' hearts and attitudes. And we don t know how you do that, except the way that we're doing it, which is a long, slow and painful proce . '

In the beginning When the committee fir t assembled in early 1997 the participant did so under the assumption that the church was going to do something about raci m. Many members bad attended the Community Congress on Racial Relations, sponsored by Gonzaga Univtmity, and felt the church as a united body needed to speak out. "Many of the extcemi t groups use the word 'Christian' as a platform," said Judy Butler, of the Catholic Dioce e of Spokane. "We need to tand up and counter that." What members quickly realized is that before they could do something about raci m, they had to do omething aboutthem elves. It quickly became apparent during the first meeting that not everybody agreed racism was a problem. I couldn't hardly believe that some people were o naive, aid Ezra Kinlaw, P.a tor of Holy Temple Church of God in Christ. 'As we progressed. I under tood it better." They didn't even speak the ame language about God. Although the committee consisted entirely of Chri tians it wa a diverse group, said Bob Bartlett, director of cultural affair at Gonzaga Univer ity. He wa brought in to help committee member work through their difference . Tb group repre ented Roman Catholics Evangelical Pentecostals, African American churches and mainline Prate tant churche . Some members were downright distru tful of each other.

" ln eminary,'I w~ trained to keep my distance from the Catholics " said the Rev. Tom Starr, pa tor of Maranatha Bible Church. "Well, you can t build relationships jf you do that." The first half of the year was spent exploring why imply talking about their differences was so hard. What they finally concluded was that a combination of human nature and the fact that Spokane is so overwhelmingly white makes it easy to be isolated. Not only do most people, including clergy, rarely interact with other races; they rarely interact with people who think differently socially politically or theologically. "Everybody lives in their own little corner '' K.inlow aid. 'And here's a true confe ion: I picked my corner my denomination, because I think it the only right denomination. ' The group is so diverse that just getting together for a meetrng requires an enormous amount of emotional energy, Bartlett said After mo t meetings, the members walk away exhausted. ' Some days we just hang together by beer grip ' Kobe-Smith said.

Results come slowly Slowly, the committee began to ee results, but not the kind you can list on {'aper. Results came by way of personal transformations. During the year, Starr and Kinlaw had similar experience at a local hospital. Both felt close relatives had been treated poorly by the medical staff. Starr thought hi relative was being treated poorly because she was old. Kinlaw thought it was because his relative wa black. By comparing experiences, the two pastors were able to talk about the subtleties of culture and class. ¡ Until then, Starr said he always saw himself as a member of the underclass because he came from a poor family. For the first time, he became aware of his status as a member of a privile~ed class. "It gave me some insight into what white privilege is," Starr said. "It's very apparent that our ignorance of our own privilege creates some racial problems." Starr said that privilege kept him from seeing bow uncomfortable minorities would feel in his allwhite church. Such problems divide whites from other minorities he said. Dan Grether, founder of Free lndeed Ministries

International, aid his change of heart started through Promi e Keepers, a Christian men's movement that has made racial reconciliation a priority. During a Promise Keepers rally in Seattle, a pastor prayed for those who bad been guilty of racism. Grether said he realized that he was ill-atease around people different from himself and that led to subtle racism in his life. "I didn't think that prayer was going to work." he said. ''But I was different afteiward. The Lord was able to pull that uneasiness out of me." His work on the committee is a re ult of that conversion. '[ come from an evangelical wing of the mainline church, he said. 'Back in the 60s, during the civil rights movement, 1 basically ignored the que tion ofracism." Starr points out that most evangelicals are just learning to discu the impact of raci m. "We thought we were o firitual we didn't have a problem,' he said. But that s changing. "The Lord him elf has been confrontin~ the evangelical wing of the church with the question of racial reconciliation,' Grether said.

No plan of action For aJJ the self-examination and new awareness, the committee ha n't been able to come up with any answers, any concrete plan of action. And that frustrate many of its members. "I want to do something that's the way I'm wired ' Starr aid. "l'm not afraid of failure, so I think we hould do more.' But other committee member say they can't fathom what to do. They have discussed calling for integrated churche , hiring minority pastors and having congregations with different backgrounds combrne forces. But ultimately, they say, those ideas will do little to reduce raci m. "There is no tool box. no quick fix," Bartlett said, "because you can change the way your church behaves and still not have addressed the issue." Instead, the only thing the committee members agree will make a difference is to keep working together and to go back to their congregations and tart imilar group . We have a group of leader committed to coming back every month, even when the work i really hard.'' Kobe-Smith said. "I call that progres . I might even call that hope.'


Racism project: Giving voice •

to mamstream Continued from A1

plenty of attention. Travel to a distant city today, and people often peg the Inland Northwest as nothing more than the home of Randy Weaver, the Aryan Nations and the site of any number of crimes committed by various separatist movements.

These events were real, newsworthy and needed to be covered. On July 18, these few again will try to make a statement when the Aryan Nations church plans to march in downtown Coeur d'Alene. They have a right to a parade. That right is guaranteed under the First Amendment. But those who disagree with their me~ge have a right and a responsibility to offer a different message. The Spokesman-Review wants to help the mainstream find its voice to discuss. issues of race. The paper today begins a series of articles focused on how mainstream organizations are trying to constructively cope with prejudice, hate and

perceptions that the Inland North- political leaders. west is a sanctuary for racists. In all the upcoming news stories The series begins by telling the commentari~ and public forums, the story of an unlikely coalition of newspaper will strive to accurately Christian churches that has worked and fairly reflect the broad range of for months to draft a Covenant of authentic conversations taking place Mutual Respect for people who live about race, hate groups and related in the region. Their concerns about issues in our region. racial discrimination began before The Spokesman-Review believes it the march was announced and extend has a responsibility to report on these beyond the Aryan Nations. constructive responses as well as At North Idaho College a few days report on the July 18 march. This ago, The Spokesman-Review orga- reporting effort is intended to pronized a high school forum to discuss vide the context readers need to cope freedom of speech. tolerance and with what has become a defining racism. More than 700 students took issue for our region. part. We hope you will stay with us Other forums are planned in the during this conversation. We're in it next few weeks for business and together.


Covenant of

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n re pon to th city of pokane call f r commitment action in Lhe September 1996 · 1a1emen1 on Ra ial quity•· and membe o(thc Spokane Chri tian faith ommunit re n ible ~ r Ut • hared leadership four congregation and institution , we denounce the ongoing and growing raci t c mmcn and action: - ome ubllc, m blatant and viciou - that plague our city, tale and Tnland orthw t. We repre em a aried and diver. tradition who b i for c mmonality can b • found in the , criplure. that reflect a deep commitment 10 ju. lice, mere . righteou ne, sand peace for all. P aim 72· J-4, 12-14; P aim 5:J J-13; Isaiah 61:1-3: l.11ke 4:/627; Matthew 25:31-46: I John 2:9-11; Amo ·5:24; Micah 6:8 W endea or lo hare insight and to gro, and learn from each other in a pirit of good will and mutual re ·peel. thu · living out Lhi. Biblical vi ion. It i ur hope and came t prayer that in o doing we will provide a po. iti c mod I r re. peel for all. We openly confcs our failure Lo fully appreciate the plurali. tic nature of ur ethnic heritage. We rrowl'ull admit raci. m within our own Ii e and our hou.c f, or hip. We repent and intend to he more as rtive in heing advocate for ,u h e pr ion f racial ju tic in: quality job ; family living wage ; quality education and job training/retraining· fair and affordable hou ing· accc '. 1blc public tran portaLion; high quality, affordable child-care; multi-cultural intermingled activitie · and event . We will addre : area of difference and divi ion \ ith an attitude or openness. r pect, love and a willingn LO hear and learn from each other, Lo the end that we may live lhe mini try fr conciliation. With thi. hope and prayer before u · daily.we c v nanl togcth r to con<.lucl our comm n life by the . criptural Landa rd of qual ju Lice. mercy. humility and peace a: we pro ii.le leader hip in our congregation . t rganizacion and c mmunity. We believe that in o doing we \ ill rcn ct the compa.. ionat nature of our Lord - the Creal r of th uni er nd Lover fall! LO

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It's easy to fall into subtle racism trap

Solution requires 'intentional' work

To me ubtl raci m i when pe pie do n l have fir lhand knowledge f 1hc pr blem, bu La vague comprehension of a probl m that cxi • I r y. b I\ e n blacks and white . P ople ometime ay: "I've lived in 'pokanc my entire life and r have ne r had to d al, ith pr bkm hctwc n the race . o really l'm not prejudiced.'' To me, man p oplc who ha c not experienced ~ hat ha been g ing on with minoritie her in 'pokane and around ur 011d rful nation arc just 11 l aware. Thi mean that, e must try 10 incrca c the awarene f o man people in rder lo ol e thi complex probl m of raci. m. If. ou are not a pan of th olution you arc part of the problem. o ortcn I am made aware that pc pie d n't under tand ~ hat I •·v ant'' as an African-American. When I re pond that what I d • ·ire · equal trcatm nt and a fair hancc, they g t uch a Lrange look on their face ai if to a . " ou don't have thi already?" Th' i hat ubtle raci m looks like. rt i hard form to cc th diCi rencc bet\ 11 ublle rac· m and raci m it elf. It walks lik a duck, it talks like a duck, it ell lik a du k - urely it mu. t be a duck. rd n't want to und lrite or flippant. but we ha e a lot to d in ord r for ·o many f our neighbor to under tand what it i lik to be put d ~ n b a' look" or a mile that is r all n I a mile. T be waited n last, to be roll wed in the tore. Lo be ealcd in the ba k, Lo be 1rcated a . omcon • who i · invi ·iblc. Thi i what ubtlc raci m i all about

When I think of the . ubtle f nn of raci m, I'm rcmindeu of the tory of a person a king another per.on hat he felt wa wrong with ur c untry. V a i.t ignorance or wa it apath '? Th ' an er: "I don't kno and I uon't care. · Thi may be a joke, but in realit it i not funny.

• The Rev. Ken G. Beason is pastor for Christian education and pastoral care at The Cathedral of SL John the Evangeflst In Spokane.

Prejudice i. ubtlc bccau. ewe flen d n t recognize it in our. cl c . Whether our prejudice · arc racial nr cultural we feel good about Lhcm anu think th 'Y mu t be right. Bccau c w feel • good, b au we Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Essay writers, from left , Judy Butler, the Rev. Ken Beason and the Rev. Tom Starr.

Covenant should lead us to action I do not kn w ~ hat it i lik to be black or Hi panic in pokane. Evea kno ing that I d not know. r d not und tand h , much I do not ee. I am II minded of the joy of an "ah-ha moment where ·omething was all Lhc sudden made clear. That kind of experience tell me there may be other time. h n I have not ct en the light. . pcciaJly in di u. i n f race. I I w often d we go about our daily activiti and ec onl whit faces? Why i our communit lacking in diver ity'? Why i it difiicull to recruit people of diverse ethnic group to thi beautiful ar a? I row can we know w arc n I raci t? few week. ago, Th, poke man-Rcvic olicited wedding aunouncemcnt from people of color. I bad n t noticed thi. now-obviou · ab ence. Of cour. c 1 notice, h n, omen arc not includ d. Reality doe: not look Lh amc from diffcrent pc pccti e ·. The Cov nant of Mutual Re peel wa born of the need Lo tart ,omcwherc. The kc v ord i ·tarl, · the covenant doc · not re olvc the i ue; it i. onl our

a knowledgm nt oflxllh a pr blcm and al a willingn · l address il Logelhi;r. What I hope Lhe covenant will do i initiate oth 'r discu ion about ra · m in ur horn and in our church which will I ad u LO action and n w relati nship;. G p:l lovc is grounded injustice. To that end, the steering committ e of the hurcbe Again t Raci m pr id d a copy f the covenam Lo the churche of the pokan area in pril with cncouragcm nL lo r fl •ct on it - each congr gati n and pari, h in it · own \ ay- on or be lore Pcnt~co t unday. ome churchc are pon oring forum· 10 di cu raci m; other will be offering their ign turc on 1h' covenant uuring hurch ·crvic on P ·nl co t. Th re pon ·e will ary, but the challenge I all of u. i to face th i uc. • Judy Butler, a retired attorney, is a project coordinator for Catholic Charities/Catholic Relief Services, a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a board member of the Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries.

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After all. t day'. philo ph dictate lhal · if it feel. good, do it." It L hecau. c of thi philo uphy that we fccl each of u. ha a right inui iduall lo dctin what i right and what is wrong. ·1cr all. wc have a right LO our pini n. . nd our opinion mu l he right. Being while and parl of th majority, I

r ii to under land what it mcani. to he in the minority. I fail to und ·rstand hm tho in minority communitic feel ahout raci m and pr judicc. I ha . in large mclll,urc. ignored the problem. M failur L eek to und rstand and m failure to care enough t find out i. 11 contrfhuling fact r in perpetuating raci. m. The problem of raci m will not go away un! s, e begin to car enough to lind out what we can do about Lh • problem. And then, taking th tim to do what we can a ut the problem. Thi will take 'intenti nal" work on each of ur parts. • The Rev. Tom Starr is pastor of Maranatha Bible Church In Newman Lake. He is also president of the Greater Spokane Association of Evangelicals.


Also today To contact lhe North Idaho offfce. dial (206) 765-7100, toll-free 800-344-6718: Fax: (208) 765-7149

Buslness/A11 Opinion/A12 Roundtable/A13

CdA service celebrates diversity By Heath r LaUey

C taffwriter

OEURd'ALENE-StateSen.

Gordon Cr w called on wor hiper at a pra er rvice _unday to love and •

forgi ' that ection of our c mmurury that ha cho en to hate. ' About 100 people gathered in City Park to eel brate diver ity at the ervice which wa pon ored by Oiakonia, an interfaith fellow hip group founded about 18 month ago. ¡ I would like to hare with that community m love aad my forgivene for your hate," Crow aid of group Like the Aryan Nation. . ' We love you and we forgive you and we a k you to come

and join us. ' The c ncept of the ervicc it elf rho ugh, touched off controversy among some in Coeur d Alen ' reli iou community who aid it wa toodiver e. D pite the ab ence of everal a~ea ch~rche , r presentati e fr m the Commuruty Uruted Methodjst Church Lutheran Church of the Ma ter t. Luke Epi copal Church Church of Je u Cbri t of Latter-day runt and Fi t Presbyterian Church among others att nded the ervice. "We can pray wi th each ther ' said Mike Bullard, p tor ofFirst Pre byt rian Church. 'I Continued: D1verslty/A9

Practicing a song are, from lett, Joseph Pitner, Shelli Pitner, Marilyn Muehlbach, Cathy Kelm and LeeAnn Clarke.


Diversity: Group tries to change Idaho's image as a racist state Continued from A7 wi h people ju t had a little more understanding that we could be together as human beings and as friend ." Marshall Mend. a member of the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation , said the community must work to change the perception that Idaho is a haven for racists. He urged residents to place sign in their windows expre sing their commitment to human rights. And he called on community leader to put imilar ign along the highway. 'We need to tart marketing Idaho for what it really is, ' Mend aid. "A great place for all people. The repetition of people seeing that message over and over again may help change that image." As the Aryan Nations prepare for a march through downtown Coeur d Alene July 18, other are wre tling with how be I to re pond to that action. Do nothing, Crow said and be branded apathetic. Confront the marcher and fac po ible vi lence, he said. Crow aid he wo.n't attend the

parade but ma pend the time at church. ' I would encourage the community of believers to get on their knee and pray at ome point in the parade ' he aid.


Photos by Ltl l{JshlmoLatrne Spokesman-Review

About 100 people showed up for the Interfaith church service at Coeur d'Alene's City Park Sunday afternoon. The event put on by Oiakonia was organized as an effort to celebrate diversity.


Service celebrates community diversity By TOM SWIFT Staff writer

COEUR d' ALENE orth Idaho ha a r pulation. ome peopl would lik it to chang,. And ~o n. Thal wa th ov rridiog me. ag of th galhering f iakonia - a fellowhip f local r ligi u congregation that m l in lht• o ur ily Park band~ h LI on unday. '"'IT . l'l' 1 1¡1v ma Th gathring, e tiworld wh r w mat d at ar no longer i o- 200, wa lat d. Wh n w d ign d to b r i n g hut out the r t

of th world, w clo our Iv ill. -Marilyn Muehlbach, Unity Church

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¡¡w liv in a world h re ar no long r i lat d," Muehlbach

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aid. "J w uld like lo expr my lov . my forgiv n for lhem .... th a mbl d p ople h r ... w hold our arm wid open to say we love you and fo iv you and we a k that ou com and join u ."


Our view As the region, bracesfor an Aryan Nations parade, we mt/St lnok to history for lessons ahout hate.

Sunday, June 7, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, wash./Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

There must be no not knowing This editorial is the first in a series addressing race and hatred. History teaches brutal lessons about man s capacity to hate and his incapacity to face the consequences of hatred. When citizens of Weimar, Germany, (sho~n in the photograph) were brought to see the atrocities committed at the ~uchenw~d , kn c ncentration camp, they looked away. They said they d1~ t ow. Buchenwald got special attention in 1945, not b~cause its horrors ¡ were more plentiful or shocking than . elsewhere but because it was the first Nazi it camp the Allies could liberate be1fore ttbhe f' t retreating Germans evacuated. twas e rrs chance 10 how the world tangible, irrefutable evidence of Nazi depravity. A com,ersation Fearing that the world would discount the aboul race grisly reality as propaganda-laden embellishment, Gen. Dwight Eisenhow_er invited the press to report on the shocking discoverie: in firsthand words and graphic pictures. . Ike s instincts were keen. Even with historic documentation, ome people still deny the Holocaust. . And today in the Inland Northwest, some would dispute th~ eriousness of the Hitlerian legacy embod!ed in the ~~:eons church and its leader Richard Butler. He lS a man w o c Holocaust a fraud and Hitler a hero.

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Clearly, this region is not Nazi Germany and Butler won't kill 6 million people here. But if hls hateful influence kills even one person it is intolerable. And that has already happened. Remember Alan Berg? Sam and Vicki Weaver? Bill Degan? Only by the grace of God were there no casualties from the bombing of Bill Wassmuth's rectory. Or the US Bank in the Spokane Valley. Or the Planned Parenthood clinic. Or The Spokesman-Review. Although Butler's arena is not Hitler's world stage, we must decide how to respond to this small band of bigots and the hate parade they want to hold on July 18. People of spirit and courage aren t about to give Butler the confrontation that would attract an audience, but neither are they going to ignore the threat he poses. For some, that will mean holding a separate rally to celebrate human rights. Many others will simply go about their normal affair , modeling for their kids and neighbors a respect for human dignity. Last week, hundreds of teenagers gathered at North Idaho College to talk frankly about racism and hatred They left hungry for more information. Churches in Spokane and North Idaho admit it' been a struggle even to get the discussion started. The jarring photograph on this page was published in hopes of provoking these awkward but needed conversations. Butlers version of bigotry has not wrought the heinous consequences that Hitler's did but the hatred behind it is just as insidious. lf only the people of Germany had denounced the evil that curled from the crematoria chimneys. But they said they dido tknow. Scott Sines and Doug Floyd/For the editorial board


Jtme OIT I ON OF

1HE .5PoKEsliAN-~ • N EW S

1998 · $1.50

Sunday

ON L I N E WWW , S PO KA NE . I ET

Sunday, June 7, 1998

Racist image called media creation But pollUcal leaders say Idaho must deal with the perception By Ken Olsen taff writer

OE R d'ALENE - Idaho' racism pr blem are largely a creation of the media, tate and local leaders i.nsi . But lhe r uJting percepti n that the region i a haven i r raci ts has become a dilemma demanding attention.

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'The pre has decided t II, gi e it attention and it ha a life, energy and dynamic separate from A conversation the communabow race ity," said David Sawyer, mayor of Sandpoint. ' I ju t don t see it as an · ue that' ubstantially affecting (Sandpoint) and it quality of life.

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'It' th rt f · ue that hows how un ub tantial and immature the pr b which we evaluate our communit1e i ." arly two d zen elected leaders in Idaho and W hington were intervi wed recently about raci m and the Inland Northwe t' image. Whether members of Congre or small-town mayors the vast majority of those interviewed in Idaho aid report of intolerance neo-Nazi' and raci t incidents are overblown. Continued:

R1cllm/A13

Racism: Leaders ee respon ibility to end intolerance Continued from A1

, ... A13


Idaho Gov. Phil Batt - who earlier this year spoke passionately about the need for tolerance and diversity at a Coeur d Alene human right conference - tags newspapers and television for manufacturing a racism problem. ' I believe the Idaho press does the state a great di ervice to accept the premise we have an inordinate problem here," Ban said. So angry is the governor that he ent a memo to state department heads three weeks ago admonishing them to defend Idaho' image: "I am incensed at the unfair portrayal of Idaho image by ome me~~rs o! the media ... the press bemoan Idaho s poor unage - which the press itself created. ' In an interview, Batt acknowledged that there are forms of hatred that need to be dealt with, but in isted Idaho faces no bigger problem than any other state. Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy was thrust into the thick of the Aryan Nations controversy when that group received permission to have its July 18 parade downtown. Judy said the perception that the town harbors racism is costly. Businesses with multicultural workforces won't come to North Idaho because the antics of small groups of people have tainted the area's reputation. "We have lost economy and we have lost jobs for local people because of that perception,' Judy said. No Idaho politician rejects the notion of an image problem more strongly that Kootenai Cou.nty Commissioner Ron Rankin, who made his mark last year pushing an English-only resolution. "I don t know of anyone who looks at the newspapers or the television and says, 'My God, that area s racist. J won't move there,' "Rankin said. Citing the region rapid growth he added 'If it (raci m) were a problem people wouldn't be moving in here." U.S. Sen. Dirk Kempthome cite similar evidence: GTE just opened a call center in Coeur d Alene. 'You don't have a company make an investment like that if they are in an environment where their folks aren t going to flourish," Kempthome said. Crowd repeatedly flocking to Idaho for the Wally Bynam Air tream trailer convention or for the annual Univer ity of Idaho Jazz Festival also show people aren't being repelled he said. Plummer Mayor Harold Whitley also disagrees that the image has been earned. Race relations have improved dramatically in the past decade between people in Plummer and residents of the Coeur d Alene Reservation, he said. But people are bound to stay away from the state because of its widespread reputation as having significant racial problems he aid. U.S. Rep. Mike Crapo a Republican who repreent's Idahos 2nd District, i in Whitley's camp. When people see the tate as racist, it affects the way they deal with Idaho Crapo said. Whether racism in the region is perception or reality, all but Rankin ay it is their responsibility to condemn intolerance .

• •

"As a repre entative of Idaho, . 1 believe my respon ibility i to use the bully pulpit to tell people what Idaho is really about, ' aid Rep. Helen Chenoweth R-Idaho. U.S. Sen. Larry Craig also calls for speaking out and for evaluating 'my own actions, so these actions fit a multicultural society.' Batt pushes "zero tolerance for our small group of malcontents personified by the Aryan Nations.'' In the 1960s, l3att worked to create the states ~t comprehensive Civil Right Act. He late_r made his mark fighting to get workers compensation for the state's largely Hispanic farm workers. , Rankin on the other hand, said he bas no responsib~ty in dealing with a r~cism, problem that doesn't emt. Instead he lams antl-hate groups. They are "Chicken Littles, Like t~e (K<?Ote~ai County) Human Relations Task Force, Rankin said. "If they couldn't keep people spooked there wouldn't be any other way for them to make a living. "I hold them in sincere and constant contempt," Rankin said. 'All of these people who think they have the answers could do wonders if they joined the Peace Corps." No other leaders articulated Rankin's intolerance for anti-hate group but several questioned the wisdom of re-examining the racism issue. Said Kempthorne: ·~very time we ask the question, we create the headlines about racism." Stories about the Aryan Nations' parade are part of that problem, other ay. "When we get into a big flap over whether or not the Aryans are going to march, we take a step backward," said Dick Compton, chairman of the Kootenai Cou~ty Commi sion. "With the publicity it gotten, there lS a perception that the racist issue is here and when you live here, you never even see them." . Sandpoint Mayor Sawyer worries that the deb~te over the parade is a diversion from more pressmg problems. "What are we deciding not to look at because we are looking at this?' Sawyer asked. "We have problems in Idaho with child abu e and day care. "Let's have the pres be a partner in dealing with the body that needs to be healed. • S1aff writer Jim Carriden contributed to this report.


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To submit a letter by phone: (509) 458-8800, code 4853

Just after U.S. forces liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945, military policemen were ordered to bring 1,000 clvlllans from nearby Weimar, so the people could see and bear witness to the horrors Nazi leaders had engineered. The MPs brought back 2,000. Many townspeople refused to look and the cry, " We didn't know, we didn't know," echoed throughout Germany.


S E CTION

Sunday, June 14, 1998 The Spokesman-Review

To contact the North Idaho office. dial (208) 765-7100, toll-free 800-344-6718; Fax: (208) 765-71 49

Spokane. Wash/ Coeur d'Alene. Idaho

Different journeys for 12 bat mitzvahs Holocaust survivor steers proud women By Kelly McBride taffwricer

One b one, the velvet-covered Torah croll are lifted from the ark and pa d into trembling han . Their arm· wrapped around the croll , 12 women tep proudly through the Inland Northw t only ynagogue. The faithful ru h to the ai I as the pa , reaching out to touch the precious cargo with the fringe of their prayer hawJ . By becoming a bat mjtzvah, the e wom n were embracing more than cripture. They were doing more

than leading a congreiation in prayer. They were claiming as their own one of the olde t faiths on Earth -Judai m. As a group th y include Jew who were born into the faith and tho e who converted, ome who have been ur and teady in their religiou practice and some who have drifted. Their paths inter ected th· weekend in emotional ceremonie that forever linked them to each other and Jew around the world. The group was grounded to the past by a 79-year-Old Holocaust

urvivor. Eva Las man embraced the rigorou m nth of training required to become a bat mitzvah. Daughter of th Commandment .·• While learnjng to read and chant H brew, the other di covered the , too, have profound piritual tal r tell.

a teenager in Lodz, Poland, La man r belled again t her parent ultra-Orthodox faith. Question and doubt were frowned upon. Women weren't permjned a voice in temple, let al ne th right to participat in wor hjp ervice .

While Jewi h b y have alway gone through a bar mitzvah at age 13, girl didn l get an qual comiog-ofage cer moo until 30 ear ago in Conservative con~regation , and early thi century m Reform synagogues. ' I~ It I wa jn an encl ure and 1 could n t m ' La man ay with a thick Poti h ace nt, ne of the few things tiU with her from the Old World. Th n came World War U and a fore d march through thre Nazi con entration camp , each more brutal than th last. La man, th n 26 \ a lo er to dead than alive Continued: Bat mltzvahs/84


Bat mitzvahs: 12 embrace faith together Continued from 81

, hen he wa liberated b Ru ian • ldier in 1945. Her fir I Lhought were r urvival, f food and heller. Then h thought of her family. Her baby br ther. who wa. 12 when he la t aw him; her older brother, hi: wif , their ab : her aunt and uncle . Thirty-two r Jati e. , all dead . .. Jt wa by the grace of God that I was ·pared' he a .. "1 knew there mu t have be n a purp e." IL wa: then that he realized her faith wa. n't s mething that would hold her back. It woul<l pro ide the trcngth to tan over.

event ears ago. Adie Goldberg'. father was preparing for hi. bar milTVah in St. Loui . He brought two curiou. n m-Jewi h friend t Hebrew school one da only Lo be . colded b , the rabbi ford filing the ynagogue. As puni hment, the rabbi cancelled the bar mitzvah. rvin Goldberg vowed hi ' children w uld never uffer the arne humiliation. But Adie . till lo cd being J wi h. a teenager, sh!! wa active in her nagogue. he wa planning to got college in I racl. Then . h caught her rabbi having an intimate relau n hip ~ ith nae of her friend . he wa. d~ illu ioncd Wld d astated. She didn't go to I rael. Sh didn't ·eL ~ 01 in an thcr nagoguc until her father'· death 21 years later. " I came to realize I had rejected a tradition tbat wa the . ource of my u tenance becau ·e of one man' mi take." a Goldberg, now 44. 'Thi i!, a h aling f my dad'. lory and a healing f my own tory." 1 ·

La man married a fe ll , I lolocau t urvivor The had 1wo :ons by the time they arri ed here with help from p kane Jews On their fin,t Yom Kippur in their new home, h r husband walked to the ynagogue for service while Eva waited f r Lhe baby siuer. Answering a kn ck on the do r, h f und a group of Jcwi h women who dropped


off the sitter and off red her a ride. 'You are driving a car on the Day of Atonement? ' he a ked her new friend . It wa, both cary and exhilarating to have her su picion confirmed: There wa more to faith than rule and regulations. There are a lot wor tran gre · ions than driving on Yorn Kippur •· he would later tell her hu band.

u Grant' Jewi hne wa. partof her family' pa t. not her day-to-day life. Her grandmother emigrated from Poland after World War I. Her family belonged to a Seattle ynagogue. But a an adult, Grant, 41, wa ambivalent about Judai m. Then h aw rhe movie 'Schindler Li t, and suddenly he wa mourning. She began attending Temple Beth Shalom on the South Hill. When he enrolled her younge t son io Hebrew chool three year · ago, he agreed to tudy th religion herself. Her bat mitzvah i Lhe culmination of that promi e.

After moving to Spokane, La '· man' first priority was to learn Engli h. She left the radio on all day, hoping to pick up the new language. One ummer morning while hanging laundry on a line a neighbor told her to tum down the radio. She did, without que tioning. She wa a woman a foreigner, a Je\ . In ide her wa a fear that would tak ' a lifetime to tame.

SuCarolyn Green 58, had pent her adult life earching for a reUgious home, but norhing he tried eemed like a good fit. On the eve of gall bladde.r urgery in 1996, her doctor, a Jew offered to pray for her. It wa Yam l(jppur. Worried about the urgery Green went to Temple Beth Shalom for the Kol. Nidre ervice. "ll felt like coming home '' she ays.

. urvived, to have gon on to have a normal Life, a happy marriage. 'Maybe that was why God aved me ' he ay . ''So I could tell the story.' Now she peaks to school and club alroo ·t every week. It' never ea y. Her mouth drie up, tears flow. Once, among a pile of thank-you note , a high chool enior wrote rhat be didn't believe her didn't believe the Holocau t reaUy happened. Still, he continue . "It i the only way l can a enge the death of my family. '

Shirley Gro man was the only Jew in her high chool in Trail, British Columbia. Her mother, a Ru ian immjgrant, was very strong and very bitter. She had fled persecution at the hand of Ru ian Chri tians. '[ grew up knowing that lam what I am. I am a Jew and l mu, t never be anything else '' ay Ciro sman 55. With that identity came hame and embarra ment but never pride or joy. Then Oro man watched her daughter make their bat mitzvah . They were magical occa ion . Oro man jo.ined the lJ other women in the b not mitzvah class hoping to learn more about what make her faith so my tical. '1t was a main goal for me to really understand my prayer ·• he say . ' And now I do."

When Sue LaRue 49, and Becky Cre s, 29, were called to the Torah on Saturday by their Hebrew name ·, they were identified a convert to Judai m. The mother and daughter discovered cveral year ag from genea'logical re earch that they were Jewish

by blood. They began exploring th religion. With their dark hair and eyes many members at the temple a · urned theywereJew by birth. "I'm a Jew by blood and a Jew by choice, which not everybody tan ay,' Cre ays. "But ometime r feel Like I don't fit into either category."

For three years, La mari ha been the membership chairwoman of the Spokane chapter of Hadassah a powerful Jewi h women' club that fund medical and ethical cau es worldwide. Known for her persi tence in recruiting members La man had been eyeing Goldberg a psychologi t, and Stacie Bering, a doctor, for months. Goldberg and Bering relented last fall with one condition: Lassman had to join them in going through the bat mitzvah training. "l am the only one in the group without a college education, Lassman protested. "I am by far the olde t. My voice i not really that good. I carry a tune in a bucket.

During the Shabbat service Saturday morning, they sat together on the tep of the altar in front of the congregation. Twelve voices ang songs and prayer . They rang out high and clear, lbw and omber oft and melodiou . When their Hebrew name were called each woman accepted with pride and joy the religiou and ethical obligation of Judai m. ·'Now it' come full circle. I am called to the Torah·· La sman say . "So now! am really related."

For yea , the Las man clo ed door and window · whenever they needed to talk about the Holocau ·t. Their three . on, were teenager befor th y found ut why they had no grandparent . aunt or uncle . T n year ago, Eva brok the ilence. It wa n't enough ju t to have

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JITION OF

nms~-REv!Ew. NEWS

ONLINE: WWW.SPOKANE.NET

Media: Focus is on real people and real events Continued from A1

Flle/The Spo~esman-Revu1w

TV crews set up outside Mark Fuhrman's Sandpoint house In 1995, awaiting comment on the O.J. Simpson murder trial.

Media help shape Idaho's reputation By Kevin Keating ta writer

ANDPO

-On the cover of Gentlemen' Quarterl a out 600,000 read rs a Idaho uccinctly de cribed a

In it

t1111et1r

"Fascistville. ' A co11wn.alion abo111 mce The word made tourism direct rs and re ident · here cringe. a The in i t th media are gi ing the re t of the world a tainted picture of Idaho. tOI)' after rory label the state a land of intol ran e. a d ert of ConUnued: Media/AB

diversity. It happen d aft r , hiLe eparati 1 Rand Weaver' deadly tandoff at Ruby Ridge. ll happened after M~rk uhrman. the ~ rmer L. . d tect1ve "ho lied ab ut mg racial epithet , m ved l andpoinl. 11 happened again thi year aft r Aryan Nation leader Ri hard Butler planned parad in d v mo n C eur d'Alene lO celebrate Ad If itler' birthda '· B cau ·c of all thi media attention, ldah ha!! bee m syn nymou. n t onl) with p tac e . but with Nazi . E en 1thin the m dia, lhe me · nger · rgue whether the are partly to blame for Idaho' image. But mo t cautinn again t c o much mediaba lung, becau e it ignore Lhe fact Lhat ne~ · cov rage f cu e n real even s pla d out b real people. Mike ager, who wr t Lhe article for Genii men': Quarterly and now rite for E.i;quire magazine. aid the mte ccrtainJy ha racial problem and it hare of ouL<;poken nut .


tory landed in the book of 'Best American E.s ays' for 1997. But ldahoan were not so impressed; he received plenty of complaints. Rick Moore, an a i tant professor of communication at Boise State University. aid what has happened to ldaho can be de cribed as drive-by joumaLism. An Ea t Coast editor end a reporter to write about the crazy people in Idaho. Reporter unfamiliar with the state jet in grab video footage and quotes from the fringe then are whi ked back home. They don t worry about the repercu ions of their journalism. 'The new media doe things quick and dirty and often use catch term Jjke race' and racism without ever asking what 'race' and 'racism' means, Moore said. [n many news stories, joumaLi ts confuse Idaho' culture with racism Moore said. Reporters hold to a value that racial integration is good. Idaho racial makeup i largely

"For the news media to expect all parts ofthe country to be at the same place in understanding racial integration might be a little bit unfair. " Rick Moore, Boise State University professor

white but not by anyone's design. • Hi torically that i just how it happened. To what extent i that good or bad'? Why does the media judge that good or bad?' Moore al o believe Idaho is a foreign culture to omeone who has lived in New York or even Seattle. where racial mixing i commonplace. · For the news media to expect aJI part of the country to be at the same place in understanding racial integration might be a little bit unfair," he aid. While member of the media accept . ome blame for stereotyping Idaho, they also ay the tate has ullied it elf plenty by being passive about raci m. Leader haven't poken loud enough and made it uncomf rtable en ugh for group like But-

About Ibis series Racism In the Inland Northwest Is a topic that provokes strong views from many vantage points. And an Aryan Nations march planned In downtown Coeur d'Alene next month has brought discussion of those divergent views to the region's dinner tables and

water cOOlers. For the next several weeks, The Spokesman-Review will report on

those discussions. This series of articles focuses on people 1Jying to cope with prejudice, hate or the percepUon that the region is a sanctuary for racists. Today, journalists discuss their role In perpetuating the region's Image as aplace of intolerance. ler Aryan Nation . " Idaho has contributed to its own image " said Timothy Egan, a Seattle-based writer for the New York Time . "There is a troubling pattern I wouldn't ay of embracing racist , but those type of people continue to flock to the tate. That rai e ome troubLing question ." He bun the idea of being a driveby joumali t not fami liar with the area. Egan grew up in Spokane. North Idaho mainly Prie t Lake, wa hi camping and fishing playground. He often defend the tate while talking with friends and colleague in New York and Wa hington, D.C. 'I do think Idaho has become hortband for raci m but [ don t think I'm one who ha contributed." Egan has written about members of the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations, giving them national attention a ·uperheroes against hate. No one remembers those "good' storie , he aid. And he can t ignore torie about the like of Idaho Congre sman Helen Chenoweth. She once aid Idaho cold cLimate keeps minoritie from moving here. She later apologized for the racist remark. · I it that cooler climate that invite everyone from Mark Fuhrman - he' not a Nazi but he did u e the word nigger.' retired and went to the white I ·tate in the union - to Bo Gritz to Congre sman Helen Chenoweth? ' Egan . aid. ·' Idaho continue to do thing to feed the t reotype.


North Idaho in the news

Since Randy Weaver's August 1992 standolf with federal agents. North Idaho has drawn national media attention for Issues ranging fromracism to anti-government sentiment. News events and the articles that followed include:

NEWS EVENT: Aug. 21, 1992 White separatist Randy Weaver begms an 11-day standoff wilh federal agents. Weave(s wife and son are killed in the shoot-out as is deputy US. Marshal William Degan. THE STORY

Oct. 27, 1992 The Washington Post

Going to Extremes in Idaho WhereThere's Room for the likes of Aryan

Nations and Christian Patriots "How and why is it that a little God-gorgeous linger of the continental Unites States, sitting up there between Montana and Washington should have become these past several decades a nesting ground for so many stripes of resister, protester, evader, constltulionalisl, survivalist, Bircher, Kluxer, Aryan?' THE STORY

March1a GenllM?ens 0Uarterly

tl!/"

AJ11may ta the Hurt alWhltness

"The lovely lake region of Northern Idaho is home to lhe Aryan Nations, Mark Fuhrman and acracked pot of other white supremacists united by hate. Aftican-Americans, Hispanics and Jews are not welcome here. It Is, Its residents boast, 'what American used to be' - and must be agaln.·

NEWS EVENT: Oct. 8, 1996 Three Sandpoint men with white supremacist ties are arrested for robbing two banks and bombing several businesses.

NEWS EVENT: Ja1. 21, 1995 Los Angeles detective MaFI< Fuhrman visits Sandpoint to house hunt. He bOught ahome and now lives in Bonner County. THE STORY

THE STORY

Extreme Measures: Is Northern Idaho Turni ng Into a Zealot's Zion?

Man:1110, 1 • TheLos Ange/es Times

"Randy Weaver. Mark Fuhrman. The Aryan Nations. The Order. Christian Identity. Now, possibly the Phineas Priesthood Once again, extremists who are antlgovemment, white separaUst, or both areln the news. Once again, that news is coming out of northern Idaho."

Detective Wins Sympathy Alnaag L.A. Exll• In ldlllo "Although most former Los Angeles police officers here do not believe Fuhrman 1s racist, they are well aware of the allegations that he hates blacks. They instinctively slap down the whispers lhal northern Idaho might be bec0m1ng ahaven for white separatists.' THE STORY

NEWS EVENT: Mir I, 1117 Alter taping KTVB· TVs 'V,ewpoint,. U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth, R-ldaho, tells aSpokesmanReview reporter weather might play a role m keeping Hispanics and Alrlcan-Amerlcans au/ of North Idaho.

Sept. 24, 1995 The Oregonian (PortlafJd)

THE STORY

Falks In SandpDlnt, ldalla,

Dlsanw 1111191 DI RICI• "People in Sandpoint say the area's reputation as a hmn for bigots is largely undeserved. II ISl'll Fuhrman or the neo-Nazis at Hayden Lake. south of here, that worry them. so much as the press they've gotten lately.'

11aJ 10, 1117

The Associated Press

Chenoweth Wllglls

, In an Dlvenlty

SOURCES· Clled news outlets: staff research by Kevin Keating

Don't blam lhe national pre , look at what people representing the ·tate are aying." Tom Kenworthy. who writes for the Washington Po t. vi ited Idaho after Mark Fuhrman arrived. He also found Idaho' reputation to be exaggerated. That' not to ay there i n t a problem, he said, ju t that the media tend to focu on the problem. · You have to cover it becau e it's there " Kenworthy aid. I have no doubt a lot more importaot things happen in Idaho than the an nual meeting of th Aryan Nation . Unfortunately the le - ophi ticated me, age that g t, out i Idaho i crawling with rac· t and militia ." tcphcn L ons, a free-lance writer rec ntl criticized for an unflattering article ab ut ldah in High untry Ni::w· also point: 10 the . cace', prob-

Oct. 15, 1996 The Saft Lake Tribune

lem, with hatemonger , child abuse, and spending more money on pri on than education. "People alway beat up on the media but in thi case Idaho has a reputation it's very de erving of, he aid. ' Idaho is tuck in the mud when it come to diversity and . Hence i permi ion when it come to raci m. Raci m. reaJ or perceived ha affected tourism, bu ine recruiting and real e late ale in the tate. He noted a tudy by the Univer ity of ldaho of mor than 400 retiree who moved to Idaho. Twenty-five percent of them listed the racial and ethnic compo. ition of Idaho a a rea on for m ving her . " It would b illy not to peak about the e i, ue. that affect o many people,'' Lyon aid. Jim W atherby a public policy profe. or at Boi. c race, aid lhac

·u.s.Rep. Chenoweth said North Idaho has plenty of ethnic diversity and she's against tne Forest Service trying to recruit minOfity workers who .. . simply arenl attracted to the region. 'The warm-climate community just hasnl found the colder climate that attractive.' she said." StaH graphic: Vince Grippi

Idaho re ident hould hould r ome of the blame for their tate' image because th y "have n t taken ome of the e is ue very eriou ly.'' "We probably could have done more in indicating our di ta te for what they (Aryans) stood for he aid. Idaho i getting go d pres , a wel~ including article describing the tate rap.id growth and Boi e' recent election a one of the top 10 mo t livable citie in America. And if people keep flocking to the Idaho Panhandle and the N rthwe t, Weatherby aid Idaho' image can't b that bad. ''Idaho i about far more than pud and Nazi . ure we have problem but . o do ev ry tale, W atherby aid. · Thi caricature of ldaho need lO be v nurncct:·


PageA7 Friday, March 19, 1999 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash./Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

He really was out on thetown

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Huckleberries

A

The poke!iman-Review

thirty mething andp int man wh m errie II call Brian (b cau e that hj fir t name) had a D.F. grand time here Ollverla W doe day m roing until the ba clo ed. Then h uldn't find hi mot I. Oh. he kn w which room was his: L06, according L the ke

n th

orange chain in I · pocket. But h wa. too u ed to r call the name of th motel. The Holiday Inn Expr had no record of hi regi tration. Nor did the undowner. Finall , Brian told O sifer Langley that (hi !) he wa going to . leep ff hi tupor in hi car-thati ifh could find it.

Aryans on parade Huckleberrie hears the 16-block march of Rev'rend Butler & hi 100 Mental Midg t h uld take 45 minute - fr m Ind peodence Point up herman to 7th and back again. S , th upremacists could rai e $45,000 for human rights if the K otenai ouotyTa kForce n Human Relation ·ucceed in gathering pledge t ta ling $1 000 p r minute of th march. Ye ... Huckleberrie also hears ome tom1Lro pe aren't happy about rai. ing mane for human right . T o bad, ad ... Hmmm. The · What Cooking' column in Wednesday' edition of Brand em d a bit, ah, bow hall w ay, in en itive, \ hen it ugg ted that u an keep charcoal dry by toring it in a 5-gall n hucket. And then added: 'B careful Lran ferring il r you'll b • inging, 'Mammy' •· .. . Then what can you expect fa n zepaper that mentioned th Church f Je u Chri t Chr' tian (Aryan Nation ) in its annual publicati n ' l Things I D in Nonh Idaho ·? ure. blame it nth pr fr ader.


June 21 1998 · $1.50

Sunday

TI Q N O F 1)m SPOKESAAN-RE'VIEW • N E W S O N LI N E · WWW. SP OKA NE . NET

Schools vary on subject of racism Some tackle controversy head-on, others leave Instruction to parents By Jeanette White and Heather Lalley Staff writ r

Hi tory teacher Linda Lovett would've n ver p gged Chevi Kehoe a a white upremaci t back when he attended Colville High ch ol. He w bright polite, a nice b y. Hung around aft r cla to talk hi tory.

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Lovett wa floored when Kehoe emerged la t year a an accu ed murd rer who upplied Aryan Republic Army member A conversation with guns u ed ia about race bank r bberie . But teachers didn't dwell much on racial i ue a decade ago wh n Keho was in chool. That' tarting to change.

About this series Racism In the Inland Northwest is atopic that provokes strong views from many vantage points. And an Aryan Nations march planned In downtown Coeur d'Alene next month has brought discussion of those divergent views to the region's dinner tables and water coolers.

" It' hatred. It wrong. r teach it a very un-American' Lovett aid.' I tell my kid , If you re made of the right stuff you're not going to treat other people like that.' When teacher in Ea tern Wa hington and North Idaho want to bring h. roric racial truggles to life, they don t have far to look. The region is a lively laboratory of group p wing belief: like tho e that et the tage for the Holocau t and the Ku Klux Klan.

meddling in i sue better left to familie . Other believe uch teaching hould hap· pen more routinely that the le on found in our back yard are too important to be occa ional fodder f r curr nt event cla . 'It' ea y to tudy other place where people have been per ecuted and ay, They re German they re all bad, " said Eric Edmond , a hi tory teacher at Lake City High chool in Coeur d' AJene. "But it' important for tudent to ee they were

ome parents worry that educators are

Continued: Raclsm/A11

For the next several weeks, The Spokesman-Review wlll report on those discussions. This series of articles focuses on people trying to cope with prejudice, hate or the perception that the region is a sanctuary for racists. Today's story focuses on public education and increased classroom discussion of race Issues.


Spokane, Wash./ Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Racism: Topic can be touchy in classrooms Continued from Al

good people and it happened to them. And it could happen here, too.' But Edmonds said there is no pecific mention of the Aryan Nation in the district' curriculum. The Hayden-ha ed white supremacist group plan a parade July 18 in downtown Coeur d'Alene. I really don't think they deserve to be honored by having a place in our curriculum at all said Hazel Bauman, the di trict' elementary education dfrector. "Ninety-nine percent of u do not reflect the thoughts and view of tho e few people in Hayden.'' Racial issues emerge most often in history and social tudie classes, where some teachers include them in cla se ions about conflict. When Peter Perkin was teaching about the Ku Klux Klan at Rogers High School in north Spokane, he took several teen to a peech by civil right attorney Morris Dees. Dees cofounded the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama. Perkin al o told students what KKK and Aryan Nation recruiter look for in potential members: a young impre ionable loner from a broken family who perhaps isn t doing well in . chool and ha low job kill . 'The white upremacist have tried to stake out th.i territory, tried to claim it as their own. They operate be t in a climate of fear, ' Perkin aid. ' Anything we can do to educate our tudents and make them critical thinkers combat their plan for a white -only homeland.' Jerry Lee, a government teacher at Post Fall High School, include~ a unit on political thought that cover everything from the "far right to the far, far left," he aid. Students learn about the Aryan Nation , The Order, the Militia of Montana and also about the Black Panthers and Jewish Defen e League. He aid if his students upport hate group they keep quiet about it. "Th kid r get are all enior , ' he

said. "They are ocially a tute enough to know when to hut their mouths.'' De pite teachers' attempts, some say the discussions are too haphazard and hould be part of the regular curriculum. Adriane Albertowicz who graduated thi pring from Sandpoint High School, aid the Aryan Nation parade bas been given little attention in her classe . Community reaction to the planned parade is wide pread with human rights activitie planned in Spokane and North Idaho. 'Maybe it been mentioned in one or two of my classe , but not indepth,' Albertowicz aid. "There ha n't been any problem- olving ideas. There hasn t been very much encouragement to think of a olution." Post Falls mother Vicki Caughran said schools should pu h kid to peak up about racism. ' They need to teach social kills to kids a well a educational skill ' Caughran said. 'They hould teach tolerance in school . ' Bob Bartlett. director of cultural affairs at Gonzaga Univer ity, wisbe more junior and senior high school teachers would make deliberate efforts to talk about tbe area s raci t reputation. "To know the why' behind the march is of the ame importance of knowing the 'why' beh.ind World War' 11 " aid Bartlett. "What going on with race relations in this country?' In doing that, though, teacher must be careful not to condemn all form of conservative thought, said Kristen Hruby who bas a son in the Bonner County School District. She aid her on' history teacher once told him he'd never be a humanitarian because of his conservative view . "Ju t because you re a Chri ·tian doe n't mean you're intolerant ' Hruby said. Ray Barker, a Colville pastor said public school have given an undeserved black eye to organization such as the Aryan Nations and the Ku Klux Klan. Barker adhere to Cbri tian Identity belief - that people from Northern Europe, not Jew are God' true cho en people. "Why do we have the e incidence aero the nation? Ln a sen e its because the people are frustrated. ' Those group are legitimately angry because of a corrupt government Barker aid. But schools don't en-

courage tudent to try to really understand those organization ·. 'The chool ystem need to ay. Hey what's going on here? They need to start teaching the truth. ' Talking about racial conflict in cla can be touchy. There the occa ional parent who objects. And ome tudent hare raci tsentiments themselves. 'Some of the students eem to have a definite prejudice again t black people,' said Oawaine Shoemaker who teache social tudie at Kettle Falls High School. 'So the first que tion i Why are you prejudiced? What are your reasons for your feelings? "They ay, 'It' just the way I feel. They don t belong here. You should send them back to Africa.· "I say, With that attitude, maybe some of the rest of us hould be ent back to Ireland England wherever our ancestry i . You want to be careful, maybe you're advocating again t your own rights.' ' Teacher say it'. important to let kids speak freely when di cus ing racial conflict. But Robert I itt, ociaJ studie department head at Shadle Park High School in Spokane ·aid it's equally important to know where to draw the line. Hi student get into passionate debates on affirmative action. ilingual education and white upremacy. But they aren t allowed to make rac· t statements or use racist terminology. And, although I itt plays devil's advocate to keep debates rolling he ha limits. I will not take the position of a wh.ite supremaci t, not even for pretend. ' Paul Voorhee who teache Current World Problem at Northport High School aid hi tudent love discussing racial conflict, affirmative action, welfare - anything dealing with fairness. Like many teacher Voorhee ay hes not out to convert student to hi beliefs. But he Likes to challenge them to think beyond their usual boundaries. ' r really think they're never going to change their mind , but J think they can learn to value other people opinion - ee there' other opinion outside the small town of Northport " Voorhees said. 'This year' enior clas actually had a black person in tbe clas wh.icb i not very normal for Northport. It helped discus ion. People were a lot tamer.'


Sunday, June 21, 1998

, .., A11

Front Page When Chevie Kehoe and hi brother, Cheyne, were arre ted teacher at Col ille High School potted an in• ta:nt teaching tool. The brother had attended the chool and a relative wa a ub titute teacher. But that didn t top current e ent teachers from using the event as a pringboard for debate, aid Sheila Stalp, who teache Contemporary World Problem . "We talk about almo t everything

that goes on in the news. We don't dodge anything, and so far I haven t been called on the carpet for any of it.' Jim Perkins a former hjstory teacher in Colville schools, aid plenty of educator dodge racial i ue altogether. Some of their tudents, a:fter all mjght sympathize with white supremacists. 'ft would be smashing toes said Perkin , a longtime civil rights activ-

ist. ' Some won't touch it becau e once (a discu ion) gets going, they don't know where it'll lead. ' But Edmonds, a first-year Lake City High School teacher said he's not afraid to take that chance, despite warnings from hjs college professors to avoid controversy. "It more my job to tell kid what' happerung, Edmond said. "They pretty much tell you 'don t be controversial.' But if you annoy everybody, you re in good shape.'

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Page B6 Sunday, June 21 , 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane. Wash./Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Ouesl1ons or comments on these issues? Cal I managing editor Scott Sines: (509) 459-5405: Fax: (509) 459-5482

I a111 not a racist, and I find it increasingly frustrating that I am labeled so.

1 along with the entire Coeur d'Alene community have been manipulated !JJ this radical group, and thi greatly upsets 11Ze. I reserve the right to introduce myself and n1; ho1netown without other peopk makingjudgments on 111,y moral character. '' Brianne Taylor


Craig Buc:k/The Spokesman-Review

Students from North Idaho high schools gathered at North Idaho College for a seminar on racism .


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ln ord rto rid our beautiful cit of raci m, and eliminate lh crime and hate that go with il, w mu t tart by changing ourselve . Thi mean not ignoring, but c lebraliog ur differenc . Thi mean talcing prid in ur heritag while appreciating ot her cultures. Most of all. this means overcoming the mi plac d label currently overshadowing our fri ndly and open community. lt Lim we reclaim our area and make an effort to how th welcoming and loving nature that dominates our ar a. - Alison Chisholm

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Raci m and hat arc vicious cycles that ar human oul . Their wounds are 100 deep for Lim alon Lo heal. The wor t part about hate i the denial that it is there and the blank fac that come to mind when a olulion i asked for. rbelieve 1ne Sp k man-Revi wand North Idaho Coll g h uld continue their conference, for it is a positive olulion. - Meggie Clarke

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orth ldah lat ly ha had the image of being a haven for raci hate group . l feel the problem w have ba been blown way oul of context. The media have giv n th group wa too much publicity. The group. thrive on attention and the media are giving them alJ lh attention they need and want. - Todd Johnson

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'I can amtinue 1XJ keep active in the fight'

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ach day Coeur d'Alene i portrayed more harshly in try to treat everyone l meet a a peer regardle of the media. Rather than being known for our their kin color or ethnic background. We will never beautiful lake, floating green, and plendid resort, we achieve absolute peace untiJ we are able to completely are known as an Aryan homeland. break down the racial barrier . Although racism in Coeur d Alene did not seem like a I learned ome interesting facts at the racism seminar problem to me, the seminar made me realize that it i . and was heartened by the pirit of the others attending. I The tide how presentation was extremely eye-opening. particularly enjoyed the mall group in which I got to Seeing the pictures of Ruby Ridge protesters, racist spend time conversing with students belonging to social families and Richard Butler made the Aryan seem groups that I u ual.ly don t find myself with. more real. U uaJJy at school, I hang out with kid I know that raci min Coeur d'Alene also with imilar background to mine (senior come from people not a ociated with the athletes). At the seminar, I found my elf Aryan . However, the Aryan represent the peaking with a wide diver ity of kid and mo t apparent and violent fonn of raci m. found that we had more in common than l first realized (it reminded me of the movie, Speaker Larry Nicholas of the Anti'The Breakfa t Club '). We all felt trongly Defamation League was very in pirational opposed to raci m. and left u all with an incredible message. It wa our consensu that North Idaho . Listening to Nicholas talk about moving has gotten a raw name because of the neobeyond mere tolerance, to acceptance, was A conversation Nazi . We re ented that our reputation are great. ln tead of ju t talking about the abouJ race brought down by this. People away from problem, be talked about how to fix the this area often automatically a ume that problem. He taught us about the ripple we hare the neo-Nazi philosophy ju t effect and how one per on can make a becau ewe hare their geographical turf. difference. We worried that there could be no resolution As we broke into our mall groups I with our problem in the immediate future, continued to think about Nicholas' talk. given the fact that there is a parade scheduled Talking with other tudents about their thi ummer. This is a tough i ue. We do not thought and opinion was great. I think it want lo oppres.s the neo-Nazis' right to freedom really, made u realize that we are not alone Comlf1G next of speech by suppressing this parade; at the Sunday on in our feeling . same time, where do we draw the line on Perspective: 1 went home thinking about the day 1 had our right to continue on a th peaceful Adiscussion ju t experienced ready to share. I non-racist community that I was born into? of What to immediately called my boyfriend and told I do not condone racism. At 18 I al o do tett your kids him everything I had learned. not have all of the answer on bow to end it. when they I think it would be very valuable to bold I can only do my part. I can keep educating encounter seminars for tudents a yoÂľng as myself and others. I can continue to keep overt elementary school. The younger we start active in the fight again t racism. racism. teaching kid , the sooner we will be able to stop racist attitude from blooming. More essays on Page 87

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Hatred ought never be a child's birthright The intended target of hatred are not alway its only victims. By tanders often get drenched by the fetid backwash. The two boys pictured at right for example. They look about 5 and 8 in this photo taken during a l9 6 cross-burning ritual at the Aryan Nation compound north of Hayden Lake Idaho. They weren t born with band rai ed in Hitlerian alute. Someone - parent and adult acquaintances most likely- taught them the ge ture. Judging by the puzzled, tentative looks on their faces maybe the bapti m by bigotry wa n t quite complete- but it was well under way. That wa 12 year ago however. What s become of the e lads? Where are they? What attitudes have solidified? What values do they embrace? We can only gue . But they like James Byrd it Jr. the disabled black man dragged to his death thi month in Jasper Texas, are victims of hate - e en if they carry its marks on the in ide, out ofsight. It' their ouls not their bodies that are scarred and mangled. A conversation about race We have to wonder what message, if any, they have thi Father Day for the dad or dads who ought to indoctrinate them with twisted racist beliefs. And we wonder too how they will rai e their own children when and if they embark on fatherb od in the next few year . The message here adly i that no familie aren tthe only ource of value for children nor even in ome case the best. Sometimes, it's up to a c mm unity- dare we ay a village? - to step in. Clearly North Idah and Ea tern Wa hington are bJe ed with abundant re urces for that purpo e. For a few in piring examples take a lo k at today Perspective page and read the comment written by ome of the North Idaho teenagers who attended a seminar on raci m May2 . The younger we tart teaching kid , the ooner we will be able t top raci t attitude from blooming ' wrote Amber Hill, a student at Lake City High School in Coeur'd Alene. Jmplicit in Hill in ightful word i an important recognition: The threat i ongoing o the re pon e to it mu t be ongoing a well. The c ncem won't end when the parade Richard Butler and rus Aryan Nation foll wer plan to bold in downtown Coeur d Alene on July l i over. lt will la.tin North Idaho in Ea tern Washington anywhere out iders like Butler can import their distorted view and contaminate the mind of their children while tarnishing the concept of fatherhood. Be t wi he today to all the trong-wiJled father and other decent citizen who won t let that happen.

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Doug Floyd/For the editorial board • The Spokesman-Review will sponsor a forum and panel di cus ion ' ln 11 Together,' at 7 p.m. July 7 at the -R building in Coeur d Alene. he event will be broadcast later that e ening on KHQ-TV, channel 6. Detail wiJI be published in future i ue ofTheSpoke man-Review.

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Flletrhe Spol<esman-Rev!ew

Even children were on display during a 1986 Aryan Nations rally that drew while supremacists from throughout the nation.


Perspective lt is important that people who endorse equality gain more recognition that tho e who endorse hate. Jason Scarth


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'Cka:r evidence that there is an extreme racism proble!n'

mare allpart ofrme race, the human race'

By Ja n earth

B Maria T maselli

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had a chaoc to talk about i u' at th raci m mioar that l otherwise w uld n di cus . It was a great pporlunity for everyon to hare opinion n affinnalivc action. hate groups and experience wilh raci m. It wa valuable for everyon t expre their opinion bccau ewe wcr all white student from North Idaho and our live generally are hellered from interacti n wilh minorit group . We were asked i[ ra i m wa a problem in our area and the majority opinion w that a long ru there i any raci m there i a problem. The exi tence of organized bate groups i • clear eviden e that there i an extreme raci m problem. Everyone wa very upportiv of more anti-raci m emioars and forum to addres the problem. With upport of the local media, these gatherings can end a po ilive message. Our group wa concerned with the appearance that lhis area ha a larger-thanaverage raci t population. We agreed it is the respon ibility of decent and caring citizens to make ure that any sentiment of raci m is swamped by the overwhelming and incere belief by mo t people in our area in equality. Although affirmative action seem . more relevant Lo areru with larger minority population , our group had ome clear opinions. ln our group oC 15 tudents, not a ingle person wa Cor affirmative action. Mo tofus saw a policy that take race into con ideration a a determining factor in whether a person get a job or i accepted to a college as raci t. As far a affirmativ action' ability to repay minoritie for pa t discriminali n, most group members felt lhat ociety hould move on and try to help minoritie be tru ly equal by not trying t make peciaJ exteption or do any favors. l con ider the emioar at North Idaho College to be exactJy the type of activity that our community need, to . upport. For me it wa a very po itivc experience. I hope that many more people will lake interest in attending future anti-racism Corum . ll i important lhat people who endor equality gain more recognition than tho · who endorse hate.

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[y u ar like m , you gel up in the morning h ping, wi lling and metime even praying, that today will be the da . That toda will have ome new and exciting adventure in it and you'll be a whole n w per on by Lhc time 3 o'clock roll around. Well. it happen d on May 28. I enl t a raci m cminar at North Lt.la.ho College. At fir t I thought it wouJd be a bunch of old guy talking for hour and then going h me, but il wa n t. Each peaker had a tory lo tell, and each tory tugged at another piece of my thought . While we were watching a lide bow, ther wa a picture of two little boy · (no Ider than 4 or 5) tanding in front of burning cro e holding up the 'white power" ign, and I wa horrified. I realized that omelime being prejudiced i n't a choice, but omcthing ou are taught from a young age. After th' lecture portion f the day we were eparatcd into group lo discuss issue we face living in North Idaho. My group di u ed many interesting topics. I heard about raci'm going from both ide , white to black. and bJack to white. Then we di cu ed diver ity in North ldaho and how we don't have much. I was hocked lo find out that becau e we don t have much racial diver ily we have to find ome way to " la ify' people. So we use economic taLu - if you have more money, th n you uppo edly arc a better per on. l hav liv d here only four years and I wa urpri ed al how much that was true, even when it came to howl viewed people. lf they didn l have I.he right clothe , or they didn't buy the right hoe then I wasn t in their circle of friend . And that' what scared me the most that I was , omewhat a prejudiced person. that ' when it happened! Thal when I realized that n l every ne i Miss/Mr. Perfect. that not everyone can afford the be tin life. but none of that matters. What matters i who we arc in ide and what w do witb our own individual in ight. We arc all part of one race lhe human rac . and we hould all ·tand together and be proud of lhe world we arc living in today! .J

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They have created a racist image for the arrea I live in. By Brianae Taylor

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have lived in Coeur d'Alen for 18 yea but il wasn't unLil two years ago that I realized th 路 influence th local Aryan Nation group ha on me. Liangely ea ugh, thi realization Look place hundred of mil awa Crom oeur d Alene, Richard Bull r and hi Aryan cronie 路. l w路 h pping in Sacramento. Calif. when I engaged in an intere Ling conversation with a friendly AfricanAmerican sale v man. eeing my abn rmally pale kin he noted Lhal I was n l from un- oaked California and inquired about my horn . Without realizing !dab ' raci I reputation. I replied, 'I am Crom Coeur d'Alene a beautiful town in orth Idaho." The woman face, which ju l ond before bad worn a carefree mile, now was hrouded with a look o( fear. With my reply the woman ha lily excu d her elf, and left me tanding al ne and dumbfounded. The mer mentioaing of North Idaho tirred fear ia thi woman' heart, and (from what I galh red) cau d her Lo group my ideal with tho e of the Aryan . The incident left me tunned then enraged. Although I wa disappointed in thew man' naiv as umption, I wa not angry with her. She had heard the m age of hate ent forth by Lhc North Idaho Aryan minority and in tum blank tcd the atire North Idaho population with th Aryan '

raci t image. Her fear, though ignorant wa warranted. Thi woman whom r round [Q be warm and endearing, feared my presence becau e of the Aryan ' ugly m 'ge. After thi incident I cam L realize how much th Aryan. and their ignorant m 路ag affect me. For yea r have 1,.-n wn f their pre ence, and Lolerat d th ir idiolic propaganda. Tfigured that as long a I kn w that the wer wr ng I w ukl be unaffected by their evil nature. But with my experience in California I find that l was rnislaken. The Aryan ma not be able to manipulate my, beli f , but with their wid prcad me age they manipulate my imag and other people. percepti n of me. Their me age of hat ha pread throughout Lhe nation, and although they make up a minute am unt of the local population, they hav created a negative raci t image for the ar a I live in. ram not a raci t, and I find it increa ingly fru traling that I am labeled . I along with the entire Coeur d'Alene community, have been manipulated b thi radical group and tbi greatly up et me. I reserve the right to introduce my elf and my hometown without oth r peopl making judgment on my moral character. r think Coeur d Alene ha been a terrific community to be rai ed in and J am ad that this loving community cannot receive the po itiv attention and respect it de erves. There i much more lo thi town than b ing a meeting place for ignorant Aryans. adly, many people will not get to experience thi Lown because they arc too fright ncd by the ra i t reputation it ha be n given, not earn d.

Craig Buok/The Spokesman-Review

Jack Caughrin (right) of Post Falls High School shares his views during the forum.


Sunday, June 21 , 1998

Page 17

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Essay excerpts Those of us who do not support raci t beliefs need to publicly respond to those who are trying to promote racism in our community ... The racism seminar I found very impressive in the fact that there was such a large turnout of youth to hear about a topic many adults are unwilling to discuss. - Katy Rose Baker

Idaho, I have come across many racist people. True, racism occurs everywhere, but I ve noticed a lot of it here . .. [n order for racism to stop there has to be a change within ou.rselve . Everyone attitude and the way we think bas to change. Courtney M. Zimmerman [n

I met a person of color at the racism seminar who is from Kellogg. He said that for the fir t 13 years of hi life be didn't experience racism because his parents were in the Air Force and stationed elsewhere. For the past five years his parents have lived in Kellogg, an almost allwhi tc town. He said the kid are nice to him, but ome made racist remarks. He wasn't sure if they were aiming at him o be u ually ignores them. I think it talces a really strong person to ignore mean comments. Adrienne Copstead 1 am a quarter Jewish and worry sometimes about people finding out. If the wrong person doe find out something could happen to me. All my friends know that I am Jewish and we joke about that. A couple of my friend are Italian and we give them a hard time and use racial slurs like "wop." Also a word that i being used around Coeur d'Alene i Jewed which is another way to express being screwed over. That is the closest I've come to being discriminated against. - Ezekiel Steele

The racism seminar affected me greatly. It made me feel more ashamed than ever . . . Racism will never disappear. It will follow us around, lurking in every alleyway hiding in every school, and sneaking into television shows after dinner. Racism can only be cured one person at a time. - Laura Earln

I can only hope that one day I'll be able to sit in a room or walk down the street and not see bate. I want to see people of different colors holding bands. I want to see open hearts and caring faces. I want ignorance to be a thing of the past - Heather Harrison When we think of racism we think of three things: the ignorance of mankind, the fear of what is different, and most of all, an unwillingness to forgive and forget what is in the past and cannot be changed. Is there any way that racism will ever see its end? What can we do to promote peace and harmony? - Joseph Lachnlt and Shantelle Scott After the racism seminar I tarted to think about myself and how I had judged people, bow I've been judged, and basically how messed up things are. I was glad I went, not only because l learned bow to deal with racism, but because I bad discovered the importance of not being racist. That was the best part of all. Kate Mahoney

Racism is not a joking matter, but when mo t people witness act of racism they laugh at it or even join in on it .. . The racism seminar opened my eyes to the fact that North Idaho is looked at a a racist state. Families are scared to move here and people of color are scared to drive down the road. ls this all because of the Aryan Nations or are we as a community doing something to contribute to these racist feelings? - Amy Reynolds We should take the irrational literature of the KKK and the Aryan Nations as a warning. As crazy and fictional as it sounds to us, this literature is taken as fad by extremist groups. Left unchecked, extremist groups may tum to violence and ruin many lives. Do we want anti-civil rights riots coming into the neighborhoods where our children play? No, of course not. That's why we must begin talcing steps to educate our people in diversity and rationality. - Eric Mack The Aryan Nation bas its right to free speech, regardle of the validity of their claims. However our power of the press give us the freedom to con titutionally deprive them of that speech, or at least the power to use it. I'll leave the ethics of the matter to the moralists, but I believe that as long as we give this matter the attention it thrives upon bigotry will continue to exist here, and we will keep paying the penalty for it. - Christy Jordan


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A a ign of my commitment to human right I pledge to adesigned organization the amount indicated for every minute the Aryan Nation members march on the treet of Coeur d'Alene. Thi pledge i good for July 18th or if lhey march at any future date in Kootenai County. (Estimated time of march: 45 minutes). (If you are unable to pledge money but would like to show support for human righ , you may ign !hi pledge fonn and return a indicated below.) AME: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ADDRESS OR PHONE: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

PLEDGE PER MlNUTE: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

DESIO ATEDORGANIZATIO : _ _ __ _ _ _ __

You may cboo e any recognized human right organization. Some ugge lions are: Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, NAACP, ADL (Anti-Defamation League), Northwe t Coalition Again t Malicious Haras ment, or Unity in Aetioo. You may make copie of thi pledge beet. Please return to: Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relation P.O. Box 2725, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 Fax # (208) 772 -3891 EMail: kctf@cda-id.comm 001029

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orth Idaho legislators hope to revise state's liquor distribution laws/113

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Thursday, June 25, 1998 rile Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash./Coeur d'Alene. Idaho To contact the North Idaho office. dial (208) 765-7100, loll-free 800-344-6718; Fax: (2o8) 765 _7149

Firms chip in to make parade a bust lemon aid Businesses that agreed to give free or reduced-priced youth admission July 18 include Skate Plaza, Cove Bowl, SunsetBowl Coeur d'Alene Discount Theatres and Wild

Waters.

City tries to make sure empty downtown greets Aryan Nations By Ken Olen Staff writer

COEUR d ALENE - As part of an effort to keep the Aryan Nation parade fr m turning into a confr ntation veral entertainment busine are giving free admi ion to kid on Jul 18. We want a few people as P? ible downtown, 'Mayor Steve Judy aid Wedne da morning. "We have to be pre-

pared for folks to come here and act out and hope that they don't." To date, kating rinks bowlins. alley and at I a t one movie theater will offer free admi ion the morning of the Aryan Nation parade, City Council President Nancy Sue Wallace aid. A pecifi age range ha n c been e tablished but the offer general! i aim d at teenager . Wallace 路 leadini a Coeur d'AleneSpokane group eeking alternative acti itle for peopl on parade day. A car cara an from Po t Falls to Spokane on aturday and a int rfaith church ervice

in Coeur d Alene on July 19 have long been on the table for that weekend. 'We needed activities for the youth,' Wallace aid. 'How wonderful th e e tablishment are to pen their doors t them."

Wedne da announcement cam a Judy 路gned the路 Lemons to Lemonade路 pledg that rai e m ne i r human ri~t work ba ed on the number of mmutes the parade lasts. The idea of the Koot nai County Ta k Force on Human Continued: Lemonade/82


Lemonade: Group raises $500 a minute Continued from 81

Relations is to turn a difficult situation into something productive. "This is making a difference for the message we want to send," Judy said. "The citizens ?r ~e~r d'Alene are strong in the1r d1sdatn

"The citizens of Coeur d'Alene are strong in their disdain for the proposed march. " Mayor Steve Judy

Jess!l Trnsley/llle Soo esman•RevtEll'I

CdA Mayor Steve Judy, sitting behind a bowl of lemons and flanked by Doug Cresswell ,11dJudy Hyatt, pledges his support to a human right,; fund-raiser.

. for the proposed march and we will continue to send a loud message that they {th~ Aryan Nations) . are not welcome m our town. "While we recognize the strong constitut.ionaJ rights of aU citizens, we can and we wilJ hold OUI nose and tum our backs to the message:-'' . Judy's $!-per-minute pro~llSe means the Task Force has ra1sed $500 a minute from 1,127 people. Still "our preference certainly is they don't march," said Doug Cresswell, task force preside~~The Aryans have a perffiJt to march from 10 a.m. to noon. "They wiJI be out of there as soon as we can get them out of there," Judy said. "We will have a huge promotion downtown that afternoon."


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Mayor joins task force pledge drive Pledge-per-minute total hits $500 By MATT BROADHURST

Staff writer COEUR d'ALENE - Mayor Stev Judy applied hi 'John Hancock" to th Kootenai ounty Ta k Fore on Human R lation 'Turn Lemon into Lemonade" pledg Wedne day, pu bing the pledgeP r-minute total to $500. Joining 1,127 o ur d' I n r id nl wh pl dged th oth r $499, Judy agr d to co tribut $1 to human right group for very minut th Aryan ation marcbe downtown a part of a planned July 18 parade. 1bi could be the ingle greate t thing that cliscourage the Aryan from marching," Judy aid. "My hop i to k ep th pledge going on and on and on. Mayb w can keep them from ever marching." itting with ta k force pre ident Doug re swell, ecr tary Judy Hyatt and a bowl of lemons. the mayor igned the pl dge beet and n ur d that $15,000 will be rais d if the march la ts 30 minute . Cre well aid the goal i to rais $1,000 per minute by th parade date. With a potential $30,000 that can be raised for human right , an Aryan Nation parade almo t em like a good thing. "Our pr f rence i ertainly that th y don't march,' Cre well aid. LEMONADE continued on A2

BONNIE HUOLET/Press photo

President of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Doug Cressw ell watches Coeur d'Alene M ayor Steve Judy signs the "Turn Lemons int o Lemonaden pledge Wednesday at City Hall.


LEMONADE

continued from A1

If the white supremacist group do es n't march , none of the pledge money will be collected, Cresswell said. However, the pledges will be kept on hold in the event another march is organized. Originally, Judy was opposed to the pledge drive because of the timing. Now be is urging all citizens in the area to join the lemonade movement. If the march does happen as planned, the mayor said he will propose that the money raised go to a memorial to the Holocaust victims within the city. "Let's take that money and do something positive with it," he said. Pledges can be earmarked for any human rights organization, but the bulk of donations so far have gone to the Kootenai Task Force on Human Relations or the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment In addition to a human rights ,,i~ !Y. at ~Gon,\az: U ,iver,sit,y ,ll}f aay of tlle marcb, m!ffiy locaJ businesses are working with the city to provide outlets that will draw people from the downtown area. A group of concerned citizens from Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, organized by City Councilwoman Nancy Sue Wallace, has been meeting regularly to develop activities for July 18. Stressing that the march is a regional problem, not only affecting Coeur d'Al.ene, Wallace said the goal is to keep downtown streets empty during the march. Special emphasis was placed on youth activities, she said. On march day, between 9:30 and 10 a.m., Skate Plaza will offer free admission; Cove Bowl and

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r------------; "Making Lemonade" Pledge Form :I V

es, I believe in human rights for all. · ·1 Yes, I believe in the right of free speech, but I abhor the message of white supremacy and hatred that the Aryan Nations will proclaim as they exercise their right of free speech by marching through Coeur d'Alene on July 18, 1998. As a sign of my commitment to human rights, I pledge to a designated organization the amount indicated for every minute the Aryah Nation members march on the streets of Coeur d'Alene. This pledge is good for July 18 or if they . march at any future date in Kootenai County. (Estimated time of march: 45 minutes). If you are unable to pledge money but • would like to show supr'>rt for human rights, you may sign this pledge form and return as indicated below.

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,.AME:

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ADDRESS OR PHONE:

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PLEDGE PER MINUTE: DESIGNATED ORGANIZATION: You may choose any recognized human rights organization. Some suggestions are: Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, NAACP, AOL (Anti-Defamation League), Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, or Unity in Action . You may make copies of this pledge sheet. Please return to: Kootenai County Taak Force on Human Relations P.O. Box 2725, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 Fax: (208) 772-3891; e-mail: kctf@cda-id.com

Sunset Bowling Center will of fer free bowling; Wild Waters admission will be $5; All 10 a.m. movies at the Coeur d'Alene Discount Cinemas will be free. This is just a partial list and many other businesses are working with the citizen panel to offer activities, according to Wallace. "We think it's great that the community has come together to combat this problem," she said. "They have just opened their hearts." Silver Lake Mall will host an unrelated Family Day the day of the march as well. Mall staff decided to put togeth-

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er "Human Race" as an alternative place to take family members, especially children. The event is not in response to anything taking place in the area, but just a general program for children. . Activities run during the mall's hours of operation, though most of the kids games start at noon. There is a loudest stereo contest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. . T-shirts will be available bear: ing the slogan 'There is only one race-the Human Race."

Staff writer Joe Butler contributed to this report.


Thursday, June 25, 1998 Page 87

By Jame: Waller pecial to Roundtable

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he work of racial reconciliation i long and difficult. Short-term nthu ia m will not win th day in our truggle for finding unity in diversity. Essential to this truggle i a recognition of, and ensitivity to the variou face ofraci m. Early on the Sunday morning of June 7 James Byrd.Jr. became the late t victim of our nation trugglewith blatant raci m. While walking home from a party, Byrd, a 49-year-old black man was offered a ride by three white men in a pickup truck. The truck was then driven to a d erted logging road outside of Jasper, Texas. There, Byrd wa beaten uncon ciou chain d by hi ankle to the truck and dragged two miles down the road. Piece of his body were left along the bloody trail. The Byrd tragedy come just 15 month after a 13-yearold black child Lenard Clar.k, was beaten into a coma by three white teen vowing to "take care of the black in the area. Once again the excruciating price that racial hatred exact from it victim ha been brought to the front of public conver ation. We are again reminded that uch blatant racism is not a historical footnote or imply the tuff of Hollywood movies. It reflect the worst of who we are and till permeate 1990s American ociety. It i hort- ightcd and dangerou however to believe that blatant raci m i the only face of raci m confronting American ociety. Such a focus distract u from the

We often welcome the distraction of blatant racism. By only focusing on the assaults and other egregious racial incidents, we can affirm our beliefin the myth that racism in America is declining.

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emergence of ubtle, 'quiet act , of raci m - the ni~e and bigoted remarks the conti~ued existence of h?~ mg and job di crimination, the furtive glance of u pic,ous tore clerk . ... We often welcome th di traction of blata~t racis~. By only fo u ing on the assault an~ o~her egreg,ou rac,a.l incident we can affirm our belief Ill the myth that rac, m in America i declining. After all the mere f~ct that a race-relat d a ault make a mam.moth me~ia pla h indicate the cari with which rac1 m rear it ugl head in contemporary America. We al O welcome the di traction of blatant ~aci m because it give u a chanc~ to. a\ve.our con c1ence by re ponding with righteou md1g~at1on. The traged of Ja per, Texa , will lead to a pr d1ctable parade of


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community responses - race relation conferences will be convened, consciousness-raising seminars will be mandated, op-ed pieces will be written, task forces will be appointed. What will be the aftereffect of these events? Will we be tempted to pretend that racism is no longer an issue in our communities? Will our decisive, quick and significant responses mean that we don't have to address this issue again for five or 10 years? Will we run the danger of allowing our' good conscience credits" to distract us from the reality of the daily- not so sensationa1 - burdens of living as a racial minority in our communities? There is yet a third way that blatant racism comfortingly distracts us from the "quiet acts ' of everyday racism. Namely, we convince ourselves that discussions of racism in America are really discussions about hate groups in America. When I lecture, audiences invariably ask about hate groups as if they are synonymous with the general issue ofracism in America. They do not recognize these groups as the extreme end of a continuum of racism along which most of u can be placed as well. Jfwe pretend that hate groups are the only problem, we avoid facing the reality that it is mostly nice nonhating people who perpetrate racism in America by their subtle exclusions insensitivitie , and indifferences. Why do we so easily allow ourselves to be distracted from the 'quiet acts' of racism? Why are we onJy stirred to action by blatant racism? Why is it so tempting for us to isolate the problem of racism to extremist hate groups?

First, the distraction of blatant racism puts an emotional and psychological distance between u and the real problem. There is something oddly comforting about blatant racism. It reminds us that a problem still exists, but - at the same time - it reminds us of our own relative goodness. By focusing on the evil in someone else, or somewhere else we can avoid facing our own stereotypical beliefs, prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviors. Second the distraction of blatant racism allows u to escape our responsibility for addressing the "quiet acts" of everyday racism in our communities. When we relegate an evil thing to only its most blatant manifestation we don't have to be responsible for it. Racism is alive and well in America. To understand the extent to which racism survive in America, and to combat the myth that racism is declining we must distinguish between blatant and ' quiet act " of everyday racism. We must somehow, in the midst of our response to the Byrd tragedy also open new lines of communication for addressing the more subtle, long-term problems of everyday racism. To not do so is to ignore the fact that America's real tragedy goes deeper than Jasper, Texa . • James Waller Is a professor of psychology at Whitworth College and author of the recently released "Face to Face: The Changing State of Racism Across America" (Plenum Insight Books).

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Fight for A first run down one ofIdahos scariest rivers

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Rights Tony Stewart is leading region} fight against racism, IN Ufe, E1

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June 28. 1998 · $1.50

Sunday Partly cloudy; pleasant High 72. Low 53. Details, C12.


From the Front Page "lt'.s-ahard thing to measure. How do you know what things would be like if the human rights groups weren t here?" BIii Wassmuth e.xecutii1e director of tire orlhwe I Coalition Against Maliciou Harassment.

Flle/fhe Spokesman-Review

Bill Wassmuth

Wa muth, Mend and other activThe intimidation backfired. Siler i ts hit the peake circuit, whipped group outlasted the oppo ition' atup upport to tart the five-state tention pan. Northwe t Coalition Against Mali"That little ta k fore up there ha ciou Hara ment and helped park been o punky, aid Skip Kuck, an dozens of human right group aero early member of Kootenai County' the country. task fore who now on the NorthOne of tho e tarted in Boundary we l Coalition board. 'It was a County. In late 1986, parati t Ro" rallying point in a time of Ire and bert Mile announced hi intention to danger.' move a 200-member white upremaA human rights peecb by W cist church to Bonner Ferry. muth inspired Bonner County citiResidents organized a letter- zens to create a local task force in writing campaign telling Miles he 1991. wa n t welcome. Mile didn't come "He poke about the need for and the group folded. people to wake up and mobilize in upport of human rights," . aid BrenRetired writer Grace Siler re urrected the anti-hara mcnt watchdog da Hammond, a former leader of the group in 1988. It wa well e tabli hed Bonner County group. "It certainly in 1992 when eparati ts and con titu- was apparent to everyone in North tionali ts from oeur d'Alene to Idaho how important the Kootenai Montana descended on Bonner County ta k force' pre ence wa ." Ferry, feeding on the area' fragThree hundred people gathered in mented loyalties following th Randy Sandpoint to hear Wassmuth, who Weaver tandoff at Ruby Ridge. had left C eur d'Alene in 1988 to lead the Northwe t Coalition. ' They bowed up at our meeting Bonner' ta k force rai ed it prowith gun over their h ulder Siler aid. They'd written letter to the file in 1994 with an energetic door-tonew paper aying the task force door campaign to defeat a statewide h uldn t be there. They'd de troyed initiative denying minority statu to a task force or two in Montana that homo exual. way and they were trying to get rid of "It wa a matter of conscience"


The Spokesman-RevieW

Hammond said. "You don't step back from something you believe in." In the November election, Bonner was the only county in North Idaho to reject the initiative, which failed in the statewide vote. Like Kootenai's task force, Bonner' focuses on education, teaching tolerance to the youngest generation. It sponsors contest , speakers and films. Civic arts groups contribute by bringing in ethnic performers. The newest task force in North Idaho is budding in St. Maries. Kuck pitched the idea. City police Chief Fred Cruzan liked it. "We don't have a lot of racial problems here, but that doesn't mean we won't,' be said. ' I think even mall communities should rally up and have a human rights program because nothing but positive things can come of it."

Other than white separatists, only Kootenai County Commissioner Ro Rankin is willing to disagree publicly with that sentiment. 'This human rights task force is a self-fulfiJJing organization, ' he said. 'If they can't find a hater to hate what's their reason for being?" To fight the good fight, for as long as it takes, said Norm Gissel, former president of Kootenai County' task force. Butler's latest plan to march through downtown Coeur d'Alene July 18 eems to erase so much progress in the human rights arena Gissel said. 'An event like that feels like we're back 10 years. Then I remember we're in it for life. The problem will never go away. We can hold the line. That's the best we can do .

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Be of good faith and act accordingly How dare our region's neo-Nazis attach the name of Jesu to a 'church 'that justifies raci m and deifies bate? How dare they u eAmerica's freedom preserved at terrible human cost in World War II to put their admiration for Adolf Hitler on parade? Yet that is what they intend to do, this little band of oddballs who have lurked for year in the North Idaho wood , cursing their neighbors with embarrassing publicity and terrorist crimes. Never has freedom been harder for good people to accept. But freedom also provides an opportunity for the decent people of our region to affirm their own values. Judea-Christian heritage from which most l , citizens derive their values, is a crucial force 1n 1t behind the efforts to demonstrate that Inland Northwest residents reject the values the Aryans plan to promote in next month's parade. A conversation There are however challenges to overcome. about race While per ons of faith share a great deal in common, they worship in thousands of eparate congregation . History tells a sad discrediting tale of religious conflict and of debate over religion' role in ociety. At its wor t, as in the Aryan church, religion merely mold a god in the image of the members and their interests serving a an exercise in elf-justification. At its best, faith connects the faithful to the tran cendent. It Lift individual and society out of the status quo. In the Unjted States for example, Christian agitator have challenged lavery child labor and segregation- pu hed for temperance, public school and women suffrage¡ and today they work to stabiLize ociety' most crucial in titution, the family. As our region' churches wonder how to counter the Aryan parade there is food for thought in the word of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He poke for the church to a troubled ociety. In addition, hl Letter from Birmingham Jail posed a challenge. till pertinent to the church. Some of that letter appear on this page. Even today mo trace choo e to wor hip separately. D termined to bridge the gap however, Spokane-area church leaders in recent year have conducted a public ceremony of racial and denominational reconciliation. They have adopted a tatement deploring raci m. Gradually they are developing relation hip that knock down racial economic and organizational walls. And separate though they are every week the churche and ynagogue end member into the communitie of the Laland Northwe t, all equipped potentially, with the same vaJue that animated King. Hi voice wa ilenced hi. pulpit emptied by a bull t. But hi God, the tran cendent one, lives. Other mu. t take King place. Not only in pulpit . AJ o in workplace. clas TOOm. home. - and in the public place . There. each day. thi region re ident can u e their freedom to mak brotherhood a reality and bigotry an aberration.

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John Webster/For the editorial board

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An assassin's bullet silenced the voice ot the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. This empty pulpit stands at the site of his first pastorate, at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church In Montgomery, Ala. The church still ministering to a working-class neighborhood near lhe state capitol, has been restored and is decorated with murals showing scenes from the civil rights movement.


By Steve Ma sey

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UlffWriter

or families wilh youngsters, it can be awkward discu ing raci m around Lh dinner table. But it' downright grim when raci t them elve come to upper. That' e actly what happened to my family one unday afternoon in a Coeur d Alene restaurant. My on, 5 years old at the Lime, was the first one to pot lbe men wilh uniform and jackboots two lab! away. Jacob enamored with uniform wa intrigued. Hi mother and I were horrified . tt As a journalist, I immediately recognized Richard Butler and • lhe tell tale in ignia of the Aryan Nation . earl a dozen of th m sat al the table, while one of A conver.satio11 Buller' younger compalriots abow race trolled around the re~tautant, grazing item from th f od bar. Que tions from Jacob and his little si ter arah, were innocent and to the point: Who are tho e guy ? Why do they wear uniform ? Are they bad? As parents, Pam and 1 truggled with what we figured were larger que tion : hould we leave, making clear out trong disagreement with the Aryan 'white separatist beliefs? Or do we tay, embracing an equally trong belief that cveryon regardle of creed or appearan e - ha a right to din in a public place? Throughout the re tautant, the ame dil mma played out for oLher familic , an unwanted ide di h for the after-church crowd. Some left without eating. Others tayed and gawked. Slill oth r perhap a slight majority remained oblivious to anything unu ual around them. l envied lheir po ition. We decided to tay. And we talked, for only a moment., about equality in imple term . The meal wa unremarkable, the conversation unforg ttable: God made peopl of different kin colors to be equal. There is no cientific, hi toric or biblical evidence that one race i better than another. Not everyone agree . We believe they're wrong. No more question ? Bored with that. En ugh aid. What sh uld we do with the re t of the

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Although the subject matter can be difficult, parents need to have an honest t:alk about racism and ha'tred with their children day? Sit up straight. Finish your lunch. It is odd that the notion of equality among races is o easily accepted among children but causes hot disagreement between adults. What happen on the way to adulthood that dull the intellect to such a imple truth? I wouldn't presume to answer that question. But in a community that is decidedly white, saddled with a few dogmatic racists, I feel a sense of obligation to occasionally reinforce the truth of racial equality. But how? Is it enough to make sure children s storybooks reflect the fact that not all people are white? No, but it's not a bad start. Is it necessary to preach about the evils meted out to non-whites throughout history? Not unless your intent is to instill beliefs steeped in shame or fear. So much the better to seize those unsolicited teaching moments that only parents recogniz.e. Those times when a simple que tion invites us into a child's world with no trings attached. It is then that a lesson can be imparted. Like the time a little one notices -with innocent, if not awkward, curiosity- that the waiter at a Mexican restaurant speaks Spanish. Or when the opposing soccer team has an African American goalie. Or the time an all-black choir visits a mostly white church. Yes even the time the Aryans show up for lunch. There is just one caveat to this approach: You mu t live it as a parent. Jesus warns of the pitfalls of hypocritical living in the very Scriptures some have perverted to justify racism. Just as the hypocritical scribes and pharisees could not impart true religion, so too the wavering parent is unable to pass along the value of racial equality. Children do not wrestle wi.th racism, they learn it from adults. The application is obvious: Parents need not fret so much about what they say, but what they do -what their children see each day.

Jim Carnes, director of Teaching Tolerance, says it s difficult to promote racial equality among children who see its opposite at home. Carnes, whose group is an affiliate of the Southern Poverty Law Center, was truly shocked recently when I related to him my family's restaurant experience. He suggests the upcoming Aryan Nations' march on July 18 is an ideal time for Inland Northwest parents to talk honestly about racism with their kids. I agree. It is especially important considering the type of young people sought out by militant white separatists. Their recruits are drawn to a clear sense of identityhowever extreme. Uniforms and a sense of brotherhood attract kids, for good or evil. The Boy Scouts and the Hitler Youth prove this on either side of the spectrum. When it comes to youngsters curious about the Aryans Carnes says, "You've got to poke a hole in that (Nazi) uniform .... It s seductive and makes a powerful statement, but it's being used for the wrong purpose." ln the InJand Northwest, a region that is overwhelmingly white, children need help seeing the invisible diversity around them. "We may all look alike, but we all have different backgrounds,'' Carnes says. "We need to penetrate that veneer of whiteness to show that no two people . are alike in any way." For children and adults, there is a hidden snare in this push for diversity. Tolerance cannot be an excuse to condone moral wrongdoing. Violence, slander, homosexuality-all can win converts when married to the call for diversity and tolerance. The Aryan may have a right to their beliefs, in a Legal sense. But they are simply enjoying the manmade right to be morally wrong. Let God judge them as he will all of us. Sharing a meal with the Aryans was a wake-up call for me. It reminded me that my children will learn about race and bigotry one way or another. I cannot shield them until I find the right words. Studies show that children learn to categorize things early on. It's one of the fir t skills to develop. And children will just as easily categorize people if given an opportunity to learn that behavior. Let's determine to help kids avoid making judgments based on race. Talk about it over dinner. We owe them that.


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Sunday, June 28, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, WashJCoeur d'Alene. Idaho

"I don't think theres anything more important than how hznnon beings treat each other. How you treat people is the essence ofwho you are. Tony Stewart


Tony Stewart leads a discussion during a recent meeting of the Unity and Action Committee in Spokane.


• Tony Stwart is the drivingf01r:e behind the ctnnpaign against racism in N01th Idaho B. Cynthia Taggart

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OEURd'ALENE- Jud Whatleywa com£ rtably R publican wh n be met Ton rcwart in 19 9. The were ju t acquaintan thi prim.I ·uited middle-aged woman and the gentle.spin ted political ieoc profe r. But h accepted h' Lnvrtation to lun h and then to change her life. He told me p ople have a - • re pon ibility Lo give back ro the c mmunity if the have c rtain gi Whatley say , l.h.ink.ing back t the long ago lunch. ·Then, be aid ou're n L re-ally a RepubUcan. ' Stewart outlined a ugge ted course fa ti n for her that included A com•ersation helping Democratic candidates and about race th Ko teoai County Ta k Fbrce on Human Relati n , hi life w rk. I left thinking, That w very complimentary. but totall ridiculous, ' Whatley say . ' But within two years, I found my elf doing verything he d :.uggc tcd. H c uld sec more of my futur than I could. P ople familiar with tewart nod knowing] at Whatley

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J-ic' convinced them to run for public office or organize a ma iv human right, celebration, He persuaded them l peak L hundred · of tudents at North Idaho College or

Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesrnan·Rev1ew

Stewart shows no signs of burnout, carrying some of his projects inlo their second and third decades.

query gue ts on bi public televi ·ion how. It' ea to underc:timate Lhe power beneath hi b nign mlle. ft uthcm drawl and gray curl . Bul t •wart clearl cc the world he want and works doggedly to achieve that vi ·on. 'He alwa appea ls to your highe t purpo e,·, ay B t

Hawkin a long-lime friend. "How do you say no to that'!" Mot don't. and that' \ hy IC ha ho ·tcd uch notaole a aulh r Dani I Ell b rg, ivil right activist Julian B nd and genius Buckmin. ter Fuller - to name ll fe among hundred . lt ' al ·o why I<, otenai Count ' human right lm,k force i a model for citie from coa to a t. "l l , a the br in behind the human right eff n · in Kootenai unt ,'' says Glen Walker, a C cur d'Alene attom y and former county pro ecutor. · e wa. the heart, the piril. the ·oul, the brain . He w· · it.., St wart wa born in R bbin.sville . ., -6 year a0 0 with purpose in hi heart. ''He alway want d to be an ate rn ,.. a~ carol Knaffl, h· on! ·ibling. "He wa v ry tudiou . He ould tell you a year do,vn he road what he d learm:d in a cl ' Gurl y and Margie 1 , art s t a good example for their tw children. They di cu. d politi ·, phil ph and religi n with them. Gurley wa a If-educated, one-term R publican lcgi lat rand a M1. i nary Bapt.i t pastor who e c mpa i natc act ' were frequ nt and sp ntaneou.. Tony\ wb n his father rai ed money to help a poor famil add a r ft their ha k. Gurr y bought hri mas pri;sent and ~ od for the eight kid . He once ga c hi · :hoe to a man who had none. Knaff] ay her year-older br ther w· h r buddy, ven if b was a bit omrolling and annoyingly respon. ibl as a ·hild. Continued: Stewart/E7


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Spokane, Wash./ Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Stewart: Even philosophical foes appreciate his interview show Continued from E1 My father bought u both pig once. Mine died, but Tony' , f cour e liv d " he . ay . At Western Carolina University tewart became ab orbed with the ciol gy of the political proce . People' motivation fa cinated him and he began to appreciate human interaction a ociety' foundation. He filed every le on and exp ri nc in hi brain for future examination including a 1960 bru h wirh hara ment. He wa the campu leader of the Young Republicans that year and campaigning for the Republican candidate forcongres, a Jewi h man who had fled Hitler' Germany. tewart wa riding in a car with the candidate when tudent in another car delib rately ran them into a ditch. " It wa a real reminder of what , ome people fac and why one need to tand ~ r principle in human right , Stewart ays. The South churn d with civil rights battl during hi college day , but he didn't encounter anything maj r until h reached Wa hington tat Univer ity. In L970, hi fir t year teaching, about .000 student went on trike to prate t racial inequitie on the Pullman campu . Stewart re pected their conviction and excu ed his 175 student fr m the final exam. But mo t took the te t anyway b cau e he wa the teacher who had taught th m about civil right . Their I gicand loyalty impre ed him. "They o d eply b lieved in their fight again tdi criminati9n,' _Stewart ·ay . ' 1 cc the same passion m indi idual now, but n t collectively.' He'd planned to pur u political

re earch but a short detour into teaching helped him recognize education as a means to the better world taking focu in hi mind. "He wa a very popular teacher, ays Thor Swanson who was chairman of WSU's political science department in 1970. 'He's very gentle yet a man of principle. That combination is very rare." That year, Stewart invited hi tudent to a year-end Sunday afternoon reception on campus. So many came that it took Stewart and Swan on three hour to greet them all. Swanson still chuckles about it. . 'It was very atypical for the days, but typical of him, 'he ay . "Th y were o hungry to be known per onaIJy," Stewart say . At Swanson urging, Stewart accepted the political science teaching po tat NIC in 1970. The chool eagerly served as an incubator for his idea , o he never left. 'A dean once made a comment to me that no one is irreplaceable, says Steve Schenk, an NlC vice president. "That's right, except for Tony. We wilJ never find omeone like him who' totally dedicated his life to this college and the causes he believes in.' Stewart wa determined to introduce as many people as possible to a rich tew of ideas, convinced that knowledge create the foundation for good action . "You become more complex, more aware. Con tant self-discovery is exhilarating and you get that from learning from others," he says. 'We can make a lot out of life ifwe take advantage of opportunitie ." He provided plenty. The peaker ' eries he began the Popcorn Forum - has lasted 28 years and evolved into a cutting-edge

.


.. program that even major universities envy. N1C is the most excellent of any of the places I go," says Clay Jenkinson a scholar-performer from Nevada who helps colleges nationwide develop humanities programs. ' An earnest faculty coupled with a man of Tony's in piratiooal ability is a perfect combination." Stewart jumped at the chance to interview his speakers on public television, lo 26 years, the NIC Public Forum has broadcast 1,278 programs and Stewart, the ho t, hasn't missed one. "When he's sick, he does the show anyway," says Schenk who has helped interview Stewart's guests on air for 12 years. "The Popcorn Forum, the showthey're nowhere in his job description. He doesn't get compensated for them. Tlley're a labor of love for him because he believes so much." Even Stewart's philosophical opposites appreciate his show. Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin routinely refers to Stewart as a "do-gooder" for supporting causes Rankin openly rejects. Still, Rankin has appeared on Stewart s show several times. ' I felt like the token conservative ' he says. "But it's a decent experience. He's always been a gentleman as far as I'm concerned." Stewart is a consummate organizer and doesn t allow hjs extracurricular activities - coaching tenni , spearheading the drive to build tennis courts, leading the fight to save N1C' beach from developers- to take time or attention from hi student . He's consistently among the most popular and appreciated teachers on campus. Students from three decades praise hi mock murder trials and simulated constitutional conventions.

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"He challenged students to use their brain " ays Brad Stoddard a Coeur d'Alene attorney who had Stewart for a teacher in the 1970s. "Through that process, I reaHzed there are no easy answer and (that) problem in society are complex, requiring sometimes complex olution ." Such Jes ons pring from Stewart lifelong study of human nature. He reads hi tory and philosophy to vaHdate his ideas and learn new perspectives. He reads anything that will teach him about human motivation and relationship . ' I don t think there's anything more important than bow human beings treat each other,' he ays. "How you treat people i thee ence of who you are." He observes and thinks and then be act . Hi observation prompted him to witch from the Republican to the Democratic Party 25 years ago. "I watched foreign policy, defense, the environment social program , human rights, the economy- and I was more pleased with the general platform of the Democratic Party ' be says. Like a director with a flawed script he ha no qualms about rewriting lives to steer the world in the right direction. "He talked me into running for the Legislature " ays Mary Lou Reed a former ix-term Democratic tate senator from Coeur d'Alene. 'He' so effective because he s determined, persistent and persuasive. He has ideas and visions that in pire people." Stewart's personal script grew more consuming 17 years ago. White supremacist moved into.the area spewing hate again t Jews and minorities. Public reaction wa crucial to Stewart s vi ion for the world. So he began guiding the community like a parent leads a child. He educated, co-spoo oring a


Sunday, June 28, 1998

ympo ium on raci mat NIC with the Kootenai County Ta kForce on Human Relations. He briefly led the ta k force, then fell naturally into the role of trategi t, pu bing a po itive, non-violent me age of equality for all people. "It very important to recognize good acts in Life, ' he ays. 'You don t make progre by beating people on the head. With community celebrations school programs ribbon campaign and legi lation, the ta k force woo public upport. It gave people angry at the bate movement a po itive way to fight back. "The ta k force has definition becau e he gave it definition, ' say Norm Gi el, a former ta k force president. ' He' o focused and committed, it's like having Mouot Everest in your living room." The human rights issue is Stewart' Armageddon. If hate wins, his vision of fairness and equality di integrate . He prepared his entire Life for this battle. 'To be committed and involved I had to acrifice other thfag , be ay . "I have alway known that we are here for the twinkle of an eye. J have led my entire Life with urgency. ' Hi sacrifice ha paid off. Human right ta k force have sprouted aero s the country like battalion in Stewart' army. 'Tony i driven by a focu and pas ion that doesn't leave him much Ufe to take care of himself ' say Bill Wa muth, executive director of the Northwest Coalition Against Maliciou Harassment. ''His life i dedicated to the cau e he take up. That's why he gets so much done. And never bums out, even when white upremacist relentlessly in ult him in hate literature. 1denounce the message of hara sment but I must not hate becau e then I lose, he ay . 'The human spirit is endangered when it tum to hate.

Page E7

'Never let anything interfere internally with what you are.' That pirit help him refuel the task force when it energy run low. ' Thi ta k force would not have lived for 17 years without Tony,' Gi el ay . Five or ix times it would ve faUen apart from frustration and weariness. He s the ingle most important per on in North Idaho for civil rights. Few would argue with that, although not everyone upports his lenient approach. Stewart has organized a human right rally in Spokane on July I , the day the Aryan Nations plan to march through downtown Coeur d Alene. He's alway led people away from danger ' ay Skip Kuck, a longtime Coeur d'Alene human rights activist and board member for the Northwest Coalition. "But there are people here who have a sense of rage inside, who won't act out, but are tired of backing off from the Aryan . They want to tand up and be counted." Stewart ha one message for those people and, cllaracteristically say it graciously but firmly: 'We don't go to their functions; they come to ours. We speak on human right from our own platform." Listen to him, say Riane Eisler a California author and cru ader for worldwide women' right . Stewart persuaded her to peak at NIC in 1990. Her family Oed Vienna in the 1930s. 'The cultural climate there (Vienna) was such that bate wa welcome slle says. 'If there were more people like Tony Stewart perhaps 6 million Jew and 2 million other Europeans -victims of prejudice and bate-would still be alive. "He's a role model for us all a deeply good human being. '


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Hot Potatoes

Tater Tota: Mayor makes lemonade, too

Who says you can' t teach a young do~ old tricks? Sweet Potatoes to CdA Mayor Steve Judy for signing the "Making Lemonade Out of Lemons" pledge drive to raise money for human rights. The Boy (Rapidly Becoming A Man) Mayor initially balked at the program s~nsored by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Rights. Now, he s pledged $1 per minute that the neo-Nutsies march July 18", which sees and significantly raises the two-bits-per I've pledged. How about you? .. . liyou don't have something better to do at 7 tonight (such as counting socks or watching a "Seinfeld" rerun), you might trek to North Idaho College libr~ and hear Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler explain why he and hlS storm troopers will be marching here next month. But then, don't we already know the answer? To raise money for human rights, silly ... I like the plan by state Rep. Zoe Lofgren D-Calif., to allow high schools to start class at 9 instead of the ungodly hour some do now. But then, I'm a night person. r often think I'd be as upbeat as gentle Dr. Ted Pox, the Coeur d'Alene Rotarian reporter, if I could just catch a few more winks. Nab. • D.F. Oliverla's Hot Potatoes runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.


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Editorials

Let library benefit by 'Lemonade' plan "Making Lemon

into Lemonade," a program to rais mon y for human right ba ed on the length of a sch dul d Aryan Nation march in Coeur d Alene, i off to a good tart. But an ev n greater number of North Idahoans will contribute if the ponsoring Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations recomm nds a widely known beneficiary for the fund . Wi ugge t the Ta k For e d dicate nonde ignat d pledge to enhance and enlarge the human right section of the Coeur d Alene Publi Library and other ounty libraries intere ted in e tabli hing uch a reading area. Th Coeur d Alene library ha a good tart on its s ction , but additional fund would enabl th library to expand it selection of book and video to h Ip spread the mes age again t raci m and bigotry. The money could al o be u ed for the human right ection of the propos d n w Co ur d Alene Library. U ing the fund to improve the library's collection would provide a pecific use for the funds and remove any pos ible controv n;y over what program are upported. Giving the money to the library would provid tangible evidence of the strong community entiment against prejudice. It could al o park an imm diate increa e in fund-rai ing through heightened unity and provide a lasting impact on the area. (That i omething that handful of '1 mon "would really hate). At pre ent donor may de ignat a pecific amount of mon y p r minute for the 1 ngth of the "l mon "' march for any specific human right group. A unified campaign for th Library endor ed by th Ta k For e would giv th l monad driv a more local focu . lf prejudice i a ign of ignorance, how b tter to enlighten people than to build a tronger library? We hope the Ta k Force will con id r our ugge tion. At any rate, contributors can certainly make their pledg to the human right collection of their local library.

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'Lemon' pledges add up COEUR d' ALENE -Th Koot aai ounty Ta ·k Fore on Human Relation has ur· pa d if fund-rai ing goal to count r lh ryan Nation' parade planned for July 18 in oeur d'AI ne. Whil th Aryan march to promote white upr macy, they wilJ al o be rai ing money for human right awar n . and education pr gram: through a counter- v nl organized b th task force. 111 original goal of U1e ta k fore driv wa to coll ct pledge of at I a l $500 for very mi nut th Aryan' mar h. With rec nt clonalion through "Making Lemonad " pl dg form . publi h d in Lh Pre ', Tu day' . total wa $530.48 p •r minute. H th man:h la. t 45 minut . ·th drive could bring

in $23, 72. Aryan Nation leader Richard Butler said th march could last an hour or two. Ta k for e m mber Tony tewart ·aid many f the pledg hav b n a compani d by I U r of upport for lh ta k force. "My favorite i from two 9y ar-old childr n who mu l have g tl n tog th r and pool d th ir money.'' t wart aid. "Th y pledg cl 25 • nl p r mi nut .'' JI aid he i xpectiug more pledges a the march date approache . ew of Lhe pl dge driv ha gon aero the country, he add d. • t wart aid Lh ta k fore ha re ived pledg from Fall Church, Va.; Laguna Beach, Calif.; and Win tonal m. N.C.



SECTION

Saturday, July 4, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash/ Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

To contact the North Idaho office, dlal (208) 765-7100, toll-lree 800-344-6718; Fax: (208) 765-7149

ewish group wants parade stopped Call-In campaignto City Hall demandsCdA rescind the Aryan Nations' permit

tatemen t faxed Friday to The Spoke man-Review threaten "trouble' taff writer if the planned Aryan lQO.man march COEUR d'ALENE-An out-~f- tate happen. militant Jewi h group ay 1t ~a 'The Aryan ation mu t be cru heel.,' launched a call-in campaign dema~dmg the JOO hot tine me age ay . before the Aryan Nation parade pernut be giving out the Coeur d'Alene City HaU rescinded. telephone number. . A spokesman for the N~w Yo!k¡b~ed the JOO tatement caJI the campaign Jewish D fense Organ.iza~on said Fnday Operation Nazi Kicker'' and threatens the group wiJI try to o~garuze a ~oycott of to 'expo e anyone that upports the the areas touri m mdu try if Coeur Aryan Nations. ' d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy doe not Names and addre e of anyone who revoke th July L parade permit. A JDO

Brian Coddington

will be pread among other Jewi h ite , Siegel said. It w not clear how the group ~~ obtain informati o abour march part1c1The New York-based Jewish Defense pant becau e Siegel aid the JOO do Organization is aspin-off of the Jewish not plan to attend the march. Defense League. The group claims to Judy aid he wa irtformed ab ut the have broken up racist rallies ln the past campaign Tour day but ha not heard fr m JDO represent~tives or. anyone io:fluenced b the call-m campaign. rum out in upport of the f!!aIC~ wpl be Regardle , any caÂľ will not cha~}r po ted on the JOO Web 1te wtthm 72 hours of the parade member Lawrence his deci ion, Judy aid. The Aryan _aiegel ajd, Anti-tourism me age al o tion parade permit reque t meet city

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requirements. "It's not going to change the eir t Amendment right to free spe7,ch we liave to uphold in our commuruty Judy said. Authoritie said the JDO is a spm-off of the Jewish Defense League, which ha promised to send members to Coeur d'Alene to oppose the parade. Siegel said Judy should hav~ denied the pe~it a~ a threat to publtc safety. Siegel said bis group does not plan to

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Continued: llarch/86

Group wants Aryan members to lose jobs Continued from 81

attend the march because it i scheduled on the Sabbath. "However that does not mean we can't create confrontational ituation before the rally, Siegel said. The JDO claims to have broken up Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazi rallies in the past. Siegel said the organization doe not intend to stop the Aryan's patade with violence. The JDO hot line encourages a .. Gampaign to legally and effectively destroy the Aryan Nations." Driving Aryan Nations members from their

homes and causing them to be fired from their jobs are among the JDO's stated intentions. ''We are calling upon alJ locals in Idaho who hate the anti-semitic (sic) racist trash from Aryan Nations to call Mayor Judy to get this planned Hitler rally cancelled," JOO head Mordechai Levy said in the statement. The groups Web page has more violent overtones. "The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi," the site says. "It is that simple." Attempts to reach Aryan Nations

leader Richard Butler were unsuccessful Friday. Butler vowed earlier this week not to cancel the parade. ' A lot of people don't want us to march," Butler said Tuesday night during a public meeting be called to discuss the parade. "That would be surrendering." Judy said he sought seven separate legal opi~ons, including one from the state Attorney General's Office, before approving the parade permit. All advised him that denying the permit would violate the constitutional right to free speech of members of the Aryan Nations group.

"We're not going to act irresponsibly that way," Judy said. "We're going to be known as a community that upholds the law." While the JDO promises "trouble, ' Butfer said Tuesday he does not anticipate violence. However, participants in the march will be equipped with small shields to deflect objects that might be hurled at them, Butler said. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department is preparing to deal with several possibilities, Judy said. Neither Judy nor police officials have discussed what plans are being made. "Public safety has been my concern on this issue since day one," the mayor said.


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George Critchl w ometime wince. at 1990 pop culture. Talk how end in brawl . T leviion ad market vide of people mauled b animal . Movie plot are queezed between gunfight and e plo ion . ude photograph liu r the Internet. H wonder if ''I.he damage done to the culture through graphic i I nee i comp e 11 i ng enough t ju tify regulating it. ' omet i me [ think. 'Jeez A conl'ersation why do we aboul race tol rate this tra b?' "

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Then it hit him: It' Lhat freepeech thing. If e regulate. who decide what' K? Where would it top'? What if , hat l watch or ay i· banned ne ·t? Even ritchlm - a Gonzaga Univ r ity law profe or, ivil liberti pe iali t and First Amendmem expert - occa ionaU teeter on cen o hip' ' Lipp ry I pe befor righting him elf. 'T the extent we tart thinking about way to control or regulate, we re di tracting ourselve from the thing e ought to e doing a parent in titutionaUy, r a conumers," Critchl w aid. The profe sor' internal tug-ofwar highHgb the Fir. t Amendment' fundamental truth: Where it' mo t nee .ary, freed m of peech - perhap our m 1

In this series Racism In the Inland Northwest Is atopic that provokes strong views from many vantage points. And an Aryan Nations march planned In downtown Coeur d'Alene this month has brought discussion of those divergent views to the region's dinner tables and water coolers. For the last several weeks, Toe Spokesman-Review has reported on those discussions. This series of articles focuses on people trying to cope with prejudice. hate or the perception that the region is a sanctuary for racists. Today, an essay on Americans' right to free speech.

Inside

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defining right ru Am ricans - is uppo ed to make u un mfortable. " be , h le point is you have the right to expres your view even if n arly e eryone in ciet thinks you' r wrong, a crackp tor dangeru . aid Doug l lomg ith the Am rican Civil Libcrtie Inion in eallle. And that m an the other per ;; ha th right to argue. To annoy. To offend. To di gu. t. Mo t people kn w that, Critchlow and Honig agree. But it can be madd ning in practice. What happ n when meone' right co free peech infringes on community tand rd of fairne ? Hm do you top a raci t band of white upr maci - the Aryan ation - when it plan a Jul I march thr ugh oeur d'Alen to ad erti!e barred? The · n Yer. free p ch ·pert from e~ Y rk to at le agree. i Continued Freo spee h/A


Free speech: Not meant to

be comfortable· Continued from A1 don't stop it at all. And don't wi h to. That was the approach intended by Bill of Rights crafter James Madison. "Madison had just fought a revolution in which he'd recognized the power of group speech to change the world," University of Idaho professor Liz Brandt said. "He wanted to develop a society in which people were encouraged to think liberally about everything. Getting ideas out is necessary for the functioning of the political system. ' It's not that the Aryan ' speech isn't threatening," she continued. "The response just can't be silencing.' Nat Hentoff, who writes a civil rights column for New Yorks Village Voice, paraphrased a quote from former Supreme Court Justice Willia[i 0 . Douglas. "Community values, while important, can be transcended or t!'llmped by freedom of expression " Hentoff said. "The majority should not govern when it comes to basic freedom of expression." Attacks on those freedoms come from all sides. Hentoff watched with unease recently as a federal jury in Chicago convicted anti-abortion organizer of violating federaJ racketeering laws. The lawsuit called antiabortipn activists' illegal blockade of clinics a form of extortion. · That particular verdict too easily stifles social protest, Hentoff said. Had the statute been around 30 years ago, white business owners could have charged black student with extortion for sitting at segregated lunch counters, he said. Meanwhile, Barry Lynn, executive director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington D.C., wearies of efforts to inject religious activity into public schools. "The First Amendment does not guarantee we'll reach the right decision about anything," Lynn said. "The history of the country is replete with example of how it doesn t work. But I can t think of anything better. '

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Hentoff points to a constitutional amendment to ban flag-burning working its way through Congress. "They're trying to desecrate the First Amendment by attaching the first amendment to it, and most people in the country think that's fine," he said. The flag is a symbol of the freedom of expression even if that expre ion is flagbuming. But community interests and individual right often are in conflict. Society i about getting along through compromise. Liberty is a~out not being forced to comprom1se. "There i a ociaJ cost to every Fir t Amendment right," aid Bruce Johnson a First Amendment attorney in Seattle. Traffic may be di rupted. People may be inconvenienced. People with ugly opinions may urface from beneath the rocks under which they usually reside." When the Aryans stroll along Coeur d Alene s Sherman Avenue later thi month, North Idaho human rights activists hope to counter the demon tration with free expression of their own. Still, some residents worry that when racists march they get publibity, and, perhaps, credibility. Not necessarily, expert ay thanks to freedom of speech and, occasionally, the influence of pop culture. lo the late 1970s a band of neoNazis fought to march through a Jewish neighborhood in Skokie, l1I. Rep're enting the neo-Nazis, the ACLU took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, and won. Hollywood later released "The Blues Brothers " a cult film in which comedians Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi repeatedly mocked Illinoi Nazi . The movie solidified the uniformed racists' image in the public conscience as goose-stepping . fools. Twenty year later Brandt called North Idaho activists' plan to pledge money for human right for each minute of this month' Aryan parade 'a wonderfully creative thing. ' Brandt said the activists have found the balance for a community to accommodate freedom of expression: tolerance and responsibility. They will tolerate being insulted, while trying not to do the same to others. "I think we need to have thick skins " Brandt said. "But if we care about communities, we should work not to ay thing that needle ly offend.'


A pledge

against hate The Koo1enai Coun1y Task Force on Human Relation ha captured inlemational attention with lbe "Making Lemonade pledge it conceived in re pon e to plan for an Aryan Na1ion parade in Coeur d'Alene on JuJy 18. At right i the text of thal pl dge, which o far ha re ulted in pledge of more than $500 per minute that will go lo human rights organizations a a re uh of the raci t organir.ation¡ march.

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es, I believe in the right of free speech , but I abhor the message of white supremacy and hatred that the Aryan Nations will proclaim as they exercise their right of free speech by marching through Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on July 18, 1998. As a sign of my commitment to human rights, I pledge to a designated organization the amount indicated for every minute the Aryan Nation members march on the streets of Coeur d'Alene. This pledge is good for July 18th or if they march at any future date In Kootenai County. (Estimated time of march: 45 minutes.) (If you are unable to pledge money but would like to show support for human rights, you may sign this pledge form and return as indicated below.)

NAME:

ADDRESS INI PINJNE NO.: PLEDGE PER MIIJTE: DESIGNATED INIGANIZATION: You may choose any recognized human rights organization. Some suggestions are: Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, NAACP, AOL (AntiDefamation League), Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, Unity in Action. You may make copies of this pledge sheet. Please return to: Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations P.O. Box 2725, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 Fax: 208-772-3891 email: kctf@cda-id.com

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The changing look ofthe business community

Colin Mulvany/lhe Spokesman.Review

At Ram Engines in Spokane, Mexican Immigrant Poly Luquin helps rebuild an engine In the company's machine shop. The company has a long history of hiring a diverse work force.


Ners Companies are learning the importance ofexpanding their cultural awareness By Becky Kramer t:l.fh riter

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Randy Bustamante, who is Latino by birth, Is a software engineer at Hewlett-Packard.

But American Expr Financial Ad · or view it a vital to the company· A conversation ucce . The about race company provide financial planning ervice , and it ee a huge, underserved market among worn n, minoritie and gay and le bian . To erve tho e population '·we needed t understand what divec ity wa ' Bushman aid. American Expre i n't alone. Hiring a broad arra of workers i more than go d policy, it' good bu ine , companie ay. A diver e work force help them

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hen icki Countryman a ked b J" bo · if be could i it Buddhi ·t temple and AfricanAmerican churclle in her earcb £ r new employee , ome e ebrows hot up at Am rican Expre Financial Advi rs. lt wa n't a tandard recruiting practice. But Countryman i o'( a typical re ruiling manager. Bruce Bushman, fi Id vice pre idenc of tll pokane ffice, agreed lO let her try. He had hired ounrryman, a ocial worker, away fr m the YWCA "And he was , filing to let m take risks" he aid. Creating a divers work for e i a hall nge in pokane County where about 92 percent f the p pulatioo i white.

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and B tamante had an

engineering degree a

de ire t work f r Hewlett-Packard and a choice between an Franci co and

pokane. Bustamante took the job in p kaoe.

The avid team roper figur d that Ea tern W hington would b a better place for a hor e per on. rt wa n·t untiJ later that the New Mexic native took a g d lo k around hi work area at HewlettPackard' re earch and d velopment Jab at Liberty Lake. "H ly mack rel "he thought.

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Bustamante: Has seen numerous changes in workforce Continued from AS

Bustamante credits a mentor for helping him team the informal 'system" for getting things done at HP. On his own, it may have taken him longer to learn it than a white colleague, be aid. Bustamante does resume screening and phone interviews as part of a hiring team. Minority job applicants increasingly ask what it's like to be a person of color in the Spokane area, ht said. Some also inquire about the Aryan Nations pres-

' There's no one here that looks like me." Bustamante was the only Hispanic. He was also one of the youngest engineers. "lt was a little uncomfortable to be 2,000 miles away from home and realize that the only thing you have in common with people at work is work," he said.

''It'sfunny how

ence in North Idaho.

Bustamante is frank. He s never experienced overt discrimination in the company or the community, but he kno~ of people who have. He and his wife have also discussed whether Spokane would be a good place to raise bicultural children. It's an issue they haven't resolved. Since he' a member of the inclusivity taskforce Bustamante also get question from co-workers on diversity issues. He answers them when he can. 'Just because Im a person of color doesn't mean that l'm an expert on diversity," he said.

often youfeel like you 're going through this all on your own." Randy Blllflmante, employee at Hew/en-Packard

Bustamante, now 31, bas worked at HP's Spokane division for eight years. During that time, the company has made tremendous stride in diversity issues, he said. Many of the co-workers on his work team now are women and minorities. He's also a member of a grass roots ''iocluivity taskforce, ' which has provided valuable upport. "It's funny how often you feel like you're going through this all on your own," he aid.

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reach new client and increa the pool of workers in a hrinking labor market. Understanding different cultures also prevent the faux pa that can alien are cu tamers. But when American Expre advertised for financial planners mo t of the resume were from white males. That where Countryman a Japane eAmerican woman flu nt in Spanish came in. During her four years at American Expre , he and her staff have worked hard to forge ti s with Spokane' divers c mmunitie . Countryman attends gay pride parade women' event and Native American festivals. She works in th kitchen at fa.pane e-American dinners and talk to college tudent about dres ing ethnically, yet professionaU . 'It take time to build credibility, . aid Countryman, who i . tarting L • e re ults. About half of the 50 employee in American Expre Spokane office are women, and nine . taff members are minorities gay or le bian. But Countryman work isn't done. As recrubing manager • he oversee an area that include parts of ix tate . American Express employ 149 financial planners in that area and want to grow to 500 over the next IO year . Affirmative Action forced companie ' to look at whether their work force. reflected their communitie . Now competitive i ue are forcing bu in e to ask whether their work force reflect their customer base, or the pool of future woFker . 'What little consciou di. crimination remain will be swept away . oon - not by government regulation but b the enlightened elf-intere t of employer , ' the Hud on Institute predicted in it Workforce 2020 report. Women, immigrant and minoritie. made up the fa te t growing egment of the labor market during the 1990 . Companie · that once expected all new employee to ''as. imilate'' now talk about changing "the white male culture.' Attitude ab ut diver ity eem to run the gamut in Spokane, aid Judith Ma on dire tor of community development for the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce. Some cornpanie embrace it a e ential. Other have a 'we don t need it, attitude she aid. The chamber ran a job referral ervice for mfooritie for 3V2 year , but only 15 to 20 companie used it. However 'I really believe that companie that don t go that route are at a di advantage, said George Laue who works in human re ource at Metropolitan Mortgage in Spokane. They have a maller labor pool to recruit from , and le of an edge in an increasingly global marketplace he aid.

•••

Jim Rundle once thought of "workplace djverity" in term of numerical goals for hiring and promoting women and minoritie . Now, the general manager of Hewlett-Packard's Spokane divi ion think about an environment where all 950 work rs can flouri h. 'Six or even year :tgo, I could quote you the numbers but l didn't view it as critical to our long-

term uccess ·• Rundle said. Several i ue changed hi mind, including shift in labor market trends. Graduating engineers are no longer predominantly white male · half are either women and/or minoritie . To recruit the best workers, HP' Spokane Division need to be diver e Rundle aid. "lf you have an· all-white male work force it' hard to recruit women and people of color. ' But the company bad to concentrate on more than the numbers he figured. lf it kept the "white male culture" traditional to engineering it would become a revolving door for women and minority employee , he aid. Or, it would have a diverse work force, but employee wouldn't be working to their potential. Rundle cite: a Chinese-born engineer a an xample. The engineer won't interrupt or hout uggestion during a free-wheeling brain-. torming ·e._ ion. But if asked for input, he'll have tremen-

'What little conscious discrimination remains will be swept away soon - not by government regulation but by the enlightened selfinterest of employers. 11 Hudson Institute prediction In Its Workforce 2020report dou ideas. The company has al o worked to root out ubtletie in it hiring practice that favored men ver women. Anecdotes about football for intance, might gain point with men on the hiring team. But that doesn't alway mean the male candidate i the most qualified. ' White males ometime think Im putting them down. That not the ca e " aid Rundle who is white. ' If Hewlett-Packard was a totally female culture, we·d have problem too.' Though the company think of diver ity in broad term - age religion lifestyle, and sexual preference - racial and ethnic diver ily are among the ea ie t type to mea ure. About 13 Spokane division employees are racial or ethnic minorities. " It' not like I'm trying to fill a quota," Rundle aid. ' I'm really trying to create an environment where everyone here can contribute to their full potential. Jack Bunton, of RAM Engine , wasn't thinking about quotas either when he hired a dozen Vietname e immigrant in the 1980s. He was thinking about how hard it was to find skilled employees to work in hi Spokane machine hop. A government program gave him tax credit to hire the immigrants, and also ub idized their wage whjle they took community college classes. 'Some employer are a Little be itant to do it becau e it' outside of their comfort zone ' Bunton aid. But the program ha, been so succe sfuJ that he ha continued it over the year . Five immigrant - one from Mexico, three from Ru sia, and one from Vietnam - currently work in his 30-per on hop on North Freya. Bringing employee. of diff rent backgr und


into a mall shop required adju tment . Several Vietnam vet quit when Bunton hired the first immigrant . Other worker complained about the new employee ' jabbering" in their own languages. Bunton eventually e tabli hed a policy. Social talk hould be done in Engli b o that no one feels left out he told the immigrant worker . But they could talk in their native languages when they were explaining work matters to each other.

•••

Companie that don't understand diversity ri k alienating or lo ing cu tomers. An incident in 1994 drove home that point for the staff at Sacred Heart Medical Center. A nurse ummoned two curity guard after she noticed pungent smoke pouring out of a patient' room. The guards burst in expecting to find an arsoni t or a pot-smoking patient. In tead, they had interrupted a "smudging - a traditional Native American healing ceremony, where prayer mingle with the purifying smoke of sweet grass. Before the confusion wa cleared up the Native J\rnerican elder leading the ceremony had been pinned again t the wall. The hospital taff was embarrassed; the elder felt violated. Sacred Heart later invited tribal member to talk about traditional practice and their perception of the health care indu try. "They told us a lot of things that were hard to hear ' said Alicia Steed co-chair of the hospital' multi-cultural diver ity commi ion. The meeting was the beginning of the ho pital effort to reach out to Spokane's ethnic communitie . 'What do we need to understand about your culture to provide you with good health care?" ho pitaJ staff asked. The outreach was o uccessfuJ that it eventually volved into the "Diversity Health Care Collaborative - an effort by the area health care provider to understand and addres cultural diversity. Sacred Heart al o looked inward Steed aid. It invited employees of color to talk about experiences they'd had as taff members. The sessions were revealing. An African-American nur e described how her work received more scrutiny than that of white colleagues, and how patient referred to her a ' the black girl" or the "chocolate nurse.' A Ru sian immigrant told how resentful his coworker became when he was pulled away to interpret in emergency medical ituations. White manager wer often obliviou of the problems. 1t easy for Euro-Americans to be unaware because of what we call ·white privilege, ' Steed said. The frank discu sion became the foundation for diver ity training and awareness at the hospital. A one of many changes, our ing tation now are tocked with cultural diver ity guide . Though we don t u e them as recipe books ' Steed aid. After the mudging incident, an elderly nun re pectfully a ked M Indian family if they wanted to perform a cerem ny i r their ick relative. "Well ister, we pr fer the ro ary," a family member replied. They were Catholic.


Sandra Bancioll-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane Community College student Latrice Scott chats with a representative of Kelly Services during a job fair at the school last month.


••

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Tolerance

Gays are notjust to be tolerated Staff writer Steve Massey, in his June 28 commentary " ln it together,' stated that "sharing a meal with the Aryans was a wake-up call for me. '1 Here's another wakeup call for Massey: He's as much a bigot as those with whom be dined! Toward the end of his piece, Massey warned against tolerating diversity when it comes to moral wrongdoing. He then used violence, slander and homosexuality as areas of moral wrongdoing that are not to be tolerated. This is where Massey clearly crossed the line from journalist to bigot. He let his personal belief about gays destroy his credibjJjty as a journalist. My wife and l, married for 30 years, have three adult children. One of my sons is gay and I will not tolerate Massey's direct attack on his character. Bigotry is the result' of ignorance. My wife and I were ignorant about homosexuality until one of my sons told us that he was gay. Many parents reject their gay children out of the very ignorance that Massey has demonstrated. We love our son deeply and made the decision not only to accept him as he is but to also do something about our ignorance in order to strengthen our relationship. We got to know his friends and now they are our friends. We studied the issue and our conclusion is that homosexuality i not a moral issue. My son did not choose to be gay, just as Massey did not choose to be white. My son is not immoral and to label him as Massey did is truly slander. Patrick F. Marron Careywood, Idaho

Answers not uniformly enlightened Buried deep into the last third of a commentary against racism and bigotry ("Unifonn answers June 28) lies the same hatred and fearmongering that ha plagued our country, and the Inland Northwest in particular, for generations. 1 read Steve Massey's column primarily because I was intrigued by the statement in the subhead that "although the subject matter can be difficult, parents need to have an honest talk about racism and hatred with their children." I was urpri ed that anyone would think it was difficult to discuss bigotry and hatred with their children. My husband and I have done it for the last 17 years. My 17-year-old son and my 13-year-old daughter have no difficulty understanding that bigotry and hatred are sinful and evil. They have no trouble understanding that one of their jobs on thj Earth is to combat bigotry and hatred. What they would have difficulty understanding and what I find totally amazing i how Massey could write a relatively reasonable column right up to the fourth paragraph from the end where be deftly both burie and di plays bis own hatred and bigotry. Massey, Trent Lott Gary Tucker (Letters, June 28, "Shun gay , even your gay children") and all too many other people who clrum they are Christians are teaching

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their children bigotry and hatred daily. When one equate homosexuality to pedoprulia murder violence lander kleptomania and on and on, one i pouting the ame venom that the Aryan Nation pew out again t African Americans and other people of color. It should be noted that the Aryan Nations also condemns homo exuaJjty, Deborah Lawrence Hale Greenacres


Many orth Idaho residents have again united against racism, canying on a tradition started mare than a decade ago. Heres a look at the anti-hate legacy past and present.

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Their nam . aren ta familiar now. Pei ty C eur d Alene mayor Ray Stone ha ret ired. BiU Was muth i fighting for human right on a broader tage after leaving the prie thood and following hi heart to Seattle. Larry Broadbent, the good-natured Kootenai County undersheriff died three year ago too young. Eleven yea.rs ago the three traveled to New York to receive the first Ra ul Wallen berg Civic Award for the city of Coeur d'Alene. A Time columni t heralded their arrival de cribing Coeur d Alene a 'an aU-white city in an all-white tate that fought back again I raci m. Sopbj ticated New it Yorker looked to ' Cur d Leen for answer a they truggled with raci m of their own in tbe Borough of Queen . As Coeur d Alene brace for another Aryan A co1111er.vufio11 Nation event it' nice to recall the January about roce 19 7 mountaintop experience. How Wa mutb awed the New Yorker . How Broadbent beamed when the ew York Police Department made him an honorary member. How Stone almo. t hyperventilated a he approached the podium to peak- and then delivered the peech of his lif to tw landing ovation . Ct was Coeur d'Alene fine l hour. With th national merna and a packed multiracial audience looking on ix eminent speaker praj ed Coeur d'Alene, including future New York ity mayor David Dinkin . Council Pre ident Andrew tein told the three native orth Idahoans: "I pray New York can follow your example. I quent Bayard Ru tin th late civil right giant, aid one hould focu on 'th tragedy that would have occurred ' if there hadn t b en a Martin Luther King, Raoul Wallenberg or a town like eur d'Alene. Wallenberg was a wedi h diplomat credited with aving more than l , 00 Jew at the clo e of World War II. The award c uldn t have come at a better time. At home me oeur d Alene bu ine leader privately were gr u ing that the ta k force had cau ed more harm than good with its out p ken tand again t raci m. The award ii need them. Now, the Wall nherg award bang in the Coeur d Al ne City C uncil chamb r - a memorial to Stone, Wa muth. Br adbent and otbe wh fought the g d fight against bigotry. A mute r minder that a ne g nerati n mu I ri e up t challenge the t naciou i rce f hatred.

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D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board


N eo-Nazis' party a backfire barbecue Next Saturdays cheduled Aryan Nations parade in Coeur d Alene ranks a one of the most dramatic - and inspiring rever aJs of fortune in the annals of ociaJ ju tice. The hate group wanted to celebrate bigotry while preading the lie that it twisted racist views reflect the community norm. ln tead thanks largely to a creative strategy known a the Making Lemonade out of Lemons campaign the racists have provoked their own worst nightmare a sure-win for human right causes in the Inland Northwest. As of Friday, 1,476 people bad endorsed the petition and 1,278 of them - including Idaho Gov. Phil Batt and the mayors of Coeur d Alene and Spokane - had pledged to donate various amounts of money to human rights organizations for each minute the Aryans actually march. The per-minute sum stood at $659.46 meaning that if the white upremacist march the full 45 minutes planned, the beneficiary organizations will receive nearly $30,000 for their important work. The money might not materialize if the Aryans are troubled enough to cancel the march. Either way, it's a victory for decency and justice while honoring the constitutional freedoms that protect public expression of even odious me sages. The pledge idea came from a imilarly plagued city in Pennsylvania. Members of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations borrowed it and built it into an international attention-getter. The National League of Cities headlined Coeur d' Alene:s efforts in its weekly newspaper. The London Sunday Times took note. Pledges have rolled in from all over: Falls Church, Va.¡ Laguna Beach, Calif.; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Tulsa, Okla.; the University of Arizona. And ranking high on task force member Tony Stewart's list of favorites, two Coeur d'Alene children, ages 9 and 10, pooled their nickel and dimes to pledge 25 cent a minute, potentialJy $11.25. The pledge campaign i one part of a regional commitment to create an exhibition of principle strong enough to divert attention from the Aryans. As a result the Aryan Nations stand exposed as a marginalized fringe group, while those who have an ongoing fight to wage against alJ form of bigotry in this area have healthier treasuries. 1

Doug Floyd/For the editorial board

Edltorlal board Members of the editorial board are Stacey Cowles, publisher; Chris Peck, editor: Scott Sines, managing editor; John Webster, opink>n editor, Rebecca Nappi and Doug Floyd, interactive editors; Jamie Tobias Neely and D.F. Oliveria, writers; and Milt Priggee, cartoonist.

•


July 12, 1998 · $1.50

DITION OF

THESPoK!Esl!L4N-REVIEW • NEWS

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Many minoritiesfeel at home despi,te Inland Northwests image By Virginia de Leon taffwriter

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Sunday

ONLINE : WWW.SPOKANE. NET

be matriarch it at home the e da , watching TV in the yellow hou e be' Lived in for 68 years. Lillian Burnette i 93 years old, a pokane resident ince l927. Eleven of her 14children were born at a red Heart Ho pita!. he helped rai e 51 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 10 great-greatgrandchildren - many of whom cho to live in the

Inland orthwe t. Burnette ha roOI h r . Deep roots. othing will make her move he aid - not even an Aryan Nation march in nearby Coeur d Alene. Thi i my lif and home aid A conversation Burnette, wb ' African American. about race 'fve been a mom to everyone in this city- black, wh.ite lndian. . . . The Aryan Nations d n t bother me. I wa ra · ed in the South. I'm u ed to prejudice. D pite the ra i min the Inland N rthwe t, people of

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1'ellter

Continued: Raclsm/A10

In this series Racism In the Inland Northwest is a topic that provokes strong views from many vantage points. And an Aryan Nations march planned in downtown Coeur d'Alene next Saturday has brought discussion of those divergent views to the region's dinner tables and water coolers. For the last several weeks, The Spokesman-Review has reported on those discussions. The series of articles ~as focused on people trying to cope with prejudice, hate or the perception that the region is a sanctuary for racists. Today, Inland Northwest residents explain why they've chosen to stay here as minoritfes.


From the Front Page

Racism: Hate letter unnerving

incbe high and 12 inches wide, written with a.black, felt-tip pen. " It keeps me up late at night wondering who s lurking around the house,' Garigan aid in an April 1997 interview. I'm tired. I'm scared for my family.'' Continued from A1 Still, there are minorities who color are continuing to move here, don t consider Spokane especially staying and making it home. racist. Native Americans and other It' better here than in the South, groups have alway lived in the area said Burnette, who witnessed cross- "long before the Aryans got here, burnings and lynchings a a child. said Burnette' daughter, Juanita LeBurnette moved here 71 years ago slie of Spokane. from the Bay area with her late Mo t moved to Eastern Washing- hu band Henry Porter Burnette. At ton or North Idaho in more recent the time, her brother was workini in years. They came for all sorts of Hayden Lake. The Bumettes raised reasons - family, work, the military. chickens, cows, pigs. Lillian Burnette And they cho e to stay. grew vegetables and made the childWhy? The question is almost in- ren's clothes. sulting to some minorities. The Burnette children were the For the same reasons as everyone "first" at everything - the first else: relatively low crime, affordable blacks at Rogers High School and in housing, the great outdoors. the bingo halls. This is home, said Anita Voz, a While they were subjected to racial Mexican-American who moved to epithets during their growing up Coeur d'Alene in 1978. years, they paid little attention. "l loved it here immediately ' she "I've always been the minority said. "Nothing could make me move wherever I've gone," said Robert C. back to Los Angeles. I don't miss the Williamson Jr., an African American traffic, the crowds. . . . The people in who moved his family to Spokane Coeur d'Alene are open and kind." eight yell!S ago. 'This place isn't any more ractSt than any other place. . . . Where else am I gomg to go?" Hatalettar The Inland Northwe t isn't always a comfortable place for some Jews, SUlllle racism people of color, gays and le bians. The Aryan Nations march this Prejudice exi ts, they said, and Saturday is alaaning to many people. some have been affected more than But it's especially disturbing to those others. who are targets of these racist groups, Not a day goe by when Karen said Frances Sandberg, who's MexiBoone doesn't think of the letter her can and Jewish. family received last February. A 19-year resident of Careywood, After writing a guest column for Idaho, Sandberg has met several The Spokesman-Review, Boone re- people who are sometimes afraid to ceived a letter filled with racial tell others they're Jewish. epithets telling her to go "back to But even more frightening than the Africa and swing with the baboons." Aryan Nations is the subtler day-toHer three children were o dis- day racism that takes place in the tressed they couldn't eat or sleep, she schools, treets and workplace, Wilsaid. Boone, a ingle mother, was liamson said. shocked, scared and angry. There are people here who ' smile Her teenage daughter Khalelah, and grin but have the same intentions who opened the letter, sat in a chair a the Aryans ' he said. "That s for straight eight hours. "I'm numb, ' institutional racism. It' well-hidden she told her mother. I don t have and it scares me. any energy.' Its threatening, he said because Boone started wondering whether these are the people and structure she should tay in Spokane. The that affect how Williamson makes a threats put me in touch with the living and supports his family. pain that so many people face on a They're more influential and worse daily basis • she aid. than the Aryan Nations, he said. A month and a half later another Even if the racism isn't obvious, the African American became a target. fact that cities in the area are 92 to 98 Reggie Garigan, a Spokane resi- Pf?rcent white leads to ' culture dent for 21 years found "nigger" hock" for some minorities. scrawled on his concrete porch - 5 "Everything wa white, said


The Spokesman-Review

Boone, recalling the first time her family moved here from the South in 1959. "It was a loss of identity, like being in a foreign country." People in power, who are usualJy white, have the ability to change the situation, Williamson said. But many don't seem to care. It's easier for people to blame the white supremactsts because they're out in the orn, Williamson said. The institutiona racism is more easily ignored. Sometimes, those in power use it to divide people and stay in control, be said. "The Aryan Nations are a convenient scapegoat," Boone said. "They scare me less than the people in Spokane who possess that sort of hatred but are afraid to speak openJy about it.'

She wanted to be near her famiJy, she said. She also wanted to move to a mostly white area to "dispel the myths that blacks and whites can t truJy be friends. ' Boone had to change her attitude when she returned, she said. Despite her loneliness as an African American in such a white community, she took Spokane as a challenge. "I aip going to strive to find happiness and opportunity in Spokane,' she told herself. She made friends, joined civic organizations, made every effort to participate in social functions. Since she received the bate maila year ago, she's also spoken out ~licly against racism. Discrimination wears people down, she said. It eats away at their self-esteem and sometimes affect6 their physical well-being. Leaming to cope Despite the discrimination that "You have to have a lot  some minorities encounter, they strength," said Leslie, who's 64. "r-m learn to cope. Leaving, ¡they said, is not going to back down." often not an option. Think of the Israelis living among You get used to being pulled over their enemies in the Middle East. by police, Leslie said. You ignore or Think of the Catholics in Northern confront the stares, the glares, the Ireland or any other minority group occasional unkind word. in the world. If a business doesn't treat him well, Why do they stay? What keeps Williamson stops returning. Somethem strong? . times, he'll speak to the manager. There are no specific strategies to Bob BartJett of Spokane compares help minorities face discrimination, it to his parents' experience living said Williamson, a therapist and next to a river in West Virginia. bicuJtural specialist. It's different Every year, the river wouJd rise and from person to person. flood the house, he said. Every year, "You have to somehow chan~e the famiJy cleaned up the mud. your thinking in order to survive 10 "They lived with the hope that th~ this society," be said. You must do your best, as bis mom river wouJd drop, that the sun woula always told him. "You have to be come out and dry the mud, that overqualified, that's been my strat- things would get better," said Bare'Cf," he said. "You're going to have tlett, who's also African American. to be very, very, very good to live an "When you call a place 'home,' you ordinary life.'' think of it as such. Even in light of the A graduate of Rogers High Schoo~ bad things happening, it's your comBoone returned to Spokane in 1988. munity. It's your place.''


"I've been mom to everybody In this city," says 93-year-old LIiiian Burnette, who raised 14 chlldren during her 71 years In Spokane.


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ichard Butler from the Aryan Nations compound addre ed about three dozen people recently on the orth [daho College campu in Coeur d'Alene. He ought to explain the Fred r a oning behind a parade hi white Gllenna upremaci t group plan to tage on Saturday. From their dre and their questions mo t of the gathering appeared to up port Butler, while about a dozen people di puted him. trangely there wa no large pr ence of people who wanted a deeper in ight into th philo ophy of the compound' principal re idenc. Stranger till there was no flouri hing turnout of people to tell him off and h t him down. At Butler talk, amid t th u ual allegation of white race trea on, ethnic mixing, and the decline of all value becau e communi m i n't dead I wa truck by the high percentage of hi followers who are from omewhere else. North Idaho attract ome peopl whose presence here creates ome terrible tereotype about our community, in part becau e of the c mm unity' tolerance. Rugged individuali m, elf-reliance and a rea onable tendency to leave neighbor alone marks much f tbe attitude of one Idahoan to another. While that i good in many way it i bad in at lea t ne other: Some people unwelcome el ewhere tend to gather

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Although it is a serious charge to make to civilizedpeople many in the Pacific Northwest, while despising the overt hatred ofseparatist hard liners, nonetheless are glad_such makontents make their presence felt.

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here. De pite the lofty work of the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations and despite the vital work that re ulted in maliciou hara ment legi lation, we need to remember that there wa , and continue to be a viciou few whose actions prompted the creation of both the ta k force and the legi lation in the fi t place. Th idea that omehow the media are at fault for exaggerating a local issue i ludicrou . Sadly where there i moke there i often fire and the di gu ting raci m bubbling here by a minority i a legitimate news tory in a country tri ing for meaningful equality. Worse l think the minority isn't o minor. De pite the healthy and vigorou public di play recently that have celebrated div r ity io both the Idaho Panhandle and pokane County my ad belief i that many more people


secretly are relieved that bigots bluster here. Certainly the rabid outspoken racists are thankfully few in number. But our swatch of the Pacific Northwest harbors many secret sympathizers who are actually comfortable with how white the area is and who are quietly grateful that bad publicity in some measure keeps out more minority people. Although it is a serious charge to make to civilized people, many in the Pacific Northwest, while despising the overt hatred of separatist hard liners nonetheless are glad such malcontents make their presence felt. That is why despite the noble efforts of many, Butler and his followers feel so comfortable preaching here. Doubtle any large metropolitan area will have more racists and even anti-government separatists within it through sheer force of numbers than is found in North Idaho or Eastern Wa hington. But here they feel at ease parading their message. Many residents have told me this area is more hostile to strangers to minorities and even to new ideas than any other place they've lived. My own experiences have shown that while many people here are warm, welcoming and friendly many more are guarded, fearful and racially either naive or reactionary. Children instinctively regard with innate suspicion anyone who is at all unu ual. If your skin is too white or too dark if you are too slow or too swift, if you are very short or extra tall, you stand out a marked. It takes the sophistication of adulthood to recognize this phenomenon for what it is: ln the harsh life of early man if you failed to pot an enemy you might not survive.

After thousands of years of slowly building a civilization, we realize now that some primitive urges need to be discarded for the ake of building a better saner, more wholesome world. Differences in skin pigmentation have nothing to do with the core oul within. I think many people here, while lacking the venomous zeal of the true racist nonetheless harbor a su picion of anyone else who i a litde too different. We need to be more sophisticated in our view of the world and the wide range of people customs and beliefs it includes. There are tupendous benefits to a variegated, multiculture population. The blend of traditions, cui ine , costumes habit and lifestyles create an immeasurably rich experience for all who dwell in it. However, to savor this mix we first have to conquer the hidden fears within us and embrace those we do not. know. lntegrationists for years have maintained that the fence-sitter and the unaware raci t are far more frustrating than the simple-minded out-and-out bigot. "Where do skinheads come from?' Butler rhetorically asked his audience. Look in the mirror. They come from you.' We, all of u need to work much harder to combat those sleeping bia e we harbor within. • Fred Gllenna, aChicago native, now lives in Coeur d'Alene Where he Is president of the Kootenai County Democratic Club. He Is a member of The Spokesman-Review's Board of Contributors.


ITI ON OF

lllESPoo:siUN-REvJEw • NEWS

ONLINE · WWW . SP

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Monday July 13 199 50 cents

at's it like being white? If racial

dialogue Is to be successful,

experts say, whites must reflect ontbelrown culture

By Virginia de Leon Staff writer

White. It' a color, a symbol, a racial category. When people think of 'whiteness •· ome ma think of neo-Nazi or the Ku Klux Klan. But whiten isn t always about raci t groups said Cindy Gallagher, Wa. hington State Univei ity's director f diversity education. Wbitene ome ay, aJ i a culture behaviors and belief: · particular to a group of people. Whfr have a group identity, ' Gallagher aid. And American culture i " haped by the people in power, people

o

What Is white?

In it

Sociologists define whiteness this way: It's the cumulative result of whites having social power In the United States. Whites have privileges within Institutions and at cultural levels. Whiteness also is aframe of reference through which white people view the world: It's aset of values and ideals often described as "American." whoarem ti white.' Some Caucasian in th Inland ~orthwe tare beginning to explore what 1tmean tobewh1te- trugglingwith their identitie and under randing· white privilege" in an increa ingly multicultural society.

A conversation

about race

"I've realized that I have a color caJJed 'white.· ' Spokane re ident David Dalk aid during an interview la t May at the city' Community Congrc on Race Relation . "That cares me.... For the first time f"m beginning to deal with Lhe e i. ue , 10 change my attitud and

a tion ." Whitene · i ubrle et pervasive, expert ucb a, Gallagher sa . Go into mo t ba her in the Inland Northwe t. Work out at the heal Lb club. Shop for grocerie . Nearl every ne i \ hite. ln 1990 Spokane County' population was 95 percent white, according t the U.S. Cen u Bureau. Ko tenai unty wa 9 perc nl white. The re t of the Inland rlh\ e ti no different. Jame Waller. a Whitw rth College pr fe rand author of 'Prejudice cro America, ' ay white p pl in th area rarely are confronted over th ir kin c lor. Continued: WhltenesstA8


..... Al

Monday, July 13, 1998

From the Front Page

Whiteness: Culture so pervasive it can be invisible Continued from A1 "We are so immersed in white culture that we know so little else "

•••

Experts uch as Gallagher who facilitate workshops on what it means to be white, say learning about whi.te cuJ.ture may be a way to change rac1 t attitudes. 1n the last few years the tudy of whiteness has emerged as a growing movement across the country. It has become a ubject of debate in books and journals. Students and professors are talking about it at Harvard the University of California at Berkeley and other colleges. There also is the Center for the Study of White American CuJture an organization founded in New Je~y several years ago by an interracial ~uple who wanted to promote diver-

1ry.

The study of whiteness has nothing ~o. ~o with flying the Rebel flag or JOlDlllg the Aryan Nations, scholars say. Instead o( promoting whites as genetically superior, those who are examining whiteness want to put an end to racism. Bei,og aware of one s skin color and he.ritage isn't a bad thing, Gallagher S8Jd. It becomes dangerous only when you think your culture is better than everyone else's. Those explorins whiteness discuss ~Javery. They. study how whites have influenced h1Story, philosophy, art, law and other aspects of society. They also peak of what it's like to hewhJte.

Defining "whiteness" is a challenge because there' a culture line and a color line said Gallagher. Whites include Italians, English, Irish and other people of European descent. But Caucasians who have a darker shade of kin may be mistaken for people of color. Nonwhite who have lighter skin also may have advantages that whites have. Dalke, who attended one of Gallagher's workshops during the Community Congress on Race Relations, never bad thought before about being white. "I never thought I had a culture or even a color," said Dalke, 42. "l just a urned white was normal and anythin2 that wasn't white wasn t normal!' Since the workshop, be said, he's thought more about his relationship with people of color, he said.

•••

To understand white culture, you have to be aware of white privilege and the e~rience of mmorities, GaJJagher said. In history class, David Browneagle learned about George Washington, Abe Lincoln Andrew Jackson. Except for a quick mention of Chief Joseph, not once did hi high school teacher talk about Brownea§!e people. 'We didn't team about Indian hist 1ry or people or contributions ' ·aid BrowneaR}e, director of the Spokane tribal campus of SalishKootenai College. " It was all European.'

· That' white privilege - never having to worry about standing out, never wondering if your herita~e and tradition will be represented in the workplace, the media or society in general. ''I don't have to think of myself as white," said Shelli Fowler, who teaches African American literature at WSU. "If I walk into a market, no one follows me around If a Latina or African American walk into the tore, they're seen as suspect." If you take a class in 19th century American literature you're likely to end up reading the works of Emily Dickinson and white New England men Fowler said. ' But the class isn't caJJed 'White European Writers, " she said. ' It's called '19th Century American Literature.' ' While most white Americans can live without thinking about race, outsiders - usually people of color -don t have that luxury. Take .for instance, how people commurucate. When speaking. most white look each other in the eye Gallagher said. Physical contact is limited and emotions often are controlled. But people of other cultures, such as American Indians, consider eye contact disrespectfuJ she said. Touch ~d e~otr~n? for some people of Hispanic ~ngm, are part of everyday conversation.

/


Whitene abounds in other ways - from the Protestant work ethic and the concept of "rugged individuali~m" t? an emphasis on science and rationalism, the separation of body and mind. '1 m American' means 'I'm a white American,' " aid Dao Distelh?r t, a white Spokane resident and director of education and organizational effectivene.ss for Kaiser/Group Health. Some white " ay 'Why can't we all j_u t be h,uman?' But they don't realize that normal' or human to them i 'white,' ' he said .

•••

Word such as "culture" and ' ethnicity" often are associated only with people of color. But white also have a culture, Gallagher said.

German American , for example have Oktoberfest and other holidays. Other group al o have pecial days ro celebrate their heritage. When people view themselve only a "American , some take the ri k of losing their cultural identities Whitworth' Waller aid. "How can you participate in a multicultural world when you don't know if you have a culture?' asked

Di telhorst. So, when the topic of race comes up, peorle automatically turn to people o color. But to improve race relation , whites have an obligation, too. As a white academic in a predominantly white institution, 1 have a re pon ibility, aid Fowler. "If white privilege is unearned, it' important to make the system more equitable." Being white in a multicultural

ociety mean having empathy and Ii teoing more closely to the experience of minoritie aid Waller, who teache about raci m by taking hi tudeot on a tour of the United State . Its harder now than it wa during the civil right era he aid. "We have to Ii ten more clo ely to the more subtle forms of exclusion and racism. Tho e who want to promote diversity often find themselves i olated, Gallagher said. Other whites may tell

them they're wrong, he said and people of color may not tru t them in the beginning. ome whites feel uncomfort&ble when discu ing race because they re afraid of being calJed raci t, Waller aid. Some also feel guilty when they begin to gra p how raci m has affected people of color, Gallagher said. But they have to get past that feeling and continue the dialogue. "For white people, it s good to take a mirror and reflect on them elves, she aid. '1t raise awareness."


Idaho ends fiscal year with revenue surplus/83 SECTION

Tuesday, July 14, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash/Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

To contact the North Idaho office. dial (208) 765-7100, toll-free 800-344-6718; Fax. (208) 765-7149

Pledges rolling in against marchers From children to politicians, they've set meter at $700 a minute so far By Ken Of en taff writ.e r

COEUR d ALENE - Human right advocate have raised more than $700 in pledges for every minute th Aryan Nation marche here Saturday. More than 1,400 people have promised from a penny a minute to $10 a minute, 'and the fax machine i til1 running," said Tony Stewart of the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation . Donors include two Po t Fall children who pooled their money and pledged 25 cent a minute to what' being called tbe 'Lemon to Lemonade drive. More than 30 Idaho political leaders and candidate from U.S. en. Larry Craig to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Robert Huntley also have pledged mon y for the effort. Continued: Lemonade/I&

Dan McComb/The Spol(esman-R6Vlew

Judy Hyatt, a secretary for the Kootenai County Task Force on Human RelaUons, persuades two people to sign an anti-racism pledge last week at City Hall.


Lemonade: Aryans say '99 adein works Continued from 81 Thi 'sends a ·trong me age aero the United States that the p pie of the Inland Northwest reject the me. age of prejudice and bigotry," Stewart aid.

Dan William

Democratic condiional Di lnct eal, is having his taff gather

dat for the bl Congr

pledge . 'All of us involved in politics and public life ought to make it ab olutely, unequivocally clear that we oppo e thi tiny group f Nazi ," William said. His pponent, U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth al o has pledged to give money to the "Lemons to Lemonade'' effort. The Aryan Nations, meanwhile, i ued a pr s release saying it will march as lowly a, po ible and top to offer a prayer or two. '' As we ee it, if people are going to pay m aey for every minute we march, we might as well make them pay alJ the money we po' ibly can," the pre, relea e aid The Aryan aid they al o plan to apply for a

parade permit for next year. The task force is not worried. "l think the Aryan Nations, if they do march, will be very disappointed at the outcome, ' said Judy Whatley, vice president o( the task force. ·'Certainly raising that amount of money every year will be beneficial won't it?" The new that other group. plan to confront the Aryan Nation in tead of joining the car caravan LO Spokane and the human right rally at Gonzaga Univedty addens the ta k force. Skinhead expertS warn •·if you appear on the cene, you are playing into their hand ,' Stewart aid. "They want to nfront, they want you to be pre ent.'


Rights groups take a stand again~t fear Challenge the message ofrace hate, separatism B Cynth.ia Taggart 1affwriter

COEUR d'ALENE- North Idaho may have hunned the white upremaci t agenda of hate without the urging of human right group. . But no one will ever know, becau e a few people refu ed to rel on chance. The banded into the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations and eized ome control over Idaho. future. 'There's no -que tion that putting weight on extremi t activity in the area ha been very . ucce ful" A conversation aid Bill about ra e Wa srnutb, executive director of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Hara ment. But it'!. a hard thing to mea ure. How do you know what thing· would be like if the human right groups weren t here?' Larry Broadbent, a law enforcement expert on neo-Nazis couJd imagine. He worked with Kootenai Count}'.' ta k force from its birth in 1980 unttl hi death in 1995. "I hudder to think what Kootenai County would be lik if it wa ·n t for th task force,' he once aid. · Former Gov. Cecil Andru credit ta k force throughout the tate with

. 1• lnit

In this series Racism In the Inland Northwest Is atopic that provokes strong views from many vantage points. And an Aryan Nations march planned in downtown Coeur d'Alene next month has brought discussion of those divergent views to the region's dinner tables and water coolers. For the next several weeks, The Spokesman-Review will report on those discussions. This series of articles focuses on people trying to cope with prejudice, hate or the perception that the region is a sanctuary for racists. Tod~y, a look at the history of human rights groups.

Inside • Aryans al luncll: Teaching tolerance to your children requires a moral compass./15

alvagingl dabo'. dignity. 'The (Kootenai County) ta k force created local awarene and brought about na~onal publicity by sa. ing, ·Hey we re not a bunch of k ok out here in North Idaho,'' he aid. For that to happen, Richard Butler and hi white upremaci t Church of J us Chri t Chri tian had t hock the Panhandle from it wo ds reverie. Butler moved hi churcb from California to Kootenai ounty in Cominued: Rights groups/A14


Page A14

Sunday, June 28, 1998

Rights groups: Legislature was spurred to change hate laws Continued from A1

1974. No one really noticed the compound until 1980, when neoNazis scrawled swastikas and antiSemitic graffiti on a Jewish man's Hayden Lake restaurant. Reaction was immediate. Coeur d Alene teacher Dina Tanners called together other Jews, church leaders and police. "I was scared. I d just moved to the area," said real estate agent Marshall Mend. "We wanted to know what Jaw enforcement was going to do. But nothing really came out of it." Tanners gathered the same group a few months later after a white supremacist threatened and spat on two biracial children. 'What had happened was unbelievable and the worst thing was that it was a misdemeanor," Mend said. "We said something has to be changed.' Kootenai County's task force emerged from meetings that followed. It offered emotional support to the harassed and awakened the public to white upremacist ideology creeping into the area. Neo-Nazis tried to discourage the group. "They used to come to our meetings, walk around with their swastikas on to intimidate us' Mend said. "We weren't about to be intimidated.'' ¡ At the task force s urging, the 1983 Legislature upgraded malicious harment to a felony. Supremacist activity went underground and out of the public eye. Tanners moved to Spokane and the task force slipped into hibernation. A year later The Order hit national headlines, accused of robberies, murders counterfeiting and planning to overthrow the government. Nearly all 24 neo-Nazis in the group had prung from Butler's compound. Mend and Sandy Emerson then director of Coeur d' Alene's chamber of commerce, reactivated the task fo rce and looked for a charismatic leader. They chose Wassmuth, a local Roman Catholic priest.

' He said 'Why me?' " Mend recalled. "We said 'Because you have no wife or children and they can't threaten you and you live in a brick house, so they can't bomb you.' " Wassmuth pu hed the task force out of conference rooms and into the community. The task force "made discrimination and bigotry a legitimate topic of conversation,'' Andrus said. "Usually intelligent people, when given the facts, will come up With the right move.' The task force held human eights celebrations and co-sponsored a racism symposium with North Idaho College. Both events drew hundreds of people. It convinced Coeur d'Alene schools to start teaching about racism, celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and begin human rights clubs. It prodded other cities and states to take a stand. Talk arose of a task ¡force for the Pacific Northwest - a collaborative effort to monitor bate crime and movements, encourage human rights development and support victims. Neo-Nazis answered all this activity by pipe-bombing Wassmuth's house and the Coeur d'Alene federal building in 1986. Wassmutb barely escaped injury. The bombings mobilized support for the task force. In the three years that followed, the Legislature prohibited paramilitary training, formed a separate reporting category for hate crunes, added civil penalties to harassment cases and adopted the federal Martin Luther King Jr. b'irthday holiday as a state holiday. "The Legislature was very responsive," said Mary Lou Reed, the former state senator from Coeur d'Alene who introduced several of the bills. "I'm not sure how sincere they were, but they understood Idaho's image." The nation's interest in North Idaho s raci t groups frustrated the ta k force, but also presented opportunities.


for $5 between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 am. • Coeur d'Alene Discount Theater will let people watch three movies for free, starting at lOa.m. • Skate Plaza will offer free admis ion and skate rental between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. • Hastings Entertainment will offer a 15 percent discount on all merchandise between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. There are other events going on in the community all weekend. • The 20th annual Don Bristol Memorial Bass Buddy Tournament runs Saturday and Sunday on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Top prize is ... $1,200. • The 14th annual Wooden Boat Show will take place over the weekend at The Coeur d'Alene Resort boardwalk. The show opens Friday and resumes at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. • Rathdrum's Country Fair Days will be taking place all weekend at Stub Meyers Park. The fair includes food and craft booths plus different .. musical groups. Saturday's events include a pan- .. cake feed put on by the VFW, a SK fun run at 9 a.m. and Street Hoops competition at the senior center also beginning at 9. '" The grand parade begins at 11 a.m. on Main Street, and food and craft booths open at noon. Music begins at 11:30 a.m. and ends at 9. : There will also be face-painting, games and a • carousel, along with visits from Smokey Bear, Ronald McDonald and other characters. New this year will be a classic car show on Saturday and an RV show at Stein's IGA parking lot • Also in Spokane is the Families Year 2000 , Expo, which includes displays from NASA and the U.S. Space Camp. The event at the Convention Center includes . a laser quick-draw competition, rock climbing exhibits, science fiction games, Internet scavenger hunt, motivational speakers and Cruella • DeVille's car. There will be an authentic moon ; rock on display, and kids can try on a space suit, , write an essay, enter an art contest and try astronaut food. The expo costs $5 for kids, $4 for adults, $3 for seniors. As an incentive to get people there Friday and Saturday, promoters will have $1 coupons at The Coeur d'Alene Press, any branches of McDonald's, Tidyman's, Target and Pizza Hut.

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0 I T I O N OF

1llE SPousiu.N-RBYIEW • N EW S

O N L I N E: WWW. SP OK AN E . NET

EVIEW\

Groups can't resist protesting Nazis By Ken OJ en Staff writer

from Quakers to Buddhists, opposition groups will be on hand lnCdA

COEUR d'ALENE - Nazi can't go unoppo ed a growing contingent of people ays. That' the me age many want to end Saturday in Coeur d AJene not only to the Aryans marching downtown but al o to tho e watching from around the world. We are repre enting the people of other colors other ethnic group , other sexual orientation who can't be there and houldn't be there because it' too dangerou ,' aid kip, Kuck of the Bonner County Human Right Ta k Force. Thi is a vigil. " omebody has to how the country and show the e Continued: Parade/A10

Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

"Benign neglect Is not the way to treat a cancer," says Jewish Defense League chairman Irv Rubin, standing outside the Aryan Nations compound Wednesday.


Pap 110

Thursday, July 16, 1998

From the Front Page

Parade: Protesters will wear yellow shirts and carry banners Continued from A1

groups we aren t afraid of them, and that will take some of their power away," Kuck said. To date, Quakers, veterans, Native Americans and other people from Portland to Libby, Mont., have alerted tbe Bonner County group they will be in downtown Coeur d1Alene during the Aryan Nations parade. It's not an caravan to Spokane and joining a human rights rally at organized effort, but something that grew spontaneously · Gonzaga University. out of a need to stand up and be counted. "Our strategy for 17Y2 years has been, when they have The anti-Nazi protesters will wear yellow shirts or an event, we don't attend," said Tony Stewart of the ye llow ribbons and carry banners declaring "Citizens of Kootenai County Task Force. Considering that the policy North Idaho declare this a hate-free zone," and "LocaJ is drawing taunts from the Aryans, Stewart is more and regional people say no to racism and yes to justice convinced than ever that not showing up is best. and human rights." The Aryans faxed the task force on Wednesday, saying A group of Buddhists also will join the protesters. leaders of the Kootenai County group "don't have the · ' When the parade arrives at our location, we simply nerve to face us. Chicken." intend to tum our back on it and leave ' said Yontan Everyone has to make their own decision, said Gonpo, a Buddhist priest from Spokane. Gretchen Albrecht-Hellar, also of the Bonner County "We think it's important to express (that) this face of Human Rights Task Force. Attending the rally in bigotry and neo-Nazis is not the face of North Idaho." · Spokane isn't wrong. People can meditate pray, or come to the parade. Attending the parade goes against the advice of everyone from law enforcement to the Kootenai County "You have to respond," Albrecht-Hellar said. "You Task Force on Human Relations, Kuck and others can't go out and play golf and pretend nothing is going acknowledge. on." The Kootenai County Task Force is organizing a Albrecht-Hellar and others said they want to be sure

the national media record something other than a message of hate when they arrive in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday. News crews from ABC and the British Broadcasting Corp. are expected to attend the parade. People are welcome to sign the Bonner County group's banners, so they can participate in protesting the parade without being downtown on parade day, she said. Other Aryan protesters, who are not connected to the Bonner County group, say they believe going to a rally in Washington isn't wise. "So long as they can have marches down Main Street in Coeur d'Alene and the worst show of disapproval is 30 miles away in Spokane, it shows this is a white homeland,' said Chandra Gair, a fourth generation Idahoan who teaches Spanish and Japanese. "I don t want any more of them moving here and I feel if we ignore them and don't draw media attention to them, they will.grow stronger." Moscow and Pullman residents also are attempting to charter a bus to bring nonviolent protesters to the parade. "We are going up there to look them in the eye, to tell them we're ashamed," said Cass Davis, who co-hosts a public radio show in Moscow where the idea was born. "The people of North Idaho may be a little ignorant and a little uneducated, but they aren't Nazis.' That Moscow group will include the direct descendants of men who fought for Nazi Germany. "My hindsight is very strong," said Robert Hoffmann, who runs a small Internet firm. "I'm basically a blond-haired, blue-eyed anti-racist. "Nazis are nothing we can make legitimate, nothing we can view in a nostalgic light."


Thursday July 16, 1998

Agencies • preparing for parade Cops hope for the best, get ready for the worst

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By MATT BROADHURST Staff writer COEUR d' ALENE - Authoriti ar hoping fo r an Aryan alion parade free of lncid nt. but lo al law enforc tnent will b ready for anything, ju t in a. e. "You n d to hop for that {pea eful parade), but omebody ha to plan for th wor t-ca c nario ," Koot nai ounty Sh riff' LL J ff Thoma aid of the county' Crowd Control/ rowd Int rvention Team. "W pr pare for anything that ha a potential for unruly crowd ." Nonnally, that preparation tak place twice a year for veral hours at a tim . Officers practice crowd control technique for pecial event like the recent Fourth of July fe tivities. Howev r, when the first parade permit from the whit upr maci t group wa filed in February, om chang were mad to th crowd-control training. PARADE continued on A3

Ill

0

u ALAN STEINER/Press photo

In preparation for this weekend's parade, more than two dozen officers from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department and Kootenai County Sheriff's Department took part in crowd-control training Tuesday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.


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Rather than deputies solely participating in the training, officers from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department were asked to join in for the -first time ever. Also, training times were increased, with the most recent taking place last week. "Now we have two departments acting as one, rather than each acting independently,'' Thomas said. "We have to get everyone working on the same sheet of music." Idaho State Police, Emergency Medical Services, fire departments and other local law enforcement agencies all have to be up to speed on crowd-control training, Thomas said. "I think it's appropriate," Coeur d'Alene Police Capt. Carl Bergh said. "We're a growing city." The joint-agency training has been absolutely excellent, Thomas said, and will continue in the future. Despite spending roughly $5,000 for new riot shields and equipment upgrades, Thomas said the biggest expenditure has been man hours worked. Between 300 and 350 hours have been invested in training and planning for Saturday's 10 a.m. parade. The operations plan for the parade, which outlines just about every possible contingency, is a good inch thick. More than 100 officers will be on duty during the event. "You play it close to the vest, because we're talking about officer safety," Thomas said. Plans call for the Aryan Nations to begin assembling at 9 a.m. in the Independence

Point parking lot for their fir tever parade in Coeur d 'Alene. Sherman Avenue will be closed at9:30 a.m. At 10 a.m. the march will start on Northwest Boulevard and head down Sherman Avenue. At Seventh and Sherman the group will go south to Front Street, then go west on Front Street to Sixth Street and walk north to Sherman. The parade will then return to Independence Point. Because of weekend traffic heading to the Third Street Boat Launch, Front will only be closed as long as the marchers take to walk the block-long stretc};I, Bergh said . Sherman will be closed for the parade's entirety. Aryan Nation leader Richard Butler told authorities earlier this week that there would be 55 marchers in the 1 1/2-milelong parade. Bergh said Butler was told that set rule for the

parade -

tarting promptly at

10 a.m. and having a continuous procession - would be trictly enforced. "(Butler) has indicated he is willing to abide by the rules established," Bergh said. If the rules aren't followed, th parade permit can b terminated on the spot, he said. While the Aryan Nation members appear to want a peaceful march. clo attention will be paid to any pectator who com to th event. To maintain order, no on other than the marchers will be allowed on the parade route. The roadway area will be marked with barrier tape. One pectator, Irv Rubin of the Jewish Defeo e League, was granted a loudspeaker permit for 10-11 a.m. th morning of the parad . Th northw t corner of Fir t tr et and Sherman Avenue will b cordoned off for Rubin to " xpr

views to pa er by during the parade in protest of the Aryan march." The permit specifies that the loudspeaker has to be directed in outbwesterly to easterly direction, the sound level cannot exceed 65 decibels, it can't interfere with the pedestrian flow and the sidewalk width - 6 feet- has to be maintained .. Bergh stressed that officers have been instru ted to not i ue citations for deviant b havior. Rather, arrests will be made imm diately, he said. • Protective body armor will not b provided to the Aryan Nation marcher participating in Saturday's march. K otenai County Sheriff Pi r Clegg on Wednesday said his office wa contacted by member of the white upremacist group asking for the armor. Clegg said the request was flatly denied.


rom •••

Support for 'Lemonade' grows Donations rolling in to counter parade message COEUR d' ALENE - W dne day wa on of th be t day.. o far for p opl oil cting mon y for "Lemon to Lemonad ." Between unday and Wedn sday, mor than 300 people igned petition indicating th ir support for hum.an rights and oppo ition to lh m sag of the Aryan ation. whi h plan a march through downtown Coeur d'AI n Saturday morning. Thi bring th total number of ' ign r to 1.835. Of tho , 1,635 hav e pl dg d m n y to human rights organization based on Lh amount of tim th Aryans actually march . A of Wedne day afternoon. a total of $ 33.76 ha b n pl dged per minut to variou human right effort throughout th country, aid Tony St wart, a m mb r of the

Kool -nai Ta k F re on Human R lations and organiz r f th "Lemon to L monad '' driv . If th Aryan march la ~ts an hour, 50,025.60 could pot nUaJly b rai d. Pl dg e mon y ha ~ be n armar k d to r gional group uch a th ta k fore s in Kool nai and Bonn r counli , pokane Unity in Acti n and th rthw t oalition Again t Maliciou . Hara m nt, along with the Jewish,, Gefe11s<'. beagtte, th Am ri an Negro Coll g ~ Fund the Mu um of Toleranc and the NAA P. Stewart aid pledg have come in from all ov r th country. from a p nny to $10 p r minut . Lo al, late and national leader and political candidate hav giv n th ir upport. H aid about half of the pledge r eived Wedn day cam Crom out id Idaho. "That ay om thing r ally important about peopl ,'' t wart aid.


Make It A Day For The Family ...


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at 8:00am in the parking lot of the Post Falls Factory Outlet. A delegation from Spokane will meet the Idaho group at the border and escort them to Gonzaga University for a 10am rally. The Rally goes from 10am to noon.

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L , people can either go to a

Summer Celebration" in downtown oeur d Alene r the fir t-e er eigbbor Day celebration at the Silver Lake Mall. Most d wntown merchant will lo e their doors aturda morning to prepare for a huge downtown aJe. The eighbor Day at the mall includ a car ereo sound-off competition from lO a.m. to 4 p.m., Elvis on tage at noon, a summer st le fa hion fashion how at ~ p.m. and "Human Race, 'a irtual-mile fun run at 2 p.m. Regi tration is $9.50, and participants can recei ea T- hirt race handbook meal coupon and certificate. The mall' a li\'ities will conclude with a human right ceremon at 2 p.m. All proceed from the event benefit the Kootenai Count Ta k Force n Human Relation . (l/ LO.

The next day organizers have also invited Spokane human rights members to a 2pm interfaith celebration at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d Alene.

Here is a roundup of some of the other optional activities Saturday morning. • ove Bowl Recreation enter ill offer an h ur' worth of free bowling to an one 9. 10am. Sunset Bo~ ling Cent r will ha e free bowling 9- llam. • Go Kart Family Fun will offer free admj ion to the La er Force area 9:30- ll :30am • Wild Water will offer admi ion to an one for$ b tween 9:30am and 10:30am. • Coeur d'Alene Di coum Theater will how free mo ies in he morning tarting with 'City of Angel at 9:30 a.m., ··Godzilla" at 9:35 a.rn., • Hop Float 'at 9:40 a.m. and "Que t for am lot" at 9:50 a.m. • The ho\ boat The.atre and Coeur d Alene Cinemas wiJl op n at 9:30 a.m. and offer fr e movie al lO a.m. howboat will how ' ix Da . e en igh "and ''The Truman h'bw.'' Coeur d' lene Cinemas will how ''Dr. Dolitlle'' and "Mullan.'' • kate Plaza will ffer free admi ·ion and kate rental bel\ een 9:30 am and 11am • Hasting ntertainmenl will offer a 15 percent di count on all mer handi e between 10am and 11am

There are other events going on in the community all weekend. • The 20th annual Don Bri tol Memorial Ba Budd Tournament run . unda on Lake oeur d'Alene. Top prize i 1,200.

aturda and

• The 14th annual Wooden Boat how will take place o er the weekend at The Coeur d' lene Re ort boardwalk. More than 6 boat from aero • the countr will dock Frida and be on di pla tarting at I p.m. aturda

d Alene it. Park. It in lude 60 profe ional lo al arti t and crafter , plu mu ic and food. • p rt man' Paradi e Day run in Wallac Saturday and Sunda . The fe ti al include a fl -t ing conte I mountain man camp , a chili and barbecue cook-off, emina from utd r equipment and recreation ompanie , fake Wild W t

hootout and raftl . acb da begin with a pancake feed at 7am and the da ' acli itie la t until 4pm. • The 1J th annual p k ne Ri er Can e la ic begin at 9am at Corbin Park in Po t Fall . Racer an enter in the ci ilian divi ion and float even mile or in the marathon di i i n and float 13 mile . Info: (509) 325-9000 • Rathdrum' Count air Da will be taking place all weekend at Stub Me er Park. The fair include an l la.m. parade. face painting, clown , a car hm , food and craft booth plu different mu ical groups from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday' e ent in lude a pancake fe d put on b the VFW, a SK fun run at 9 a.m. and treet Hoop competion at th enior center al o beginning at 9. • Al in Sp kane i the amilie Year 2000 xpo run all ~ eekend at the p kane Convention Center nd include di pla from ASA, a Moon r k, a laser quickdra\ competition, ro k climbing e hibits pace uit , ciencc fiction game and cruella De ille'f car. he expo co 5 for kid , 4 for adult , 4 for adult , $3 for enior . Dollar-off ticket can b found at an bran he of McDonald' , Tid man and Pizza Hue.


What is the logical, inevitabk, ugly end result ufhate?

In sorrow, respect, consider question In the photograph, it looks as if a fresh snow has just fallen and the friends meet up for some winter fun. One guy, clowning for the camera, wears ice skates. In another picture, a beaming mother and her pouting daughter w~lk down a street. And in a third photograph, a grown brother and sister sit on a rock in front of a barn. They look serious. He is a popular teacher; she is the founder of a Hebrew kindergarten. They died; all of them. They lived in the Lithuanian town of Ejszyszki (pronounced A-shish-key). In two days in September 1941, the village's 3,000 Jews were murdered by elite Nazi troops. Gone. Just like that. But in one of history's l . blessings, pictures of the villagers survive. The 1n tt work of the town's professional photographers was not massacred with its people. The photographers made portraits of ordinary life and its rituals-weddings, engagements, A conversah'on family portraits, ceremonies, celebrations. about race Imagine if all of Spokane were somehow destroyed, except the pictures and negatives kept by Dorian Studio. Now you understand the tragedy and miracle of Ejszyszki. The village's photographs are mounted on a tower in the United State Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. The tower stretches over several floors and so every few minutes, you are reminded of the villagers living out their dreams, hopes and di appointments oblivious to the horror the future held. Les than two weeks remain until the the Aryan march, scheduled to take place in downtown Coeur d'Alene on July 18. In the final day leading up to the march, we ask you to ponder this question: "Where does hate lead?' The hate the Nazis felt toward the Jews led to the end of the family stories in this village. The children did not grow up. The engaged couples did not marry. The pregnant women did not give birth. The older people did not die in a natural way, surrounded by family and friends. Their lives simply stopped in mid-story. No rituals were passed down¡ no family stories repeated again and again¡ no family recipes cooked by future generations. And think of all the lost potential. Whkh child in the village was to be a gifted scientist, musician, rabbi, community leader? Not all of the family stories would have ended happily. Those

1•


To submit a letter by phone: {509) 458-8800, code 4853

villager who died in 1941 would have experienced sorrow even if the Holocau t had never happened. Maybe the pouting daughter walking with her mother would have died of a childhood di ea e. Mayb the cl wning young man would be plagued with mental problem . Maybe the brother-and- ister educator would have fought bitterly and feuded until the end of their long Jives. But family problem al o hape a family and it hi tory. That potential died too. Thi i where bate lead . Tho e Aryan planning to march in North Idaho might not be able to think f the face of the people they hate. The dark faces. The ethni face ¡. It i much ea ier to hate in the abstract hate a group of people. But we can imagine the individuals. We can picture the face aptured while pur uing the everydaynes of life. First day of kindergarten. High school graduation. Fir t day of college. Wedding baptism , birthday . We can conjure the face and vow they will never end up on a tower in a museum a tower so painful to gaze upon that your heart finally breaks with the looking. Rebecca Nappi/For the editorial board


• In addition to the professional photographers' collection from the village of Ejszyszki, the Holocaust Museum has many oltler family pictures donated by survivors and their families. This picture was taken at a ffmlly outing in 1938ln Poland. The key person here Is the woman second from left. Her name was Leah Diamant, one of six sisters. Two of teah's sisters escaped the Holocaust because they moved to Canada In 1927. Another sister survived the war but Leah, her parents and two other sisters all perished In the Holocaust.


Tribal rally for sovereignty, slots draws hundreds/83 SECTION

Friday, July 17, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash./Coeur d'Alene. Idaho

To contact the North Idaho oflice. dial (208) 765-7100, toll-lree 800-344-6718; Fak: (208) 765.-7149

Parade cost estimates near $100,000 Agencies decline to say bowmany officers will be onhand

By Ken Olsen taff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Taxpayers will hell out close to $100,000 to keep the peace at the Aryan Nations parade Saturday, according to the latest timate. Kootenai County Sheriff Pierce Clegg 1old county commi ioners this week that b tween purchase of afety equipmen. training and overtime for officers, his d partment will pend clo e to $50,000. Tho ¡e expenditures were not planned and are tretching the department budget to the limit Capt. Ben Wolfinger aid.

Parade nales Aryan Nations leaders have been told the parade must start at 10 a.m. Marchers will not be pennitted to stop during the event, but "must move along In an orderly manner," Coeur d'Alene Police Capt Car1 Bergh said. The city of Coeur d'Alene, meanwhile ha budgeted $4 ,000 for the event. The majority is for ov rrime pa , including training c t .

More than 5,000 is going to riot gear, from helmet to hield . An ther $3,500 will go to cover meal and motels for e tra Idaho tale P lice officers being ummoned to help with the event. one of the tale or law enforcem nt agenci in olved will talk about how many officers they will have on. du!)' Saturday. But all are expected to bnng in every available officer. The Coeur d'Alene Police Departmenl and Kootenai County beriff Department togeth r have about 120 ;v rn ffic rs. Continued: Parade/85


Downtown: Bookseller can't stomach closing Continued from 81

Association. The association is taking its cue from Mayor Steve Judy, who is urging people to stay away from downtown during the parade. "Don't get caught up in either side's anger," Judy said during a Thursday press conference. Speculation about how Saturday's event would turn out was rampant among downtown merchants. Some predicted that media and police would outnumber other spectators at the parade. Others worried about the

potential for fights between counterdemonstrators and neo-Nazis. Many said they planned to close just to be on the safe side. Unfortunately, the parade comes during the peak of tourist season, said Lori Elmore, who plans to close her shop, Lori's Needle Art, until at leastlp.m. "If the City Council had given them that lousy permit in April, we'd have been done with this by now," she said referring to the Aryan Nations' original request to stage a parade on Hitler's birthday.

Parade: 55 marchers so far Continued from 81

There also will be a lot of noise. Irv Rubin, of the Jewish Defense League, bas secured a loudspeaker permit and will have an hour to holler from the comer of First Street and Sherman Avenue. Hi area will be cordoned off from the public and he will be allowed to

vent his views from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aryan Nations leaders meanwhile, have been told the parade must start at 10 a.m. Marchers will not be permitted to stop during the event, but "must move along in an orderly manner," Coeur d'Alene Police Capt. Carl Bergh said. Aryan leader Richard Butler has told police he has 55 marchers thus

Leader Richard Butler later changed the date to coincide with the Aryan World Congress. The Bookseller is among a handful of businesses that plans to remain open. "The image of Nazis closing a book store is too bard to contemplate," owner Steve Meyer said. He's given permission for the Bonner Coalition Against Malicious Harassment to gather outside the book store. Placards in the Bookseller's window proclaim, "Coeur d'Alene is too great to hate."

far. He also has assured police he does not oppose the arrest of any marchers who are breaking the law, Bergh said. While the public will be allowed on the sidewalk along the parade route, only the marchers will be allowed on the street. No citations will be issued for people breaking the law. Instead, anyone who incites any trouble will immediately be arrested and taken to jail, police say.


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Your options to be elsewhere abound Co

ur d'Al n i going to be a pedal plac for family fun tomorrow. Ch ck out thi partial li t of activiti : 90 minute of fr e movi at th lhr Co ur d'Alen -ar a theat r tarting at 9:30 a.m. -fre b wling at ov Bowl R er ation C nt r 9-10 a.m. and at un t Bowl 9-11 a.m. - fr admi ion to Go Kart Family Fun La er For ar a 9:30-11 a.m - fr admL, ion and kat r ntal at kate Plaza 9:30-11 a.m. Th larg . t v nt of th y ar on The Co ur d'Alen R ort boardwalk, th 14th annual Wooden Boat Show, b gin at 12:30 p.m. ilv r Lak Mall will pon or it first-ever Neighbor Days opening with an ice-er am social this evening at 7, but mo t activiti s m t morrow, including a car tereo ound-off comp tition 'Elvi ' on tag , a ummer tyle how and a virtual-mile fun run. Th activiti conclude with a human right ceremony at 2 p.m. All pro ed ~ from th activitie go to the Kootenai County Task Force on Human R lation . A major ev nt i ch dul d for 8 aturday morning when a d legation from pokane will m t Idaho re id nt at Po t Falls Factory Out) t and th n attend a 10 a.m. human right rally at Gonzaga niv r ity. Th rally will end about noon and p opl can r turn to downtown Coeur d'Alen . Th r will be a p cial interfaith celebration at 2 p.m. unday at t. Piu X Catholic Church, Co ur d'Al n with pokan human right lead r invited to attend. With all of th positive activities spr ad throughout th area tomorrow morning, it' difficult to imagin that more than a few p opl will find th ir way into the downtown Co ur d'Al ne area mu h b for noon. How about that?


What Others are Saying

Idahoans gain nothing by C From The Idaho Statesman

I daho apparently will play host Saturday to the Aryan Nation , the Midwe t Network to Stop the Klan the J wish Defense League and possibly the International Socialist Workers and the Student Action Network at the Univer ity of Washington. Oh joy. Tho e with an agenda of confrontation and headline-making appear intent to how up in Coeur d'Alene for Saturday's Aryan Nations Parade. They will be there to confront the neo-Nazi and, a one anti-Klan leader aid, "drive them out of the city." So. Sunday morning there might be new paper tori s aero s the nation with Idaho datelines recounting another cla h involving white supremacists. News commentator will tart their reports with, "Neo-Nazis cla hed with protester Saturday in Idaho." It houldn't be that way - especially for thj march. Local folks came up with alternative to confronting the Aryans. They wisely r cognized that confrontation and po ibly violence doe nothing except play into the hands of the fringe group . They planned to make lemon-

ade out of lemons. Human rights advocate have pledged nearly $1,000 for each minute of the parade, with mon y to go to activities to build relationships, not tear them apart. Area bu inesses plan special events. A human right rally is scheduled for Gonzaga University in Spokan . In short, all right-thinking people are going to be omewhere other than watcrung the Nazi 'circu act. Ideally, th Aryan would have been a Ion ly bunch of people just talking among them elv on Saturday. It's the right response, one that refuses the Aryan an audience, avoids confrontation and its notoriety and rai es money for worthwhile cau es. Perhap tho who, for whatever reason , so de perately want to confront the Aryans will s e the wisdom in the "turn I mons into lemonade" campaign and join one or all of the alternative events. Perhaps, if there is a howdown, the media won't neglect to mention that Idaho human right lead rs worked hard lo avoid it Idahoan who organized the counterparade events weren't planing to give a mall band of misfits uncle erved attention.


Frrdar }uJy 17. 1998 I TI ON OF

'DtE~REvlEw • NEW S

SO cents

ONLINE . WWW.SPOKANE . NET

at to do Saturday a tnatter of ethics

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By Kell McBride Aryan Nations Staff writer parade sets how to pend Saturda morning up moral hasExactly become an ethical test for r id nts of decision for the Inland Northw ·t. area residents Whatever you do it peaks volume about your personaJ values. If you're a white upremaci t, the answer i easy - join the Aryan Nati · l io it march at 10 a.m. through downt wn eur d Alene. For everyon else, the choice are les clear.

Inside • Mlre:Patade costs riSe. Most businesses will be closed./11 G to the humao right raJly at Gonzaga University? Go to the Aryan parade to watch or confront the marcher ? Stay home? G to work? Go to the beach with vour fam il ? · · matter what you do. you are making

a choice •· said St ve Berde, pre ident of the Jewi h synagogue in p kane. ' Ther · n good an wer to chat qu tioo." The reason there are no good answers · it' u b an ugl qu tion. Becau e the underlying di! mrna i : What do you d ab ut hat gr up ? Ultimately, th answer i inten ,1y personal. After all. it' Saturday. There are Little League games, family outings and wedding to go t . For me people - like Jew and enth-day Advcnti t - aturday i a day

Free eveads provide antidote to parade everal free event are scheduled Saturda throughout the Inland orthwe t to counter the Aryan Nations parade in Coeur d Alene. They include: • "Hand Aero the Border in Support of Human Right '' from 10 a.m. to noon at Gonzaga Uni-

versity, on the lawn south of chi: Admini tration Building. The raUy includes peakers. muic and reading. from the oeur d'Alene Trihe, Holocaust urvivor Eva Las man. Spokane Mayor John Talbott and others representing the region' racial. ethnic Continued; Evenb/A12

Continued: Parade{A12


From the Front Page

Parade: Some will attend and turn their backs Continued from A1

of worship. But that's the nature of ethical problem . Rarely are the choices black and white, right and wrong. Mostly it's choosing one value over another. And on Saturday morning the value choices are plenty. The Hands Across the Border in Support of Human Rights raUy at Gonzaga University is shaping into a popular option. There, organizers plan to celebrate diversity and tolerance. It's in another state, 35 mile from the Aryan march - the idea being to challenge the concept of white supremacy, while minimizing the attention Richard Butler's group receives and the potential for violence. That' where Stephy Beans is going. The Whitworth College student life pecialist said she places a high priority on remaining positive. "Thi is a way of trying to tear

down racial stereotypes ' she said of the rally. "That way I'm actually accompli bing something with my time. ' But other people, particularly those in Coeur d'Alene, feel that leaving to attend the rally effectively turns over the city to the bad guys. 'That sounds like a real nice gathering in Spokane " said Kyle Helmhount of Hayden Lake, owner of a plumbing and heating company. "But we're from Idaho, and we'd like to do something in the community here. Several peace activists will be at the comer of Fourth and Sherman in Coeur d'Alene with like-minded supporters. They will be clutching a banner urging people to 'Tum your back on bigotry." As the marcher pass by, they will do just that, turn around and look the otherway. The human rights task force of Bonner and Boundary counties, along with the Spokane-based Ventures in Peace, are urging people to join them in the silent protest of the Aryans' message. In addition to sending a message to the Aryans, Buddhist Lama Yontao Gonpo wants the rest of the world to know that most people in the Northwest are not racists. " It would be great if absolutely no

one showed up," he said. "But we know that will not be the case. We have to let these people know that we in the Northwest do not share their views." For many people, Saturday morning will be life as usual. The Rev. Richard Quinn, pastor at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene, plans to be in his office, taking calls from parishioners and getting ready for weekend Masses. He might say a little prayer for peace, but otherwise he will carry on as usual. "Nothing appropriate has suggested itself to me as a response,' he said. " I vote, I'm a citizen, a veteran. I'm going to carry on as du.ty caJls.' Quinn will be in good company. The Rev. Ron Hunter, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Coeur d Alene, will be in his office, working on his sermon for Sunday. "A lot of people around here don't care what the Aryans are doing,'' he said. "We all disagree with the Aryans. But they can go ahead and march, as long as they don't go and hurt somebody or bomb somebody. Hunter who is president of the Coeur d'Alene Ministerial Association, pointed out that reporters will likely outnumber the marchers. " I am not going to contribute to

that kind of pectacle,' he aid. Many people are genuinely tom over doing the right thing. Berde, from Spokane' Temple Beth Shalom, aid be normally has to choose between going to Shabbat services and sailing his boat on Saturday mornings. This weekend, he is caught between expressing his. hopes and fears in temple or speaking out against the people who hate him, becau e of his heritage. ' It's been very hard for me. I don t spend every Saturday at temple but I spend enough of them there that I feel a pang when I don t go," he said. "So, to not go becau e of what some Nazis are doing doesn't quite seem right.' But this Saturday, Berde, along with many other members of his congregation, will acrifice their weekly wor hip to join the human rights rally. Lorraine Watson, pastor at Spokane Friends Church, said she was at a loss when she looked at her options. "They make me so angry,' she said of the Aryans. 'I want them not to have the right to do what they're doing. I want the City Council to rescind their permit.' Since that i not Likely to happen, Watson aid he will attend the Gonzaga rally, becau e she wants to be part of a large unified re ponse.


Pqt A12

Events: Besides protest, free bowling, movies Continued from A1 and religious communities. It sponsored by Unity in Action and the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. For more information, call (509) 323-6398. • A "peaceful prayerful protest" along the Aryan Nations parade route in downtown Coeur d Alene. Citizens from Hayden Lake, Sandpoint and as far as Seattle and Portland will carry antiracism banners and sing civil rights songs. Call Skip

Friday, July 17, 1998

Kuch at (208) 772-3953 or Brenda Hammond at {208) 263-022'7. • "Hands Against Hate, ' a rally from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Moscow Farmer's Market in Friendship Square in Moscow, Idaho. Sponsored by the Latah County Human Rights Task Force the event is a chance for people to write letters against bate or ign their names on paper cutouts of hands, later to be placed in local businesses. For more information, call Joann Muneta at 883-3267. • Free bowling if you arrive between 9 and 10 a.m. at Coeur d'Alene's Cove Bowling, 2315 E. Sherman, and at Sunset Bowling, 202 W. Sunset Ave., if you arrive between 9 and 11 a.m. • Free skating between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. at Skate Plaza, 5685 N. Pioneer Drive in Coeur d'Alene.

• Free movies at 10 a.m. at the following locations: Coeur d'Alene Discount Theatre, 300 Centa in Hayden Lake· Showboat Theatre in Hayden Lake; and Coeur d Alene Theatre, 3555 Government Way. • Free Laser Force games from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Go Cart Family Fun Center on Seltice Way in Coeur d'Alene. • Discount of 15 percent off purcha,;e between 10 and 11 a.m. at Ha ting Music and Books 101 Best Ave., Coeur d'Alene. • Neighbor Days Celebration at Silver Lake Mall on north Highway 95 in Coeur d Alene. The event includes a fashion show, an Elvi impersonator and an ice cream social for players in the AllStar Little League.


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" ~ Lemonade" Pl~e :

A a ign of my commitmell/ to lt11ma11 righM. J pfed e to a designated o,garrizntion the amount indicated for every• mim,t the IJ'OII urion member: march 011 the rr, et of oeur d'Alene. This pledge is good for July 18th or if they march at I m, future date in Kootenai County. E timated time of marclL· I 45 minute . (If ou are unable to pledge money but would like I to show support for human right . you may sign chis pledge form and rettm, a indicated b low.) I

I

Name - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1I Addres or Phone: - - - - - - - - - - '

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------------------1 I Pledge per minute:

Designated Organization: _______ may d1oose any recognized human right organization. I omc sugge lions arc: Kootenai County Ta k Force 011 l luma11 I Relation . /tACP. ADL (A11ti-Defematio11 League). orlhwest I oalilio11 Again I Malicwus Haras mem, or Unity in Action. I Yott may make opies of thi pledge heet. Plea e retum to: }vu

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Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations I P.O. Box 2725, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 I fax# 208-772-3 91 E Mail: kctf@cda-id.com I

-------------------~ Other Events to Enjoy CAR RALLY · Saturday

Post A1ll · Factory• Owlet - Decorating cars tart. at :OOam llnd the caravan will leave al 10:00am to 'flre l luman Righi Rally aJ Gonzaga.

DOWNTOWN COEUR D'ALENE - Saturday Air "ftemoon of FREE activities for people of all uge .

SUMMER ELEBRATlO D0111mow11 Bu ine ·e Are Offering Fanta tic Specials. Safes, and Fe tivities.

'wn , awrda Aftemoon.

INLAND EMPIRE WOODEN BOAT SHOW tart. aturday at 1:00pm Ihm Sunda •.

ART BY THE LAKE SHOW

Featuring 60 Top Artists Ft. he1111a11 Park 011 aturda and Sunday.

JLVER LAKE MALL

" cighbor Da • elebmtion" Actil'ities Began 011 Frullly. Special Activitie for Children, tarllng 10am aturday continuing througlrow the day. little League Ice Cream ocia!, 7pm Friday ar Stereo ormd Off, 10am to 4pm, Saturday Music: Ar The Mall - £/i,i on Lage, aturda)\ 110011 Summer tyle how - Fashions On Parade, 1pm atitrda l t Ammo/ 'Human Race' - Virtual Fun Rrm 2pm at11rday

For Additional Events Call City Line 458-8800 Category 6666 Spokane 765-8811 Category 6666 Cd'A


The Handskmu thtBorder For HumanRlghts HUMAN RIGHTS RALLY Saturday July 18, 1998 - 10:00am Gonzaga University (17ie Quad) - ,pokane WA June hapiro - pokane iwir of the July Human Right Events Ma ter of Ceremonies - Rob Fukai Member pokane Board of Education

Music_al Prelude ................. Plamr/al)' Ri!f;1gees, lf?Oka1te Reygue Band Opemng eremo11 · ............ The Coeurd'A/,:11e 1hbe Welcome lntrod11crio11s .....Rob Fukai WelcomefromtheCin1ofSpo/a111e... Jol111 Tulbott, Mayor. Cityof, 110Jame ommems/Remarks .......... T. Dio,r ch11eide,; Represe111arfrefrom the U.S. Juslice Dept. of Cc1111m111ity Re/011011 n'iu onum.mts/Remarks .......... ISl/een 1110111a , Represewalive, Spokane Chapter ~CP Music ................................. A Vocalist Repr,, e11ting the Africa11 American onvmmil)• omment /Remarks .......... E1 a Lassman. lloloca11s1 u,vivor Commem /Remarks .......... Representative of Spokane Hispanic ommu11i1y Commem /Ri!marks ......... Jeanne Gii•e11s, Member, The Cd'A Tribe Ci),i/ Right Music .............. T/,om and Padma Rutley, Lake ity Rhythm and e1~ Conun 111 /Remarks ..........Josh Buehner, S111de111 Represe11/a1i1'c of Regio11al College 1111d Presidem, l J/11111a11 Eq11al11J• Club Readings: "We Can1101 Merely Pray" • 11alro & Waslui1gto11 ffiglr .c/100! ludems II Call ro Ac110,, ................. 81tl Wassmut/r, £xecutwe Director, orthll'e.\t Coalitio11 A~ai11s1 Malicious Harassmem Readings of Pastor Niemo,dler' Wammg of azi m Larry Wel~·er. As ociate Profes or of Laii: Gonzaga Uni11ersio• losing 111 ic..................... ClmtZJ){J (Klezmer Barrd) lrarlie a11d lhe Filter 1ips (N. lda/,o Blues) 1

INTERFAITH SERVICE Sunday July 19, 1998 - 2:00pm St. Pius X Catholic Center 625 E. Haycraft Ave., Coeur d'Alene ID Opem11g So11g..................Spoka11e and Kootenai ounty Choir.

Accompa11i 1-Janel/ Burke Wclcome/Com111e111 ....... Fa1/rer Roger la ha11ce Bahn 'i Prayer .................. Do11g lludso11, Represe/1/ativeof /Ire Baha'i Faith Comments/Remarks ........ Bnice Kon, £"C«utive Dirwor Seal/It Office ofA111iDefama1io11 League ofB1wi B'rith Da11ce for /111ma11 Right ..... olumbia Ballet 77ieatre- pokune KJJtheri11e row, Arti tic Director Comme111s/Rcmarks ........J.D. William , Controller. State of Idaho Comme111s/Remork.i ........ Rev. Marilyn Muehlbach, Pastor. ·nie U11ity Cl111rrh-Co,mr d/lle11e Music & /itle Prese111alio11 orr Hi£pa11ic Culwre 'fim 1111d A11ita Voz, Rilprese11Jative ofthe ff,spa11ic ommrmiiy Comments/Remarks ........ Pat John 011, Nortlr Idaho Director, Idol, 6ducation A oc1atio11 011d Board Member of KD01c11ai Cmmty 1/J k force 011 Human Rtlar/011 Musical Pre e111atio11 ...... poku11e and Konw11ai C(IWI/)' Choir Cafl to Action .................. Bill Wa mut/1, Execlllfre Dire to,; Coali1io11 I Against Malicio1,s Ilarassmem Reading of Master ie111odler'. Wami11g of azism Re1! Marilyn Muehlbach Na1i11e American Prayer..Jea1111e Give11 . Member The Coeur d'Alenl' Tribe Message through M1J$ic .. .Spokane and Kootenai County a,oir 1

Lemonade Events Positive Activities For Our Area Youth! BOWLING Sunset Bowling:

Free

between 9:00am and 11:00am

Free

between 9:00am and 10:00am

Cove Bowl:

SKATING Skate Plaza Free Admission berwee11 9:30am and 10:30am

MOVIES Cd A Discount Theatre Free: All Movies taning at 10:00am Showboat Free: Six Days, Seven Nights The Truman Show Open at 9:30am hows tart at 10:00am

Cd A Theatre Dr. Do Utt le & Mulan

Open at 9:30am how ta11 at 10:00am

FAMILY FUN Wild Waters

5.00 entrance fee + lax, b r111e 11 9:30am & 10:30am

Go Cart Family Fun Center Free Laser force be11veen 9:30am & 11:30am Hastings Music & Books

15% Off between 10:00am & 11:00am All Parks & Lakes Are Free Everyday ... Come Enjoy

A special thanks to the above businesses for their help during this day...


aturday, July 18, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane. WashJCoeur d'Alene, Idaho

Our View When the parade has ended and the heat has subsided, diversity will still demand the areas attention.

One blight down, many more to go High temperature and high anxiety hang over the Inland Northwe t this morning. White upremaci ts want to flaunt their bigotry in a parade along Coeur d Alene' Sherman Avenue and certain human-rights activi t want to confront them. It s a recipe for trouble but nothing that happen at the Aryan Nations parade can era e the forceful regional campaign that bas been mounted to honor human right . We offer a olemn hope that the parade will attract few participants and no upporter , that anyone wanting to show disdain for the marcher will do so at a human-rights rally at Gonzaga Univer ity at 10 a.m., and that national and international news organization here in case of violence will have nothing to report. But even if the day ends uneventfully the matter of racism and diversity will till need constant attention. Even when the Aryan and the high-minded but mi guided outsider who face them have gone borne there will be demanding work to do. o doubt people who have pent week designing a creative con tructive response to the parade are looking forward to a breather. That understandable. They have raised thousands of dollar for human right and have brought people and institutions throughout the area together around a common belief in human dignity. Indeed that' a tory for visiting media to check out. But the real i sue for our communitie in Ea tern Washington and ortb Idaho involve more than one parade on one day by one group of overt bigot . The i ue is whether racism and hatred are tematically di credited every day in either subtle or conspicuous form and regardle of whether the victim are targeted according to race religion age gender exual orientation physical ability or any ther arbitrary cla ification. And the core challenge isn t to prevent the out ide world from eeing a negative media image of our communitie it to create and to model universal re pect for our own re ident - many of whom have felt the sting of a hostility that bad nothing lo do with Richard Butler or the Aryan Nations. When the Aryan planned today' parade human-right activist energeticaUy re olved not to condone it and they forged a broad alliance to back them up. The ame energy, the ame re olve and the ame alliance are needed until every vestige of bigotry ha been eradicated.

Doug Floyd/For the editorial board

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Saturday, July 18, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash/Coeur d'Alene. Idaho

To contact the North Idaho office, dial (208) 765-7100. toll-free 800-344-6718: Fax: (208) 765-7149

.50 n1archers expected for parade '100 man march' cut in half; Texas KKK group will Join in By Bill Merlin taff writer

Aryan ation leader Richard Butler e pect only half of the 100 marcher he prom· ed for today' Nazi parade through downtown C eur d'Alene. Butler i getting a last-minute how of upport from a Texas Ku Klux Klan group, the ame one that demonstrated after a black man w dragged to death la t month.

A dozen members of the White Camelia Knight of the Ku Klux Klan will be in the march et to begin at 10 a.m., aid the group grand dragon Charle W. Lee. A human right rally i scheduled for the ame time at Gonzaga Univer ity in Spokane. Tho e activi t are raising money ba ed on the amount of time the azi march. Behind the cene , law enforcement i preparing to re pond if needed. ot ince the riotous hydroplane race of the 1960. ha the Coeur d Alene Police Department geared up o much for the unexpected.

Augmenting local police ar all available deputie from the Kootenai County Sheriff Department Idaho State Police officer and a contingent f FBI agent including tho e who pecialize in dome tic terrori m. "We'll be watching from a gas-free environment,·· one officer aid thi week in de cribing the joint agency command po t where the marchers and counter-prate ter will be monitored. WhiJe police can e timate the number of marchers th y can only gue s how many prote ter will line Continued: Parade/84

Beware of traffic pattem changes By Ken 01 en taff writer

COEUR d' ALENE - People coming to the Lake City thi morning likely will want to av id trying to u e Northwe t Boulevard to ace • downtown attraction . Police were to begin rowing car left along Sherman Avenue from the 100 bfock through the 6 block at 6 a.m. They will clo Sherman Avenue at 9 a.m. The public parking lot at lnde-

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p nd nee Point will be cl d accommodate the Aryan ation ' marchers. The parking Jot at th Mu eum f orth Idaho al o will be clo d. People from ut of to n wh want to reach Tubb Hill, the Third Stre t b at ramp the McEuen Field area or other downtown area hould tak Inter tate 90 to the 15th treet exit. The then hould travel outh on 15th treet to Mullan Continued: Route/84


Page 84

Saturday, July 18, 1998

Baute: Pledges approach . $1,000 pernnnute

Getting around the parade To reach Tubbs HIii. the Third Street boat ramp, the McEuen Field area or other downtown areas take Interstate 90 to the 15th Street exit, then travel south on 15th to Mullan Avenue and take Mullan west.

Continued from B1 Avenu and then t ke Mullan Avenu we t, police ay. One bl ck of Front Avenue between Sixth tre t and venth tree! will be clo ed briefly ometime between 10 a.m. and no n. That will be done only as the parade circle the block and return to Sherman Avenue. Police will be out in force. Officer fr m Coeur d'Al ne. the Kootenai

C unty

herifr Department the ldah tate Police and the State Police Crowd Intervention Team will be n band. More than 120 law enforcement officer are expected. The will n t allow anyone but the Aryan marcher on hermao during the event. And police ha e made it clear that anyon who tart any

Staff map

trouble will immediately be arrested and taken to jail. Meanwhile human right activist ay the will easily rai 'e more than 1 000 for very minute th Aryan

march. As of noon Friday, the Kootenai County Human Rights Task Force had pledge totaling $961.85 per minute.

Parade: Nazis to ignore protesters, Butler says Continued from B1 thecity treets. They won't ee Butl r marching. Th 80-year-old Aryan leader aid h will ride in a convertible. ''It'- a long wa to march at my age but l'll be there, he said during a pr conference riday. He initially called the parade Lbe 100 man march " and extended an invitation to participate through the Aryan Nation ' lnl met ite. ·'We're Lill having trouble getting them all in, but J imagine e·re going to have 50 or v r ' Butler aid. But he bru bed a ide an . ugge tion that a I w turnout wouldmeanhi paradei un uc ful. He ba lea d a bu to take th marcher from the Aryan compound in Hayden Lake to the taging ar a at lndep ndence Point on the sh re of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Butler aid he i · io tructing hi marcher to ignore sh u r in ul fr m people on the idelin . ''We're not going to react,' Butler aid. ' We' re going co march with our head traightforward, our eyes traigh~ rward." Even with ummertime beat the Texa KKK members will wear th ir r b over buUetpro f ve ts, Lee aid at Butler pre con£ rencc.

Craig Suclr/fhe Spokasman-Revlew

Richard Butler addresses the media Friday for the Ayran Nations World Congress.

Lee aid he and the KKK group are in Coeur d'Alene for the am reason they howed up in Jasper Texa , on June 27. The Klan rally cam after three men with ti to the Aryan Brotherhood were arre ted for lhe dragging death of Jam Byrd, Jr. The Klan aid it held the rally t denounce Byrd killing. 'We're down here to upp rt Pastor Butler in lhi demonstration for the ·ame reason,· Lee aid. "We'r white people tanding up for white pride white heritage our culture ' he aid. ·'That'. what it , aJl about.''


THE PRESS Saturday, J~ 18, 1998 A 3

'Lemon' pledges expected to hit Sl ,ODO-per-minute mark Kootenai County Task Force continues to battle racism By JOE BUTLER Staff writer COEUR d' ALENE - A human right group trying to find omething good from today' Aryan Nations parade i faring b tt r than predict d. Friday' mail brought in dozen of pl dg for the Kootenai Ta k For e on Human Relation ' "Lemon to Lemonade" ampaign. Th petition forms a k people lo denounc the Aryan m sage, affirm their Fir t Amendment right to march, and pledge money to any human right group for ach minute of the march. As of Friday aft rnoon, a total of 2,216 p ople aero th country have igned th p tition, 1,992

pledging om d gre of mon y. Thi amount member will either write bill or make phone call . doe n't in lud Friday' pledge from Bonn r Pledge form will be available today at a ta k County and attle. for booth on downtown Sherman Avenu . and And organiz r Tony t wart ¡aid 961. 5 ha form will al o b at a civil right rally at Gonzaga b n pledg d per minute, nearly $300 more U1an fig- Univer icy. ure relea d Monday. TI1i al o mean pot ntially Th 10 a.m. "Hand Aero s th Border" rally will $57,711 will b rai d if th march tak an hour. in Jude mu ic, peech and a call to a tion. "Ther ' no que tion that w 11 b over lhe $1.000 Mu ician include Planetary R fugee , Tom and mark b alurday morning," tewart aid. "Th Padma Rutley Crom Lake City Rhythm and New , momentum i there." Chutzpa, Charlie and the Filter Tip and a hoir Two of th large t pledge o far have ju t com mad up of tudent from Wa hington and Idaho. in, he aid. Wa hington Water Power offered 25 There will be p eche from memb r of th p r minute, and Unit d M thodi t Church in Co ur local Hispanic community, th .. Ju tic d'Al n pl dged $21 per minute. D partment of Community Relation ervice a Peopl will till be able to make donation to Holocau t urvivor, Jeanne Given from the Coeur human rights group after th march, h aid. d'Alene Tribe, North Idaho College student Jo h N l w k, th ta k force will begin the ma ive Buehner, Cherie Rodgers from the Spokane City ta k of oil cting th pl dg money . All pledge Council, Bill Was muth from the Northwe t hav b en nt red into a computer, and ta k f rce Coalition Again t Maliciou Hara ment.


County offers myriad free activities toda~ The rally wiJl wrap up with a warning about Nazism, read by Larry Weiser. associate professor of law at Gonzaga' School of Law. tewart said anyone from either state i wel ome to att nd th rally. Though many in the ta k force will form a motorcade at 8 a.m. in Po t Fall , others can com to the rally later. It will be on GU'. uad Lawn area. near the Administration Building. Following the ralJy, people from both states are invited to come to Coeur d'Alene, either to downtown tor or to a Neighbor Day ce ebration at the ilver Lak Mall. Peopl are also invited to an interfaith service at 2 p.m. unday at St Pius X Catholic Church. "We just warmly welcome alf good people to attend thi rally or the things the mayor' committee and the business community have planned,' tewart aid. "It ends a wondedul message for human rights."

7 - /'o ' 1g

M1111111: Avoid downtown during IIUl'Ch

th marchers.

activities, plu other events taking place all weekend in the community. • "Hands Across the Border for Human Rightsn begin at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of the Post Falls Factory Outlet. A delegation from Spokane will meet the Idaho group at the border and escort them to Gonzaga University for a 10 a.m. rally. The rally goes from 10 a.nt to noon. • Following the parade, people can either go to a "Summer Celebration" in downtown Coeur d'Alene or the first-ever Neighbor Days celebration at the Silver Lake Mall. Mo t downtown merchants will close their door aturday this morning to prepare for the huge

downtown ale. The Neighbor Days at the mall include a car stereo sound-off competition from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Elvi on tage at noon, a summer s91le fashlon how at 1 p.m., and "Human Race," a virtual-mile fun run at 2 p.m. Regi !ration is $9.50, and ~ticipant can receive a T-shirt, race handbook meal coupon and certificate. · · The maJl's activities will concluae~with a human right ceremony at 2 p.m. All proceed from the event benefit the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

"Cone rn for sat ty i our number-one priorily," CO~UR d ' ALENE - The me sage of city aid Nancy Sue Wallace, president of th Coeur )eaders is clear - there are enough thing going on d'Alen City Council. m between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene that you can Everyone from the Internalional ociali t stay out of downtown Coeur d'Alene for two or Organization to the Society of Friend plan to three hours. prot l the parade Wallace urges Coeur d'Alen The city traditionally encourage downtown re id nt to take advantage of the various alternashopping, but in thi case, leaders urge people to tive opportunities. find other activitie . "You should tak the high road, and find way to This is mainly due to potential risk to by tanders enjoy the beauty of North Idaho," he aid. "You at the 10 a.m. Aryan Nations march. Though the hould try to enjoy what makes North Idaho a great Aryans have promised to remain cool unle pro- place to live." voked, other organization have threatened harm to Her is a run-down of ome of thi morning'

ACTIVmES continued on A5

/


FREE ACTIVITIES

continued from A3

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• ove Bowl R reation Cent r will of! 1 an hour' worth of fr bowling lo anyone 9-10 am. uns l H ~ ling enl r will hav fr • bowlmg . 11 a.m • 10 Kart •amily Fun will off r fr, admi ion to th La· r !•ore· ar a< :30-11:30 a.m. • Wild \.Yater· will off r admission to anyun for $5 plu tax b ·tw n • :3< a.m. and 10:30 a.m. • o ur cl', I '11 • n, counl Th at r will how fr e movie in th morning, starting with " ity of ng 1·'' at 9:30 a.m., "Godzilla" at 9;:iS a 111 • "H p Float • t • : JO • .m. and "Qu t for Cam lot'' at 9:50 a.m. • The

HUMAN RIGHTS -

RALLY

howboal Th atre

and o ur d'AJ ne Cin 'ma will open at 9:30 a.m and oft r free movie· at 10 a.m. howboal will how " ix Da ·. •ven Night " and "Th Truman . how." o ur d'Alen ir ma· ill show " r. Dolittl "and "Mulan." • ... kaL ' Pla1..a will off, r fr

admi" ion and kat, rental b twe n 9:30 a.m. ancl 11 a.m. • Ha ·ting Entertainm nt will oH r a 15 p rc<:'nl di count 011 all final purcha s b t, een _ 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. • 'I he addy hack will offer free virtu I.golf from 10-ll a.m. Her ar om of th v nt taking plac all we> ·k ml which are unrelat d t th· parad .

ti Rally to Celebrate Diversity Rally Or!!a,111.cr U1111y III Ad 1n11

Saturday, July 18, 1998 10:00am - 12:00pn1 at the Gonzaga University Quad - rune Oay, ENTmff,\I NMl~NT, SPl~/\K li:RS, MUSIC'


July 18, 1998

Parade lblud be ov• In 1111 lban III hair By MATT BROADHURST

Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - If the Aryan Nation parade goe off without a hitch this morning - a i expe ted - marchers should be in and out of downOfficers from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department Friday afternoon stand near a roadblock on Rimrock Road, which leads to the Aryan Nations compound. JOY NEWCOMB/Press photo

• Anti-racist pledges cllmb/ Ust ol anernative acdvities/ town Coeur d'Alene in le than an hour. And a press conf r nee at the neo- azi compound Friday morning onfirmed that 55 marcher will travel the mile-long parade route. Rev. Richard Butler will ride in lhe back of a Jeep rang) r becau e h doe n'l "f I like walking that far." PARADE continued on A3


PARADE

continued from A 1

Butler, flanked by harle Le , Grand Dragon of th Ku Klux Klan, and Pa tor eumann Britton, national chaplain f th Aryan Nation , confirmed th plan for the parad a w II a named hl ucce r at the h urlong press conferen . Britton. 72. E condida, alif., who ha known Butler for 35 y ar , will a um th I ad hip of the Aryan Nation wh n th 80-year-old I ad r pa - away. "I don t look forward to taking over, but y , I would b glad lo," Britton said. Piao call for the whit upremacist group to begin assembling at 9 am. in the Independence Point parking lot for their first-ever parade in Co ur d'Alene. Marchers wilJ d part from th compound at am. hemlaJl Avenu will be do d al 9:30 am. At. 10 a.m. th march will tart out on orthw t Boulevard and h ad down herman Avenue. At veoth and herman the group will go uth to Front Str t, then go w ton Fr nt lo Sixth tr et and walk north lo herman. Th parade will th n return to lndepend nee Poinl Becau e of we kend traffic heading to the Third tr l Boal Launch, Front will only b lo d a long a the mar her tak to walk th block-long tr t h, Bergh aid. h rman will b closed for the parad ' enlir ty. Police a k that p ople h ading to the City Park and North Idaho College area tak Northw t Boulevard lo Mullan Av nue. Those traveling to Tubb Hill or the Third treet Boat Laun h ar asked to use the 15th treet Exit on 1-90 taking 15th Str t lo Mullan. Coeur d'AI n P lice apt. Carl Bergh said Bull r wa told that set rule for th parad tarting promptly al 10 a.m. and having a continuou pro ion -would be tri tly nforc d. "(Bull r) ha indi at d h i willing to abid by th rul stabli h d," B rgh aid. lf th rule aren't follow d, the parade pennit can be terminated on th pot, h said. Offi rs hav b n in. truct d to not i ue citati n for d viant behavior, wheth r it i a marcher or p talor. Rath r, arr I will b ma immediat ly.

to oa f ol


SECT I ON

SaturdayJ July 25, 1998 To contact the North Idaho o1fice, dtal (208) 765-7100 . loll-tree 800-344-6718; Fax. (208) 765-7149

Batt lauds CdA for tnarch response Governor says rest of state could learn from handling of 'unfortunate circumstance'

By B t ·y Z. Ru ell taff writer

BOISE -

Gov. Phil Batt on Friday

declared the ffort to counter and re pond to la t we k' Aryan Nation march in Co ur d Al ne a ucc • nd

aid Idaho hould follow Coeur d'Alene example in the future. ·'I think th 'truly did turn lemons int lemonade, ' Batt aid. 'I congrarulat everybody.' The city, mayor, police agencie and human eight ~roup aJI react d in a measured en 1ble manner to thi unfortunate ircum tance that wa. thru l upon

u '' Batt aid. "They changed the empha . i from th e wh march and spe\ hatred to th e who are determined

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right ." The ffo rt inluded a "Lemons to Lemonade ' pledge driv th t rai ed m re than 1. for every minute Lhe Aryan mar hed· a human right rall t

Gonzaga University during the march· fr admi i n to bu ine: and activi-

The Spokesman-Review Spokane. Wash/ Coeur d'Alene. Idaho

an

1 think they truly did turn Lemons into Lemonade. I congratulate eve1ybody. Gov. Phll Batt

ti ar und ~ wn during the march· and an int rfa ith ervice e lebrating diversit the next da . The marchers al were j red b nl oker a th parad d down herman A enue.


The Spo esrnan-Rev1ew

Batt:

so cites

substanc abu e Continueo rrorn 81 The governor aid the nation wa watcbing and the me age that went out helped counter what he characterized a unju t portrayaJs of Idaho by the national media. l think maybe thi i what we have to do 10 prove that the vast majority of people in Idaho are tolerant,' he said. ·'This i the pattern we have to follow to get the national attention. " Batt decried what he called ' drive-by journaLi m" by out-of- tate media that he aid ha portrayed Idaho as heltering intolerance and having other problems. '1t good port for omebody to come

in from New York and . ay that Idaho' a backwater tate that ha all these problems ' he said. Statistics that ugge ted Idaho fourthgraders couldn t read and U1at the state ranked among the worst in the nation for child abu e turned out to be wrong he aid. Idaho ha it problem of one kind r another. They are no wor e than an other state in mo t f the e ar a and we are superior in many area in the quality of life we have.' Batt noted that Idaho ha just attained full compliance with fed ral air quality Continued: Baft/82

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proud of wh at we·ve got. '" Bart ·ommt:111. t:aml' durm!.! th e rap1n• o Kl 1:3-T\. '. ··v1e11plunt ' pro¥,ram. \ hich a1r~ umfa\ . /\L 0 dunn11 rhe ta ping, Bau : · • sa,_d he'll prese nt the recommen~atron o his .. omm11 1ec: of 0 _111: Oil ."Ubsr.tn ·e abu C problem:. 11 rth111 aho.ut a mnn th. The gov rnoi ha , met 1 1th _about 3() r xpen, 111 the l!eld , and belte c~ " ~ c ·c1n u . what l1m11cd n:_so urces we ha mu h more d 1c1enily... He said diver j n ,int.! I reatment f r drug u. er.. rather rhan 1nc11 ccrat J m. ma , be pan of the: 3 11Ml l!f.

Appl,lulktl ,J propo ul rnm ,! Land Uo.1r t:i~J.. force !111 ;1 ~11 ,t proJC<.:t Ill ma1111ging ·hunk), ir federal fore t la nd that ouldn 't allow appeals ol 111d1\ 1tlua / timhl·r ab,. Bae ·ed .S. en . Lam r.11 ,illcmpr. to e>.en1pt tht: Coeu r J ,. Jene r rihc lrom nt'11· fed rul lc:l!i . . l.1tiu11 ~-e 1 •ncl.i r, ban Internet tfll11 hling e have a 10 11 c . a le ,al Jnucn. and ·on. equ nth we cd that the lml1an., houll.i lie e11t11lcd tn carry or their own lo1t el) .. !al e

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Saturday, Ju ly 18, 1998 •A-10

The Modesto Bee

Town bracing for parade by Aryan Nations By Mark Jew ell The Associated Press

COUER D 'ALENE, Idaho After months of police preparations and divisive debate, residents of this northern Idaho commu n ity are bracing for a march by the white-supremacist Aryan Nations that could be over almost as soon as it starts. The route for today's 10 a.m. parade through downtown Coeur d'Alene is a mile long, and city officials have to ld the marchers they must proceed in an orderly manner without stopping, police Capt. Carl Bergh said Friday. "It could all be over within a half hour or so," Bergh said. Some of the Aryans ' opponents are hoping for a more drawn-out affair. The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations is conducting what it calls a "Lemons to Lemonade" fund-raiser tied to the march 's duration. The Coeur d'Alene-based human rights group said it has won pledges of $1,001 for each minute the Aryans march , or more than $30,000 if tbe event runs a half hour. "We hope they walk very slowly " said Tony Stewart, the fundraiser coordinator. Richard Butler, the Aryans' 80year-old leader, held a news conference Friday at the group' s compound near Hayden, north of Coeur d 'Alene, to announce that the march will go on despite calls for its cancellation by the New York-based Jewish Defense Organization . Butler said he expects about 50 swastika-wearing marchers short of the goal set in February,

when he sought a permit for a "100-Man flag parade." The marchers will be outnumbered by police. A contingent of at least 100 officers from city police, the Sheriff's Department and the Idaho State Police are expected to be on hand in riot gear, Bergh said. Officers, who have spent recent days receiving crowd control training, will try to keep the marchers from coming face to face with counterdemonstrators. Troublemakers will be arrested and taken to jail, Bergh said. The ranks of Aryan opponents are expected to include groups of Quakers, Buddhists, American Indians and activists. Mayor Steve Judy, who is urging people to steer clear of downtown during the march, said the city has become an unwelcome host to an event expected to cost taxpayers some $100,000. Most of the money is for safety equipment, training and overtime for police. "This is an event of outsiders coming in to use our city as a platform for their extremist views ," said Judy , who says northern Idaho's reputation as a haven for extremist groups is undeserved. Most of the about 80 retail businesses in downtown plan to close during tbe march. The owners of a handful of other shops say closing down would a mount to giving the marchers the keys to the city. "Nazis were burning books in the 1930s and I don 't want them closing tores in the 90s," said Steve Meyer, owner of Th e Bookseller.


Monday, July 20, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, WashJCoeur d'Alene, Idaho

To contact the North Idaho office, dial (208) 765-7100. toll-free 800"344 -6718; Fax: (208) 765-7149

Acall to action Audience at inte,faith service asked to build a Coeur d'Alene where all will be respected' By Henth r Lalle

C taffwnter

OEUR d ALENE-The truggle for human right did not die with the completion of the Aryan Nations march, p alcers aid at an interfaith service

unday. 1n fact many aid, Saturda ' march through downtown Coeur d Alene by about 90 white upremaci ts i just the b ginning of the c mrnunicy call to a tion. "Plea e don't wait for the next rally or tbe next

parade,路 BiJI Wa muth. executive director of the Northw t Coalition Again t Maliciou Hara. smenl told the audience of more than 100 people at l. Piu X Catholic Center.' Rather, make lhi a day-by-day commitment ... Go de per and build a Coeur d'Alene, a rate of ldaho where aJI will be re pected." A couple of Coeur d Alene Po lie office stood guard in the back of the church a r pre en ta rive from th Baba 'i Jewi h, Native American Hi panic and African-American communities addre ed the gr up. ome ang other offered

prayers. tate Controller J.D. WiWam praised Coeur d'Alene resident for their re pon to the white upremaci t march. 路AIJ ofldaho i proud of North Idah ' William aid.

William aJ o read a ratemeat from Idaho Gov. PhiJ Batr, in which the governor denounce "a few fringe group 'that have unfairly carred Lhe tate 路

reputation. ' Th路 i unacceptable and for the record, I invite Continued: Servlce/A7


In praise ofhuman rights

Dan McComb/The Spokesman¡ Review

Cynthia Dudley, left, leads a choir Sunday at St. Plus X Catholic Church In Coeur d'Alene during the Interfaith service for community healing following Saturday's Aryan Nations march.


Service: 'Silence is just as bad' driven from a mall town in Washington by raci t neighbors. them to leave, Batt aid in the John on said tho e neighbors tatement. "Although I mu t add signed a petition to block her from that 1 wouJdn't wish on any of our building a house near them. But she ister states the frustration of hav- would not move. ing to combat the kind of national I intend to live in thi house if 1 attention being given to these mal- have to sit in my front door with a contents and bigots.' shotgun," she said of her decision Coeur d'Alene resident Linda years ago, her voice choked with Sabrowski aid after the service that tears. people should be more vocal when Johnson, who later moved to they hear or see assaults on human Coeur d'Alene, said it's still not rights. A racist joke or slur should easy being an African-American not be met with silence, she said. woman in Idaho. But he said the 'There is more we can do," state's battJe for human rights is Sabrowski said. ' Silence i just as lowly winning the war. bad as those people. "The people who preach bate are Some li teners blinked away tears having a bard time right now " she as Pat John on, North Idaho direc- said. "They're having a hard time tor of the Idaho Education Associa- because people like you have tood tion, told of growing up as an up to them. It's getting more diffiAfrican-American in the segre- cult for them to find a place to be gated South and, of nearly being comfortable.'

Continued from A5


-

Aryan parade shows how much Butler and gang are out ofstep, Doug Clark says. <;fo fr Ps"' "? ll

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ichard Butler grand Martian of his own Nazi parade pas ed Hudon' Hamburgers aturday heading east on Sherman Avenue. Behind the Jeep in which he stood marched a rag-tag band of Doug loyal Aryans, out of step with each Clark other as well a humankind. Therewere92 upposedly. Ninety-three if you count Lhe pregnant Nazi twice. Yes itwa a memorable day at the raci t : Shirtle s, tattoo-covered kinhead . Soft-bellied old men. One smirking young Aryan warrior blowing kisse to the protesters lining the sidewalks of Coeur d'Alene main drag. · Let hear it for the master race. Peering into thi haUow end of the gene pool a thought came to mind: This i the be t the old tarantula could come up with. Think about it. Butler moved into hi 20-acre ranch above Hayden Lake in 1973. For 25 years he' preached the go pel according to Hitler and labored to recruit an army. But what has he really accomplished? Now 80 and turning over hi jackboot to a uccessor, Richard Butler will be remembered as the failed fuhrer who couldn't scrape up enough clowns to fulfill his promised "100 Man March.' A contingent from Mose w managed to bring 30 or 40 prote ters. The media and police combined probably outnumbered Butler' flot am 3-to-l. Inland Nortbwe t resident are right to rue Butler and hi Aryan Nation with a vengeance. At the ame time we should count our bles ings that it was Butler who decided to build an Evil Empire here. Had it been a leader with a fraction of. say, Loui Farrakhan's fire Coeur d'Alene couJd have been crawling with Nazis on Saturday. Bull r· magn ti mi minimal. He i. a droning, retired engineer who drive awa follower nearly a: fa 'Las he attrllct them.

As a re ult, hi congregation coo i t of punks JU ·1 out of prison and riffraff you wouldn't trust to cut your lawn. We can aJso thank Butler for being a wake-up call. Hi venom ingle-handedly i reed a lot of pre iou ly complacent people to tan thinking about human right and race relations. During hi la thurrah, Butler mostly mumbled through a loud peaker aitached to his car. Several time he advi ed the prote ters to' go back to California. Odd, con idering that' where Butler came from. 'He boring a hel~ · ays Trish GHenna 52. Carrying an "In it Together ' ign the Coeur d'Alene woman felt compelled to politely add her di approving pre ence. ' It breaks my heart to ee tbi kind of lhugi m," be added. Presumably Glienna wa talking abou1 the Nazi . A imilar remark could be made about the Jerry Springer mentality of more than a few onJookers. Protest apparently ha unk to Titanic depth ince Martin Luther Kings eloquent "l have a dream" days of civil disobedience. Back then protesters sang 'We Shall Overcome and took the high road. Saturday' bunch came up with ditties filled with unprintable treams of filth. Many aJso expressed an inexplicable belligerence for the police, who for the mo t part did a commendable job of controlling a tre ful ituation. For Mary Kathryn Hodge the cene in Coeur d' AJene dredged up tragic memorie of the Oklahoma City bombing. Staying at The Coeur d Alene Re ort for a convention, the woman from Idabel, Ok.la., felt jt wa her duty to stand against the Nazis. The hotel would rather we were ' on the golf course or out on the lake " he aid ' but I think it important to be here. "These people may not be directly re pon ible for what hap~ned" to the Alfred P. Murrah federaJ building but their mindset i the ame. '


Crowd shouts down marchers· ' others celebrate diversity By Jeanette White taff writer

Service

Twenty-eight minut . Richard Butler' 1 ng-await d Aryan Nati n Human rights supporters will conduct an Interfaith service today p_arade wa n longer than a TV at Sl Pius XCatholic Center, 625 E. 1tcom. But that 2 -minute march down Haycraft Ave., in Coeur d'Alene. Coeur d'Alene' main treel SaturThe service begins at 2 p.m. It will day brought out l 000 pectator to include music, dancing and watch and jeer. It brought out 500 remarkS from religious and human more to dance and ing at a two-hour rights leaders. peace rally in pokane. Prate ter and marchers drove and flew in from everal tate , including Inside Ku Klux Klansmen from Texa the • LIit hurrah: Aging neo-Nazi Jewi h Defense Leagu from caiiforRichard Butler fulfills alifelong nia and the United Front Again t dreamJA10 Fascism from Seattle. • Protest From all across the For t~e human right .upporter country and from many walks ot who rallied at Gonzaga Umver ity 2 llfe, they came to voice their minute wa n't long enough. Par;de opposition to aracist messageJ opponent pledged to donate about $1,000 for each minute the Aryan A10 marched. • Coverage: Members of the :·Toe bad ne 1 , 1t wa only 2 media say community reaction was minutes. The g d new i , w rai d the real storyJA11 2 ,000 or more dollars for human • Doug Clark: Is this the best neoright ., Mar hall Mend announc d Nazis could produce?/81 at the rally he helped rganize. And the tab for the 120 police who flooded the parade r ute? An e timated $125,000. packing a .22-caliber derringer and a De pite ab ut tw d zen arr ts 50-year-old prate ter who refu ed to relieved officer aid the event went give up the tick attached to hi off a moothly a typical Fourth of prote t ign. July fe tivitie . City official plead d with re iNo eriou injurie or fights were ~ent to tay out of downtown to ju t reported. ignor~ the Aryans. Many did that, Police earcbed nearly everyone Jamming bowling alley and movi ca~rying a handbag or backpack, and theater that opened for free during qui kly _pounced on anyone cro ing the march. t.he pohce tap or appr aching the But pe pie who came downtown Aryan. Continued: Parade/A11 Tho arrested include a man

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Kathy Brotnov turns her back on the Aryans as they march by on Sherman Avenue. The Post Falls resident said, "I feel like I stood up for my granddaugher today."


Festive, solemn moments mark anti-hate rally By Virginia de Leon and R bin Rive t

wrHers

There were i tjve moment - like the reggae mu ic and veryone joining hand to dance the hora. Th re were olemn ones. too. "Hitler maybe dead, ut 11· ,philo ·ophy i unfortunately till alive, · rud Eva Las man who. urvived the Warsa Ghetto and three Nazi concentration camp . ' We have to expo e th ir teaching: . Fol lowing the philo ophy of ha e will I ad to d truction.''

'Being passive is omething I don't ·want to do. ' Ann Torlgoe-Hawklns, polwnere idem

Herd ep, quivering voice re ounded Saturday morning through the gra. y quad at Gonzaga University. About 00 pe pie aluted her p erfuJ word ~ ith tandmg ovations.

La man' eech was the highlight ofa rally to counter an Aryan ation parade in Coeur d'Alene. ' Hand Acr the Border f r Human Right ' united hundreds of people in a stand against hate. For two hours, they at on the lawn in the h l un or in the bade of tree to Li ten to , peake from a aricl)· of backgr um.ls and religi n . A f w carried igns with mei age like.' 'One Race ... the Human Race" and · ever orget Never Again,'' referring l Continued: Rally/A10

Chutzpa, a Jewish tolk band, gets the crowd ta Its feet al the end of 'HandsAcross the Border for Human Rights," a rally at Gonzaga University Saturday.

Saoora Banoroll-Bllllnos(The Sl)Okesman-Rtr,lew

'


Parade: Aryans outnumbered by protesters Continued from A1

con idered ign ring the march akin to turning their backs on a rattlenake.

About lOO Quaker Buddhi t . members of the Bonn r County Human Right Task Force and a orted other prote ter prayed in a church parking lot before facing the marchers. Other lined the treet , handing out pamphlets and waving ign . Just before 9 a.m. th Aryan arrived in a caravan of cars and J ep . They fell lightly hort of their t uted "lOO-Man March," enli ting w men and children to reach a total of 92. The KKK from Jasper, Texa , arrived in full uniform their white hood pointing toward a cloudless ky. At 10 a.m., the parade that Butler, the group'. 80-year-old founder. ha envi ioned for year. left Independence Point and headed down Sherman Avenue. Butler who led the way with a bullhorn in a blue Jeep, made it barely a block before coming within feet of hi archrival Irv Rubin of the Jewi h Defeo e League. Their , hooting match - ending with Butler . "Go back to J rael, you murderou Jew" - et the Lone for th mile-long march. After that, hi 'white power' monologue wa mo tly drowned out by creaming prote ter and a new helicopter circling the parade rou te. ' top the Nazi cum chanted one group. "2-4-6-8 we don·t want your raci t hate," hou·ted another. The Aryan , who were in tructed by Butler to face forward and ignore taunt couldn't resist firing back an occasional re pon e. While prote ter out-yelled the Nazis, ome pectator upported the marcher. . A bare-che ted man reeking of alcohol didn't understand why o many people di like the Aryan . "Growing up without a family. l had n where to leep nowhere to eat and they helped me. They helped me." He wanted to join the march but wa worried cop would tackle him if he tried Lo cro p lie tape.

Jeanna Rush, an l -year-old Po t Fall girl, laughed giddily. Fre peech! I love it." Her friend Stephanie Gr n , wearing a halter top that highlighted a pierced b Uy button ipped a Pepsi. ·'We came down to see it becau e we kn w it'd be, like, history and tuff. The nly thing I'm worrying about i something blowing up." Even small children t k ide . ''White power! White i right! ' yelled a -year-old girl and her 5-year-old r. Th ir baby itter id the girl · ·

Gordon Fry, a Seattle real e tate broker, aid he wa in town for a crui e-boat wedding - and the bride-to-be wasn't too happy about th competing event. But he aw a bright ide. ' It kind of nice t be an American, to ee the e guy have the right to do thi kind of thing, even though 1 personally don t upport what they're all about.' Others decided they didn t need to see it at all. At the Showboat movie theater the line of parent and children stretched around the building a they gathered for a free hawing of Eddie Murphy in '' Dr. Its kind ofnice to be an Doolittle.· A half-mile outh. Jerry Lind ay American to see these huddled beneath trobe light and guys have the right to do surround- ound di co as hi son and daughter took advantage of no-co t this kind ofthing even bowling at Sun et Bowl. They'd driven from their Athol though I personally don't home becau. e there s not much support what they 're all that' free anymore. "If you go downtown to where the about. ' Aryans are you certainly aren't free Lind. ay said. ''They want only freeGordon Fry, eattle resident dom for their race whatever that mean. Coeur d'Alene re ident Everett Nel on brought hi on Levi to th parent were among the marcher . lane after a long difficult conver aNearby, a pre chool boy told hi mom he wa cared. Moment later, tion about raci m. 'How do you explain morality to a he wa making faces at the Aryan and stickin g out his tongue: 9-year-old?" Nelson asked. ''I think he understand , but I don't really 'Ppllbbbbbtttt!' A mattering of folks eemed sur- know. rm ju t glad we had a place to pri ed to walk out of their vacation go.'' B noon, downtown wa back to uite and find them.elve face to normal. Store reopened for touri t , face with kinhead. . Alec and Georgenne Ander on barricades were down and line! of and their LI-year-old on, Chaz, car pulling boat were headed for didn'c have a clue that the parade was the city dock. Betsy Wharton at at a picnic table cheduled until they arrived for vacain Coeur d"Alene' City Park collectti n. ·' It' cary fo r me to ee thi " Alec ing her thought in a journal. She purposely came ' to the jaw · of Anderson . aid. Chuck Smith and Bob Dougla, the dragon'' to try to under tand he aid. were itting along Sherman Avenue She left di appointed. 'I aw how dre sed for a cru i e. "I ve never een anything like thi , the Aryan itting with their . mug that's why I'm here " aid Smith, looks, created hatred and anger in carrying his video camera. I'll have the crowd. It eemed to give them a to record this for my grandkids to certain confidence.·· The Aryan were all that he show them what the don't want to be.· expected. The disappointing thing, he aid wa the bate it elf. Roger and Pam Luby were visiting You come here to prote i against from California to sc their 2-monlhit, but you end up feeling .it instead." old grandson for the first time. "Can y u believe it? We fly all the way over here... ." said Roger Luby • Staff writers Bill Mortin, Ken Olsen, Craig haking hi head. Welch, Virginia de Leon, Robin Rivers And we're ju. l looking for a and Heather Lalley, and correspondent Bl ody Mary," added Pam. Peter Harriman contributed to this report.


Spokane, Wash./ Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

From the F

.li!son Clwk!The Spokesman-Review

Protesters joined hands In front of St. Luke's Episcopal Church at Fifth and Wallace on Saturday morning just before the Aryan Nations march In Coeur d'Alene.


Mitch and Samantha. "Thi party is about love and acceptance and celebrating the differences."

Sandra BancroH-Billlngs/fhe Spokesman-Review

Brad Veile of Fairfield chats with Holocaust survivor Eva Lassman Saturday at the conclusion of "Hands Across the Border for Human Rights," a rally at Gonzaga.

Rally: Aryan maryhers help raise $28,000 for human rights Continued from A1 the Holocau t. Others carried banners repre enting Hi panics Quakers and others. Marshall Mend interrupted the p eche shortly before 11 a.m. "The parade is over!" the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation member proclaimed. Hi announcement was greeted with wild applause. The Aryan Nations march in Coeur d Alene raised more than $28,000 for human right he said. With the Lemons to Lemonade ' drive, activist raised about $1,000 for every minute the Aryans marched.

Plan call for u ing the money to build a Holocau t memorial statue in Coeur d Alene. Mend said the incnpt1on on it should read: ' Paid for by the Aryan Nation. 'Being passive is something I don't want to do " said Ann TorigoeHawkin , who s lived in Spokane since 1992. 'I felt like I needed to make some kind of commitment to human rights." Before coming to Saturday' rally Stacia Meyers of Wenatchee talked to her twin 3-year-old about the event. A rally is like a party,

be told

WhiJe mo t eemed plea ed with th~ turnout, a few expre ed di appointment. "There are a lot of new face here but th re' still a whole lot of room in that quad ' sa_id _Robert Lloyd, a member of Umty Ln Action, one of the event ponsor . S_till the rally was an upbeat alternative to the Aryan march aid Darnell Griffen, who came to Gonzaga ~ith bi 16-month-old son, Malacki.

' It' really peacefuJ," he said. 'Tve ne~e~ ~en o much human rights act1v1ty m Spokane. • It ":a al o a good way to divert at_tent100 from the Aryan aid Eileen Thoma of the local NAACP

chapter.

This i ju r the beginning of more awarene he aid. There mu t be more effort to improve diver ity and tolerance in the area. . 'The work of raciaJ reconciliation a long and difficult ta k aid Bill ~a mut_h of the Northwe t Coafj. !.'on Agamst Malici u Hara meat. To focus all our attention on thi blatant raci m like focusing on the ~ncer ~re without looking at the v1ru that cau ing the cane r. 1

!

J:fe call~d for the crowd to take action agam t raci m every day. '~on t wait for the next Aryan Nation . parade the next rally, to do omethmg," he aid. "Go deeper to the underlying probJem. "Be motivated to do everything you can to change your elf and change your c mmunity. ¡


A fe\V old, racist friends join Butler, 80 , By Bill Morlia teff writer

Aryan leader calls parade a

He's talked about holdsuccess,says ing a Nazi parade for a there will be decade and now Richard many more Butler finally fulfilled his dream. Ln many ways, it might be his last hurrah. The 80- ear-old leader of North Idaho' infamous hate group rode down Coeur d Alene's Sbermaa Avenue in a convertibl Jeep admitting he too Id for the one-mile march. At the end h looked weary a hr ped away from downtown clo ely watched by riot police and cornful prote ter .

Later Butler called the event a uccess. 'There wiJJ be many more parade ' he said after returning to hi compound north of Hayden Lake. If be wanted to u e the parade to get bis message out, it wa largely drowned out by prote ters'

chant and background noise. Even his own marchers coulda't hear what he wa aying. Mo tly h droned on with the ame anti-Jewi h anti-minority me age he' peddled in North Idaho for a quart r century. He offered a few wave and to ed in a few Hitler- tyle alute . The man Butler revealed la t week as hi ucce or Neumann Britton, of Escondido CaJif., was in the first row of marcher . Also marching wa Proctor Baker 65 of Mo cow, Idaho who went to prison for a 1990 plot to bomb a gay bar in Seattle. Driving Butler' Jeep wa hi longtime friend Charle Tate who left North Idaho in 1994. Tate came from Battle Mountain N.C., to participate. 'I wouldn't have mi ed thi for anything,' he said after the parade. Tate aid Butler' mood wasn't exuberant, 'but a clo e to that as you can get when you re hi age.' Back at the compound the two friend _poured gla es of orange juice and chatted in hi living

7-- c;-

1 <fr room. Butler then bu ied himself with the Aryan World Congre , including peeche by Ray Redfeairn, an Aryan leader from Ohio who helped guard Butler's car during the march. Charle Howarth, an ailing Klan leader from Noxon, Mont., aJ o was scheduled to appear. The list of Butler' former a ociate who weren't in the parade includ KKK leaders Thom Robb of Arkansas and K.im Badynski of Tacoma; Louis Beam the fonner Aryan Nation ambassador; and Tom Metzger, f the White Aryan Res¡ tance. In fact there weren t many of Butler old raci t friends among the marcher . They mo tly were younger kinhead and KKK members. Among the pectalor on the ideline was another of Butler' friend , Charles Mangel of Polson Moot. Mangel was running a cam ra and wearing a Phineas Prie thood belt buckle. He didn 't want to Lalk.


Protesters couldn't

stay away

Diverse groups come together to counter racist message ,, By Ken Olsen Stnff writer

S f()'f.:e.sl'f),,F>/1 /(ev, ew 7-17-9'?

EUR d'ALENE - Vietnam veteran African American . a "race tral!or, · mothers, daughter Jews, Quaker , Buddhi I gay tree buggers, a logger. ome were afraid some were angry om were laughing. All came Lo ay they hate hate. Scoll Brill i form r pre ident and recruiter for .Aryan Pride in Salem, Ore. He pent even ear:i h ad with ~he power violence and brotberho d the white upr mac1st offered he said. Although nervou - the Aryan revile him a a ' race traitor" f r leaving th ir movem nt two years ago - the tattooed, 27-year- Id man aid he bad to watch hi jackbooted former comrade march Saturday. 'This i metbing I don't want pa scd on to my dauijhter '' Brill aid. 'Thi i for m daughter, my nci~b r , everyone affected by homophobia. racism and ant1-Semiti m." An 5-year-old man' great t regret prompted Jay llch lo prote t the mar h. The old man a form r British ncw;paper repc>rter recounted how he wa within arm' length f Adolf Hitler ia 1935. . ' H knew Hitler would cau ·e $real uffen~g. He r aliz d he could have done omething to stop him a~d refused to take acti n," aid Ilch, a Spokane ocial worker.' I feel we have an opportunity to make age ·ture. I'm n t going to lei it slip b• ." "Y u don't g Lrid of a cancer by ignoring it," added Wally Keith. another so ial worker from pokane. heila Martinez of cattle with the Midwest N twork to Stop the Klan, said h wa n't afraid to confront the neo- azis.

"We have t t p Lhem Crom b ing an altemaLiv f r p pie who are fru trated the lack of educati nal opportunitie , health care and j b ' Martinez aid. J Banta of Rathdrum Idaho, demon uated again t lh march ut of sham . " I embarra ing Lo be a white per n in rth Idaho becau e oflhe hatred" Banta aid. ot every ne wanted Lo be here. Noelle Crane' mother dragged her from Newport, Wash. 'I really don't want to g t in the middle of this · Crane aid a her mother prepared to join the sideline with other member f the B nner County Human Right Ta k Force. Bonnie Tinker couldn't per uade her on to attend. ' He h ·een o much hatred toward u be didn't feel lik he cou ld tay n nviolent" aid Tinker who wor with the P rtland-ba ed gay parent.' group " Love Make a Family." But condemning a march and pinning the area'. problem on a few kook i asy and short ighted, ome prate tcr aid. ·'How can people like Hel n Chenoweth, who talk about warm- and cold-climat people and ay Native American aren't Ameri an , get elected? ' a ked Eric Ward regional coordinator with the Northwe t Coalition Again t Malicious Haras meat. ''Ho can county oommi ioners wbo pas Engli h-only r olutions gel in? I don't think these peopl were elected by a few wack " Ward aid. Or a Hal Hargreave of andpoint ob erved: 'We ecm to mobilize over a public event in tead of con tant pe onal action. '


FIRST

1 HOUR EE PARKING

Colin Mulvany/The Spo

man-Review

Above, a skinhead Is held for the mobile booking van after being arrested by Coeur d'Alene police before the march. He was one of 22 people arrested Saturday. At left, Aryan marchers near the end of the parade route.


Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman. Review

"White power, white power," shouts a skinhead who clashes with an anti-racist protester trying to prevent the skinhead from doing a Nazi salute along the parade route.


Not your basic parade story Reporters, edHors from around the nation undergo 'soul-searching' about coverage B Heather Lalley Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Media from around the nation and the world pr sed again t the yellow police tape ljning downtown Saturday, chronicling each tep and lur of the Aryan Nations parade. But th r porter and photographer , representing at lea t 25 new organjzation from a far away as London and Portugal said it definitely wasn't a typical parade tory. ·'There' a whole lot of oul- earching going on right now in newsroom about covering these thing ' aid Bryan Denson a reporter who covers extremist group fo r The Oregonian in Portland. S me journalist worry about giving a mall fringe group too much ink, while other ay the danger lie in ignoring a group that advocate raci m. Many reporters said the parade itself was not the focu of their torie . They aid they were mo t interested in the community' re pon e to the white upremaci t . But no out-of-town journalist were potted Saturday at the human rights rally at Gonzaga University or other community even in Coeur d'Alene. Crew from th three local network affiliates and public televi ion aid they planned to end video of the rally to the netw rks. No Sp kane TV ·tations broadta t the Aryan march live and nly KHQ-TV provided live coverage of ev nr leading up to the march. A.,; ociated Pre s reporter Mark Jewell mentioned the G nzaga rally and 'Lemon. to Lemonade' fund-rai er briefly in hi tory. Gwen Florio. a reporter for the

Philadelphia Inquirer, focu ed on c nfrontati n between police and protesters during the march. he mentioned the fund-raiser but not the human right rally. Kelly O'Donnell, a correspondent for NBC Nighlly New , aid he ha been interviewing re ident ince her crew arrived from Lo Angele Friday.' People don't like this' O'Donnell aid. "People will be happ when Sunday arrive . Her everal-minute report early in the new ca t centered on the march but aJ o hawed footage of community event at the bowling alley and movie theater. She did not rep rt on the human right rally. Brad Knickerbocker a reporter for the hri tian Science Monitor wrote a story last w ek about how communities r pond to hate group . He plan. a t ry for Monday xamining North Idahos rcputatjon a a haven for raci t . Journalist from Idaho and Ea tern Washington said th y felt a . pecial respon ibility to go beyond reporling on just the parade. 'Part of our g al is to how the other ide' aid Jane Jack on, a reporter for Idaho Public Televi ion in MO$COW.

Some like Fekadu Kiro of the Daily Evergreen the Wa hington State Univer ity tudent new paper, ajd it i difficu lt to be an objective joumaJi t when covering omething a. emotionally charged as white upremaci t . "I am the po ter child of what you re not upposed to be. for the Aryan Nation ,' aid Kiro , who de crib d h r elf a a black, Ethiopian le bian. ·' It's not like I can b an u1 ider ob erving it. Thi goe. over ju t being a curio ity. H's about understanding what they're aJJ about." • Staff writer Robin Rivers contributed to this report


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7-2 o- 'lo

uman rights proponents call for efforts to continue By TOM SWIFT

Staff writer COEUR d ' ALENE o what now? The ommunity de mo n trated it could ri abov a hate-parade. It • too d up to white up r emaci t by laying away ... or by prot ting without violenc .. .. what now? Th torm wa weathe r ed ... the Aryan went back to their Hayden Lake ompound, th Klan men back to Texa or wher ver it i that Klan men go ... So what now? The an wer offered Su nday at t. Piu. X Catholic Center wa clear and i· had noth ing to do with ilent lip or d af ar or hand placed und e r one' at . People from dill rent race and different religion came to t. Piu for Hand Aero the Border for Human Right : an Int rfaith Ser vi . It was the e ond part and th second day of a rally for human right . Their me age - ju t a day after th Aryan Nations marched through downtown Coeur d'Al ne - wa imple: For tho e eri-

ALAN STEINER/Press photo

Pat Johnson, a board member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, speaks to more than 100 people during "Hands Across The Border For Human Rights" Sunday at St . Pius X Catholic Church.

ou. abo ut making th community a pla e where div rsity is not only tol rat-

ed but accepted, now i not the lime to take deep br ath and r lax.

"Don't wai until the n xt rally or march," Bill Wa mulh executive dire tor of the orthw t Coalition Against Maliciou Hara m nl, said. "Make this a day-Lo-day ommitmeot." Wa rnuth wa one of a handful p ak r at th ser vice, which drew about 100 people on a unny afternoon. Th r wer al o mu ical pre ntation by the pokan and Kootenai ounty Choir; ong by ].L. Garcia, and pray r . Wa muth' peech wa de igned to call other to continue th action performed by civil right g roup in th InJand Empire Saturday. "You can't love a God you can't ee if you are at odd with the per on you can ee that is itting next to you " he aid. 11 (the parad ) wa a mall group of p opl , but it wa not mall in it impacl. We mu t keep tan ding tog lher against thei r mes age of hate." Idaho Controller J.D. William wa ther to repr sent the tate. He congratulaL d th ommunity for i reaction to the parad . 'Your action y sterday and today peak volume about you r characte r, integrity and ubstance," he aid, "and are very repr ntative of what lhi tate i all ab ut." RISING cont inued on A5


RISING continued from A 1

• Left, Idaho Controller J.D. Williams speaks on behalf of the state during the "Hands Across The Border For Human Rights" Sunday at St. Pius X Catholic Church. • Above, Father Roger LaChance of the St. Pius X Catholic Church along with the congregation listen to guest speakers. • Right, Jose Luis Garcia performs traditional Mexican music called "Musica Ranchera" during the gathering. ALAN STEINER/Press photos

William read a message from Gov. Phil Batt "A few fringe group have scarred Idaho's reputation. 11ti i unfair.... A vocal minority wants to use Idaho as a backdrop for a message of hatred. This i unacceptable and for the record, I invite them to leave, although I must add that I wouldn't wish any of our si ter tates the frustration of having to combat the kind of national attention being given to these malcontents and bigot ." Pat Johnson, North Idaho Director of the Idaho Education A sociation and board member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, delivere d an impassioned, at time emotional, speech. Johnson an African-American, told tales of discrimination her and members of her family have had to $truggle against. About how people in Ts aquah, Wa h. attempted to keep her family from building home their. How about the struggles of raising African-American boys in a mostly white world. "I must admit that I, for one, was a lot more comfortable in a place where there was more diversity," he aid. "Change is hard for me, too. "I am often a ked why it is I came to Coeur d'Alene. And I an wer that ... I do not let (haters) choo e for me where I am going to live." John on said positive steps were taken Saturday and Sunday; but urged that the fight for human rights i ongoing. "We have a right to thi tate, this city, to ontinu to be dedicated to the cause of human right ," he said. Johnson said to be pro-human rights means challenging even people close to you. "Are you willing challenge neigh hors, friends when they make derogatory remark or when they tell stories that are inappropriate for their children to hear? Are you willing to tand up in a rowd? It i risky. But we must take ri ks."



July 19, 1998 Weather/ No. 352

4 sections

or 1nc1 Much shouting, but no violence at Aryan parade By TOM SWIFT Staff writer

COEUR d' ALENE - Their fac bore smile . Their hand carried flag . Many were dressed in sync - bJue hirt , Lie and s lacks. Others wore white and, haun tingly, Protesters shout anti-Nazi slogans along Sharman Avenue Saturday during the Aryan Nations parade. ALAN STEINER/Press photo

only whit . urreal. It wa the calm before the anticipat· ed torm. And the irony wa hard to miss ... On a gloriou Saturday morning, a few yard away from a cene that, by its If, i o captivating it' often pul to canvas, the Aryan ation - a white upremaci t group from Hayd n Lake - gathered near Lak Coeur d'Al n before marching to demonstrate their unity and hate of nonwhit p ople. Th neo-Nazi gathered at a pl8! called Ind pendence·Point. PARADE continued on A3


Continued From •••

THE PRESS/ NINN Sunday, July 19, 1998 A3

PARADE

continued from A 1

Th neo-N azis marched down Sherman Avenue and preached to an almost all white crowd. The neo-Nazis did something that, if their grand plan for the country ever came to fruit ion - a fascist state they wouldn't be tolerated to do - march and express their own opinions. There were men, old and young . Women, too. A couple of g jrls looked so young they may have not yet carried a diploma or worn a graduation gown; but they carried a Coni derate flag next to guys wearing the signature suit of the Ku Klux Klan. All were, of course, white; a total estimated at 75 marchers. Aboul 500 people, including more than 100 members of loca l and national media, turned ~ut for the parade. The people lined each side of No rthwest Boulevard and Sherman Avenue. Aside from a few sympathizers, most of the crowd was not there to welcome t he marchers. One group, mostly young adults, chanted from before the 28minute march until well after. "Hey-hey, ho-ho, t h e Aryan Nations got to go," they screamed. Irv Rubin , the chairman of the Jewish Defe nse League who was granted permission to carry a megaphone, was among the loudest individuals. He criticized the city and Mayor Steve Judy for allowing the parade to occur, and aimed most of his comments at the Aryans. Some in the crowd thought Rubin as racist as the people he was trying to defame. "I wish them death," Rubin said. "It's true, we have a mutu-

JOY NEWCOMB/Press photo

Hewlett Packard engineers Joyce Hao and Craig Williams of Coeur d'Alene hold protest signs during the Aryan Nations parade in downtown Coeur d'Alene Saturday. "The idea of our company is that they really like the idea of diversity," Hao said.

There were dozens of signs: "No free speech for Nazis" ... "Crawl back into your hole." There were T-shirts made: "Hitler sucks" was among the worn messages. A variety of other activities were planned aroun d tow n, designed specifically to give the public alternatives to the parade. In addition to the protesters, several said they showed up out of curiosity. "I came for entertainment purposes,"Jim Sp urr, 41, of Hayden Lake, said. "You go to Alaska to see bears ... Th is is our main attraction. This is one of th more comical things I bav ever seen." Others said their presence was important to the city. Said al wish. Christina Su rplu s, a Coeur "The only good Nazi is a d'Alene 19-year-old: "We can't dead Nazi." lurn our back on it. This is our community." Ary an Nation s leade r Ri hard Butler, who rode in a j e p surro und ed by Aryans, said b fore the parade that his

group would abide by the rule of the parade and that there wouldn't be any violence even with hundreds of opposing views bombarding them from a few feet away. The procession remained nonviolent throughout. Butler, though, carr ying a microphone, challenged his challengers. The 80-year-old, commanding a less-than-booming voice, was not easily beard over the crowd noise. "You hate whites," But ler told the crowd. "Why don't you go back to your socialist state? Why don't you go back to Los Angeles?" Butler also proclaimed that the march - the first official parade of its kind in Coeur d'Alene - would no t be the last. "We're going to parad e again, again and again ," h e · said. "And pray for the white race." Afterward, Judy called the parade a success - because of the city's reaction. "A bunch of noncitizen s came to town to express extreme views, looking for confrontations," Judy said. "We prepared for it. We reacted to it, and controlled the situation well. Frankly, I'm glad to have them out of here." Judy pointed to the thousands of people participating in the "Lemonade out of Lemons" program - a fund-raiser fo r human rights programs based on per-minute pledges during the parade. Doug Cresswell , president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and a program organizer, said "Lemonade out of Lemons" accepted additional pledges beyond the $1,001 p r minu te going into Saturday. Considerably more t han $28,000 was raised. "As a community, Coeur d'Alene sent a very strong message today about our support for human rights," Judy said. "I truly think the most Christian thing we could do is to have tolerance for a messag that w reject. That's always the toughest ch allenge - to to \ rate a messag we wholly reject."


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• Anti-hate pledges c ntinue to ri e/ Media blitZ descends on Lake CitY/A4

By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer

SPOKANE - A civil right rally at Gonzaga Univer ity aturday drew more p ople and took four time longer than the march it wa prole ting. The two-hour rally off r d m age of affirmation for civil rights bul al o aid mor need to be done in the lnland Northwe L "Thi battle i not over after 28 m.inut s - it continue very day of our liv ," aid Jim iJohn, a pokane Tribe Ider. "If we relax after thi , the ugly head of racism tart to rise again."

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Other speakers at the Hands A ro the Bord r for Human Rights: A Rally to Celebrate Diver ity echoed this theme to an audience generous with cheer , applause and standing ovation . About 800 people gathered on Gonzaga' lawn. People brought blankets, lawn chairs and water bottle , or took advantage of Cree water from Wa hington Water Power. In the crowd were area human right leader , politicians and political candidate , activi t and

many who ju t wanted to tay out of Coeur d'Alene. The program began with a motorcade from the Po t Falls Fa lory Outlets in which more than 30 car participat cl. Th n pe pie waited for the rally, which wa mod rat d by Rob Fukai ofWWP. p ech from member of the area' AfricanAm ri an, Ameri an Indian, Jewish and Hi panic commurutie and T. Diane Schneid r, a representativ from the U.. Ju lice Department's Community Relation rvice were a large part of th rally. "The real nemy i n t in Coeur d'Alene right now, hneider aid. "The en my is here and we mu t onfront it" GOOD FIGHT continued on A4


ANDRE NEY/Prass photo

Jeanne Givens of The Coeur d'Alene Tribe speaks at the quad at Gonzaga University on Saturday at "Hands Across the Border for Human Rights."


GOOD RGHT

continued from A 1

b w nt on to ay Lhat th en my i lh lack of leadership in civil rights is ues which create a o ial limal that put up with mjnor raciaJ bia es. To c mbat hale. he aid peopl n d tor ognize their own bia es and try to stop them, and then n ourage oth r to do the same. Banning p litical corr ctnes al o will help. "We have a lot of ducation to do. · hneid r aid. "Ev ry Lim w b ar om thing. w hav a re pon ibility to confront or corr ct thi ." On of th mor pa ionate sp che cam from Eva La man, a Polish woman who urvived tbre Nazi oncentration camp during World War Il. Much f her family di d. "Hill r may b dead, but hi admirer ar our neighbors and we hav to expo e their me age U1rough edu ation," be aid. 'They need to know that following hate will on ly 1 ad to disa t r." Las man aid one of th horrible asp ct of th Nazi r gim wa that th brutalitie were carri d out b ducat d peopl who av into hat , not" tre l hoodlum . he said p opl n d o Lan up and r i t hate and al o promote ducation. " hildr n ar n't born to hate," La man aid. ''W don't have o b in lov with v ryon , but w do have to r spect each oth r a all b ing hildr n of one creator.'' Bill Wa smulb. a rorm r o ur d'Alen pri t and urr nt x utive dir ctor of th Norlhw t Coalition Again t Maliciou Haras m nt, w nt one step furth r, ay ing that prate ting the

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ANDRE NEY/Press photo

Eva Lassman, a Holocaust survivor, addressed "A Rally to Celebrate Diversity. "

Aryan is good, but doesn't go far enough. "It· m tly ru e people who perpetuate racism in America by th ir comments and indifference " h aid. 'Focu log on act of blatant racism lik th parade can ea ily distract u from more ubtl a t ofraci m.·· To blame ili Aryan for all the problem in our ommunity i mi guid d, h aid. He likened thi

fallacy to focu ing on a cank r ore bul not trying lo cure the sore-cau ing viru , or trying to dou a fire without first removing the fir • fu 1 ource. Wa s muth end d th rally b l lling people to keep up the positive attitud from Saturday' rally, and to try to offer equality to everyone in luding homo exual . Don't wait for the next Aryan parade to do an ything," h aid. "You can'L ay no to the Aryans but promote other group whkh oppo multiculturis m.'' And Jeanne Giv ns of th Co ur d'AJ o Trib said that one of the go d tJ1ing ab ut tl1 Aryan parade was that it brought ra i m Lo th urface. "It h a forced a onv r ation about ra i m whkh ha been Jong overdu ,' h aid. "W need to continu to for thi , p ak frankly and throw political c rr ctne oul the window." Other minority group hould al o be reminded to e ase th ir anger toward whit for pa t injus tice . "We need a world where ruver ity i a cornerstone, not an apology, Giv n aid. Colleg e tudents won 'I I t Lh i su di either said Jo h Bu hn r, pr id nl of NortJ1 Idaho College' Human ·quality lub. "To be a true believer doesn't m an coming to a rally and then goin horn " h said. "\Ve hav a re ponsib.ili ty every tirn we go o the groc r y store the park and in th voting b 0U1." One of th area he'll ontinu lo advocate i gay right - not pedal right , ju t qual righ . Even though Wash ington tat Univ r ity canceled a gay right ympo ium last year, Buehner said he would like to organiz on n xt year al NIC. ~No amount f hale mail will cau m to cane lthi ," h said.


Coeur d'Alene/

ALAN STEINER/Press photo

Kootenai County Sheriff's Deputies secure the intersection of First and Sherman while a protester is arrested for involvement in an argument Saturday during the Aryan Nations parade.

Police keep parade under control 22 arrested during parade By TOM SWIFT'

Staff writer COEUR d'ALENE - A few minutes prior to Saturday's Aryan Nations parade, Sherman Avenue was peaceful and relatively quiet. About 20 minutes after the 28-minute march, Sherman Avenue was peaceful and relatively quiet. In between, there was controlled chaos. It was the b st ase scenario of which police officials could have hoped. "We wer charg d with the task of protecting the right of people with very opposing views," Capt. Carl B rgh of the Coeur d'Alene Police Departm nt said. "We were able to accomplish

that, and an hour after the event began our streets are back-to normal." There was no violent outbursts from either the marchers or the estimated 1,500 people in attendance, a fear many had going into the parade. An estimated 125 officers from police agencies made 22 arrests. Among them, four people - Chad Robb, Hamilton, Mont., a juvenile from Coeur d'Alene, Elijah Reid, Kelso, Wash., and Robert Sehackart, Co ur d'Alene each were found in possession of a concealed weapon. Of the other arrests, Kenneth Malone of Sandpoint was charged in pos ession of paraphernalia. Walter Dahlko, Spokane, wa charged with indecent exposure.

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POLICE continued on A4


POLICE continued from A3 The other charges were mostly minor offenses, including some who were arrested for entering the roadway. In an effort to curtaiJ J)OSSible violent incidents,

The Human Race

police did not allow anyone to cross over police tape that stretched down the parade route on Northwest Boulevard and Shennan Avenue. One incident did break out after the parade. Six Aryan Nations members, who apparently arrived late for the parade and thus did not park their vehicles in the Independence Point parking lot, which was roped off for the Aryans, parked away from the parade's starting and finishing point After the parade, the Aryans left and walked up First Avenue and a few hundred people followed them. Fortunately, no one was believed to have ~ injured in the incident Matthew Boruvka, of Coeur d¡Atene, was charged with disturbing the peace after allegedly provoking the Aryans. "It was something we weren't expecting to transpjre,"said Bergh, commenting on the Aryans' agreement to leave together and in a timely fashion. "Perfect deals don't always turn out perfect. "But all in all our officers from the different agencies did a tremendous job."

JOY NEWCOMB/Press photo

Dan Johnson, marketing director of Silver Lake Mall speaks at the first "Human Race," a virtual walk, run or sit marathon at the mall Saturday afternoon. Next year's "Human Race" will become a fun run event for the family. The money raised during the Aryan Nations Parade will benefit various human rights organizations.


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Tim O'Meara counts the minutes during the Aryan Nations parade for the "Lemons to Lemonade" pledge drive Saturday morning in downtown Coeur d'Alene .

Lemon pledges exceed $28,000

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Even after aturday's Aryan Nation parade ended, more than 120 people lined up to offer money upporting human right and condemning me sage of hate. Others wanted to sign the petition without committing money. And members of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relation expec t e v n more pledge to come in over the next few week . As of Friday evening, the task force pa sed the $1,000-perminute mark, based on how long the Aryan wou1d march. Task force member anticipated the Arya.us would march for a full hour, pot ntially bringing in at lea L$60,000. In Lead. lh mar h la ted half that tim . But Judy Whatl y, ta k force vice chair, aid many p ople wer giving m r than U1 y had ori inaJly pledg d lo mak up for lh horl r mar h. h aid the ta k (ore appr

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dated every donation, but she e pecially liked the smaller contributions. Whatley said a pledge for 3 cents per minute was faxed in a few days ago from a single motller who said that was all she could give. And Stephen Hertz, a 7-yearold from Spokane, put up a lemonade stand Friday to rai e money for human rights. In about thre hours, he had brought in more than $8, mostly in small change. 'Those little ones realJy touch you," Whatley said. Donation will be taken at today's 2 p.m. interfaith s rvice al St Pius X Catholic hurch. Though the task force is coord i na ting the "Lemons to Lemonade" effort, money will al o go to other group and fforts, including the Northwe t Coalition Against Maliious Hara meat, the AntiDefamation League, the American Negro College Fund, the Museum of Toi ranc and pokane Unity in Action. Ta k fore member Mar hall M nd said he heard a ugge tfon lo u som of the mon y to build a Holocaust memorial in Cily Park and er dit th Aryan Nation for h (ping raise th fund .


'Lemonade' gains support State, local leaders pledge donations By JOE BUTLER Staff writer

COEUR d ' ALENE - More than 30 national. tate and city I aders and candjdate have join d an effo rt Lo oppo e the m ag of th Aryan Nation. Th Koot nai Ta k Force on Human R lation unveiled a Ii t of leader Monday who have give n th ir upport to "Lemon to Lemonade," a human right effort which oppo e th march through Co ur d'Alen aturday. Th Ii t include U. . Sen. Larry raig, . . Rep . H 1en Cbenow th and Mike rapo, Gov. Phil Batt, up rint nd nt of Publi In truction Anne Fox, mo t of the legi lators in District 1 through 4, Koote nai ounty Commi ione r Dick Compton and ounty Cl rk Dan Engli h, plu oeur d'Alene Mayor tev Judy. The li t al o tr tch aero s the tate line, including Spokane Mayor John Tal bott, and Wa hington Rep . J ff Gombo ky and Alex Wood. "Th support and ignature of the pol ili al I ad r for th Lemon for Lemonade pledge nd a trong m age aero the United tate that th people of the Inland orthw t reject the me , ag of pr judice and bigotry." said Tony tewart, a ta k fore member and coorrunator of the Lemon program. "I wa impressed how quick-

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BILL BULEY/Press photo

Tony Stew art shows off a Human Race T-shirt during Monday's press conference by Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations at North Idaho College.

Monday' pres coni r n al o included an outline of a tiviti planned thi we kend. During th tim of th mar h, mo t human right lead r plan to b in pokan for a rally al Gonzaga niv rsity. Th y ar al o ncouraging oth r to join them and tay out of downtown Coeur d'Alene during th Aryan march. The 10 a.m. Human Right rally will includ mu ic pe h . c lebration of div rsity and r pr ntatives from NAA P, th Jew i h community, th Co ur d'AJ ne Tribe, the Hi panic community, high chool and coll g tud nt and civic leaders. Following th two-hour rally, people are invit d to r turn to downtown Coeur d'Alen or to the Silver Lake Mall for Neighbor Day Celebration. Repre entative from pokan will be invited to Co ur d'AJen unday for an interfaith e rvice at 2 p.m. at t. Piu X alho li Church. St wart aid th ta k fore ' trategy agai n l the Aryan may diller than ome other group . who a re intending to onfront Lh marchers. He aid the task fore prefer to set it own agenda, and ha nothing to gain by confrontation ·. Plu , h aid many hat group thriv on confrontation. "Wi play by our rule , not th rule of a group having hat ,•· h said. "If we had it our way, th march wouldn't tak plac . "But we r cogniz th Fir t Amendment right of th Aryan .''

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While om group have organized ounteractivitie to the parade, many local bu ine are imply encouraging people to stay away from downtown Sherman Avenue during th 10 a.m. march. 'The busine community has worked extremely well with the city to provide po itive ·outlets for youth and families," said Mayor teveJudy. The Ii t of alternative activities i still growing, and anyone with any ideas is asked to contact City Council President Nancy Sue Wallace at 667-5859. More details will be announced later this week. Here is a round-up of many scheduled activitie : The largest event scheduled is a gathering of citizens of North Idaho and Spokane at Gonzaga University. At 8 a.m., a delegation from Spokane will meet Idaho re idents at the Post Fall Factory Outlet, and then accompany them across the border for a 10 a.m. rally on Gonzaga's Quad

Lawn. The "Hands Aero the Border for Human Rights" rally includes speakers, music and inspirational reading from the region's racial, ethnic and religious communities. Following the two-hour rally, people are invited to return to downtown Coeur d'Alene or go to the ilver Lake Mall for its first-ever Neighbor Days Celebration. Saturday' activities include a car tereo sound-off ompetition from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Elvi on stage at noon, a ummer tyle fa hion how at l p.m., and "Human Race," a virtualmile fun run at 2 p.m. People of any age who pay the $9.50 pre-registration fee to run, walk or sit in the race can receive a T-shirt, race handbook, meal coupon and certificat . The mall' a tivitie will conclude with a human right ceremony at 2 p.m. All proc d from the event benefit th Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations. Th n xt day organizers have al o invited

'Dialogue' examines response to march Idaho Publk T levi ion's program "Dialogue" thi week examines the different ways the re idents of Coeur d'Alene are responding to the pending march of the Aryan Nations. The show airs on KUID 26, cable channel 12, on Thur day at 7:30 p.m. PDT. There will be a repeat bowing at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Ho t Marcia Franklin will di cu the community's reactions with her guests: Steve Judy, mayor of Coeur d'Alen ; Norm Gissel. a pa t pre ident and member of the board of directors of the Kootenai County Ta k Fore on Human Relation ; and Skip Kuck, a human rights activi t organizing a local prote t. They will also look at ways North Idaho plan to continue to combat its perceived image as a haven for racist . Franklin and her gu t will fi Id phon call from viewers. Call 1-800.973-9800 Al o Thur day at 9:30 p.m., on Idaho Public Televi ion will broadca t "A Presidential Dialogue on Race: A Newshour Special." The how is an examination of the country' racial attitude with Pre ident Bill Clinton and a panel that includ Northw t author /po t Sherman Alexie, a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian.

Spokan human right m mber to a 2 p.m. interfaith eel bration at t. Piu X Catholic Church in oeur d'Al n Her i a roundup of ome f th oth r optional a tiviti for aturday morning. • ov Bowl R er atioo nt r will offer an hour' worth of fr e bowling to anyon 9-10 a.m. un t Bowling C nter will hav fre bowling 911 a.m. • Go Kart an1ily Fun will oH r free admi sion to th La r Force area 9:30-11:30 a.m. • Wild Wat will off r admi ion to anyon


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Media a part of the spectacle News agencies from

near, tar participate By TOM SWIFT Staff writer

COEUR d' ALENE - Local media. National media. There was o mu c h media at Saturday's Aryan Nations parade that the media had media. Well, ort of. Among the organizations represe n Le d - ABC, CBS and NBC nl rews - there were a variety of other people with media credentials that descended upon o ur d'Alene. Sharon Deming, a resident of Bellingh am, Wa h., was there to, among other things, urge media members to take another look at the type of conditions that possibly lead to such groups becoming part of a community. "l want the media to take a good look at what's going on b hind th e scenes," Deming aid. ''When we have a society

JOY NEWCOMB/Press photo

Media representatives from throughout the Northwest interview Irv Rubin, Jewish Defense League leader, before the Aryan Nations parade in downtown Coeur d'Alene Saturday morning.

with this ideology in our mind that being part of th "team' mak es us up rfor ... t h n there i a group, uch a th white supremaci ts, offering pe ople th e chan e at selfesteem and d ignity, wher

the choice?" Mo t new pap r organizations . r adio and t levi ion er w , how ver, w re Lh re for the obviou reason - becau e an o-Nazi group doesn't hold a public parade every day. And,

ven though n w gr up didn't. admit it, the potential for vi I nc • to<>, al o mad th march a likely tory for airwav and n w paper a ros th country. Among th oth r known organization - whi h were a k d lo h k in with poli e, though many of th timated 100 m mb r of th m dia did not - were a numb r of c II ge m dia, Lh PhiJadelphia Inquir r, lhe attl Time , and th Chri tian i n e Monitor. NB ightly New wa among the national n ws organization . NB had a egm nt about the Aryan Nations parade on its aturda nigh br ad ast. "Wi 'r not h re o much for the mar hp r e ".a id Tom heatham, produc r of th e NBC r porL 'We're here more to se how th comm unity reac to it. ... l'v been to the Aryan Nations ompound before and I know that not many p ople he re attend their rvi "


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with too much respect By MIKE McLEAN Staff writer

COE UR d' ALEN E - Some human right advocates were sour on the Lemon to Lemonade drive and the Hand Across the Border for Human Rights counter rally in Spokane. Guerry Hoddersen, of the Seattle-based anti-hate group United Front Against Fascism, came to prote t the Aryan march Saturday. She said the city treated the Aryans better than tho e who traveled hundreds of mile to oppose them. "It i appalling that the chamber of commerce and city leaders would organize and leave th state, abandoning the town to the e guys," she said in reference to the Hand Across the Border rally. The rally, designed to celebrate diversity and tolerance, wa held at Gonzaga Univerity during the time of the Aryan march. T he Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations also organized the Lemons to Lemonade drive to collect pledges for every minute of the Aryan march. As of Friday, pledges amounted to nearly $1,000 per minute. Back on the parade route, Hoddersen was given a verbal warning by an officer in riot gear a she chanted anti-Nazi rhyme through a megaphone at the end of the parade. "H told me 1 didn't have a permit to use a bullhorn and if 1 continued to use it I would be arrested," she said. "Aryans got free parking, use of the picni area, and the streets," she aid. 'Tm supporting civil rights law and I'm the one going to get arrested. You can't treat civil right advocates thi way and turn the city over to the Nazi ." Hoddersen's group was originally formed to confront white supremacists who held ceremonie at Whidbey I land State Park on the first weekend in December beginning in 1988. By 1992, United Front Again t Raci m re erved the park on that week nd

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MIKE McLEAN/Press photo

An officer warns Guerry Hoddersen of the Seattle-based United Front Against Fascism that she needs a permit to use a bullhorn, at the Aryan march Saturday in Coeur d'Alene.

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Tuesday, July 21, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash./Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

To contact the North Idaho olflce. dial (208) 765-7100, lolHree 800-344-6718; Fax: (208) 765-7149

an parade will be reviewed Officers will go over handling of Saturday march; efforts cost Kootenai County, CdA $50,000 each By Heather We taff writer

COEUR d ALE -The police cape ha long inc been ram do, n and all but one pectator is out of jail on bond. But for law enforcemen t officer and human rights activ[ . the aftermath of aturday' Aryan Nations march through downtown Coeur d Alene linger . Repr, entativ from th C eur d'Alene Police Department Kootenai unty h riff Department, Idaho State Police and other agencie will meet thi w ek to di cu the handling of the march Coeur d'Alene Police Capt. Carl Bergh aid. Such meetfog are tandard

What's next The Task Force will meet next month to decide how best to spend the $28,000 raised In the "Lemons to Lemonade'' pledge drive.

pr cedure after mo t larg event be aid.

' Law enforcement officer did an outstanding job dealing v itb what wa a difficult ituation ., Bergh aid.

'What we learned i , number one, our community can be recognized for the po itive type of area it i . The majority of p ople who came as pectato in oppo ition to this were willing to pre nt them elves in an orderly and law-abiding mann r. There wa ju t a minority that cho e not to abide b the rule ." Of the 22 people arre t d during th parade aturday

ju tone -24-year-old Joe nider of Pa co- remains in u tody Kootenai County heriff Department Capt. Ben Wolfinger aid. Snidec wa picked up at 1he parade on an out-of- rat felony warrant, Wolfinger aid. Police reported no problem related to the Aryan Nati o march Saturday night or unday he aid. Sheriff officers tallied more than 1 000 hour of overtim in training and me Lin in 1he rw wee before th parade be aid. That will contribute to the parade' co t to the county of cl et $50 000. The city of Coeur d'Alene pent about an ther $50,000 on tbe vent. including more than $5 000 for riot gear and $3,500 for meal and motel for out-oftown Idaho rate Police officer . Continued: Parade/I&


July 22, 1998

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'Lemon' pledges continue to roll in Total amount now $1,112 per minute COEUR d'ALENE _ Day aft r lh Aryan march d down hemian .Av nu pledges ntinu to roU .m to oppo the message of lhe white prcmaci group. A f Tu sday ev ning, peer pl from a ro the country had P.1 dg d l.112.63 to human n~ht organization for each mmule of lh mar h. inc . alurday's march la td 2 mmute , thi m ans at lea t 31,153.64 will be har d tw . n human right group , m ludmg the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human R< lation and. th rthwe t Coalition Agamst Mali iou Harassment

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PLEDGES continued on A2

Northwest Coalition in the pa t 10 day . The Seattle-based group hasn't giv n him a statu continued from A1 report recently. Stewart said some people Tony Stewart, task force have been giving more than they member and organizer of th pledg d, inc many "Lemon to Lemonade" fund- originally e pected ma rai ing effort. aid the doltar between45minutesandanhour. figure doe o't include money He said 2,367 of the 2,594 pledged dir ctly to the

PLEDGES

p ople who hav ign d th petition have pl dged ome form of mon y. The petition condemn th Aryan message but affirm th ir First Amendment rights. Th ta k for hoped to 1,0 0 per minute mark, and did o by riday afternoon.

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Parade: Rights projects coming Continued from 81 · 'ome people ay you're an alarmist,'' WolfLnger ·ajd. "You have to

prepare for lhe L r I and hope for I.he be l. ... Ir still a family town and we want pe pie to understand what Coeur d'Alene· aU about.' For the Kootenai County Task orce on Human Relation which ha u ed the march as a rallying pofot ince iL wa planned m nths ago, the para • completion will aJJow the group to take n new projects. The Ta k Force will meet next monlh to decide b w be t to pend the e timated 2 000 raised in the · Lemon to Lem nade" pledge dn e, executive director Tony tewart aid. ow that the march is over, tile

You have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. ... Its stitl afamily town, and we want people to understand what Coeur d'Alene is all about. Capt. Ben WoHinger, Kootenai County Sheriffs depanment

group al o will have more time to work on establi hing a foundation lO ra · e money for human right education, tewart aid. "Thi is a renewing, a redoubling of one effort a wa of examining oneself he said. Human rights work i a marathon journey.

Dao McComb/The SJ)Okesrnan..flevl

Even though some spectators had threatened to disrupt the Aryan parade Saturday, police officers kepi everyone in line with a minimum of trouble.


At what co t a parad

? T Kool nai C unty, it i more than w 11 ver know. Yi th tr t ar qui t again. Yt hopp r and vi itor are br wsing again. Ev rythjng i back to normal. But i it r ally? This wonderful br ath-taking North ldaho region again had its imag brui d b fore th nation aturday by a mall group of misfit attempting to pr ad their m sage of hat . Th puny Aryan Nation parade While the direct cost managed to get this group what it to taxpayers is estimatwanted what it ries out for in a d p rate attempt to ju ti.fy it exis- ed at nearly $125,000 t nee - attention. for law officers to deal Polic did an out tanding job han- with the parade, we'll dling this circu . What easily could never really know the have turn d violent with the wrong price paid by the area's mov by one p r on was reduced reputation. to 28 minute of orderly chao . Law officer w re faced with the thankles ta k of clearing the tre t for a bunch of raci ts. They also had to contain a crowd of prote ter that in lud d ome creaming, fouJ-mouth d fools delivering th ir own me age of hate right back at the Rev. Richard Butler and hi mindle follower . It wa truly a pathetic c n . Du only to tr m ndou pr paration and planning and a strong polic pr nee wa th ituation contain d p ac fully. While th direct co t to tax.pay rs i e timated at nearly $125,000 for law officer to d al with the parade, we11 never really know the pric paid by th area's r putation. · Sur w who live here know North Idaho' image as a haven for raci t is imply fal . We know it' ju ta handful of misguided misfit that have a knack for whipping up publicity and g tting the m dia' attention no matter how illy th tunt. But what did p opl a ro the nation think when they saw Ku Klux Klan m mber ancl skinh ad marchill&!illllilfiililllZ~~·IM1k4:>.1¥ra.~ town? Ev n if U1 r wer only a ~ w d z n of out of tat ? C rtainly, it plan doubt about North Idaho and the p ople who live b r . Ev nt like thi on hould not happen. We find it diffi ult to accept that the right to free peech also must mean w are forced to i sue parade p rmit to some people whose avow d purpo e is to di rupt p a eful citizens, cripple commerce wa te taxpayer re ource and d troy the very y tern that protect th m; all without having to accept any financial accountability. omething i wrong. Wi chall ng our city leader to clamp down. Revi w how we apply the rul s and law that tate groups like th Aryan ations must be given a p rmit to mar h no matter the co t or threats to peace. To] ran of oppo ing vi w i one thing. Pa iv ly allowing any group to bully i way through orth Idaho to hare a me age that incit viol n and promote bigotry i wrong. There mu t not b a n xt tim .


Community has reason to be proud of response to march

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itizens of Coeur d'Alene - tand proud! We have ju t pas d one of the most te ting experiences that a community can endur . We have sent a message to the nation - but more importantly to the region - that we solidly reject the mes age of hate. Furthermore, we have reaffirmed our tradition of respecting human rights. The recent march tested all of our resolve and tolerance to th limits. The most important tatement i that a a community we cho e to ri ¡e above fr~.. Wpqllei.;;h...,....,......,_. was to nd t.irrle ai t y Spokane, at an arranged alternative event or even in attendance at th march - thousands of citizen of Coeur d'Alene displayed great restraint and soundly rejected the rhetoric of the demon trator . There are literally hundreds of people to thank for their participation in the various aspect of our community response. However, there are those that need special recognition. First and foremost, are the peacekeepers. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department:, Kootenai County Sheriff, Idaho State Police, other law enforcement and emergency personnel deserve our combined thanks and congratulation for the quality preparation, dilig nt cooperation and ultimately for providing a afe event especially, wh n overzealous news media were billing it

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a a predetermined calamity. Second, a core group of people had a rie of meeting over the preceding months to coordinate the various community activities. I extend our thanks to the following organization who provided representative that formed our combined r pon e. Th Downtown Business Associtio.Q.,$i)v. r ~ Mall, h her Commerce, Coeur Guest d'Alen Mini terial Opinion Association Human Right Ta k Force (especially for the "Lemons to Lemonade" campaign). Coeur d'Alen School District, Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors, The Press, Jobs Plus, pokesman-Review and Li a Ben cheidt. Third, there ar several Coeur d'Alene-area bu ine es that de erve pecial r cognition for their variou and ignificant contributions. Thank you to.all of the downtown businesses that do ed their door on Saturday morning in ord r to help with afety and to send a me age rejecting the marchers. The Coeur d'Alene Resort d erv r ognition for closing the boardwalk, providing a morning

cruise for visitors to our city and for making special accommodations for law enforcement Numerou businesses provided entertainment alternatives for area youth and families. Join me in thanking the following businesses; Act m Theaters, Coeur d'Alene Discount Theaters, Sunset Bowling, Cove Bowling, Skate Plaza, Wild Waters, Ha tings Music and Books, and Go-Kart Family Fun Center. Bravo! Finally, we must realize that this is not the end. As individual our stand h by et of us everyday. a community, we have to move to create po itiv outlets for our youth. We need to build their understanding of human dignity and provide our community as a source of pride giving them further rea on to reject the temptation of hate organizations. As a city, we will have tolerance as free speech dictates but, we will continue to act against hate. We will d mand responsibility and accountability to those who wish to portray us and use us for their message of hate. Citizens of Coeur d'Alene the heart is in your name now, you have proven that the heart symbolizes your spirit. Thank You!

Steve Judy is the mayor of Coeur d'Alene.

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'Lemonade' campaign total more than 836,000

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By SHAWNA ROREM Staff writer

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CO EU R d' ALEN E -The Lemons to

Lemonade Campaign has stirred up $35,484.96 for human rights groups. According to Tony Stewart, campaign organizer, the final tally indicates 2,526 people pledged a total of $1,267.32 for each of the Aryan Nations march s 28 minutes. The funds wil1 be allocated according to petition signers' requests. The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations will rece ive the highest percentage of pledges. The task force is developing a criteria on how the funds should be spent, according to Judy Whatley, the group's president "We are asking petition signers for input. We will take all the suggestions to the board and then corne up with very positive things to do with the money," Whatley said. "Education is primary with the task force. But we are going to look at suggestions from all the people. They have input as to how it's spent." Other groups to receive funds are: The Northwest Coalition Against Malicio us Harassment, Temple Beth Shalom in Spokane, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'ritb, National Association fo r the Advan cement of Co lored People, United Negro College Fund , Pea e and Justice Action League of Spokane Unity in Action of Spokane, Southern Poverty Law Center, Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, Ada County Human Rights Task Force, the Martin Luther King Center and several other rights groups. People who have made pledges can send ch1~cks to KCTFHR, P.O. Box 2725, Coeur d'ruene, Tdaho, 83816.

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ARYANS: Consensus is city handled march right

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I recently returned from a meeting in Boise where there were more than 100 attendees representing every state of our country. As with most meetings, name badges were given out identifying where we were from. I proudly wore my badge that showed I was representing Coeur d'Alene . Immediately I started answering questions about the 100-Moron March, explaining our city official ' legal obligation (no matter how distasteful) to protect our First Amendment Rights. I proudly related how the mayor, and community and business leaders came together to organize and promote alternative activities for it citizens. I also emphasized that the mayor's request to stay away frqm the march was upheld by the majority of our local citizens. Listening to the comments from the meeting attendees, I was

extremely surprised and delighted to learn that the media coverage nationwide portrayed to it viewers a community united in its effort to deal with an unfortunate ituation . They were impressed with our efforts to organize free family activities and thought the "Lemon to Lemonade" pledge was ab olutely brilliant. They wanted to know how much we raised for human right . They shuddered at the thought that this could happen in their citie , and expressed gratitude that we set an example for other communitie to follow. As I reflect on the comment I heard, I'd like to personally thank Mayor Steve Judy, and tho e in our community who put forth their tim and energies to promote a very po itive image of Coeur d Alene to th re t of the world.

SHIRLEY HINDLEY Liberty lake, Wa h.


MAKING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE PLEDGE SIGN UP SHEET Yes, I do believe in Human Rights for all. Yes, I do believe in free speech, but I abhor and oppose the message of white supremacy and hatred that the Aryan Nation will proclaim as they exercise their free speech when they march in the City of Coeur d'Alene on July 10, 1999. As a sign of my commitment to human rights, I am pledging to a designated organization the amount below for every minute that the Aryan Nation members march. (If you are unable to pledge money but would like to show support for human rights, you may also sign this form .) Please return this pledge form to the address below: ¡ Your Name

Your Complete Address & Phone#

Return to: Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations P.O. Box 2725 Coeurd' Alene, ID 83816 Phone: (208) 765-3932 (You may wish to keep a copy of this fonn so you can mail your check after the march.)

Pledge per minute

Designated organization & address

You may choose any human rights organization for your pledge to promote human rights. Some suggestions are the Koote_nai County Task Force on Human Relations , Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, NAACP (Spokane Chapter), Bonner County Task Force on Human Relations, Anti- ¡ Defamation League, and the Southern Poverty Law Center: (Undesignated pledges will be equally divided between the KCTFHR and the NWCAMH.)


>ft> /a>Sr/t.?A /(e v,ew

Bottom Unes Asatirical look at topics in the news

Junior skinhead parade

The grant from Grant

Heloise, expert witness

Some people still haven't gotten the word Bulletin to the tin , confu ed band f Nazi kin heads who have been hara ing teenager. in Spokane: Dateline Berlin 194 . YOU LO T.

Meet the most effective fund-raiser InIdaho The Aryan parade backla h re ul ted in mor than 35,000 in donation to area human rights organizali n . Richard Butler, tan poli hing your ace ptance peech! You·r in Jin for the Jean Her holtHumanitarian Award.

They thought it was one of Grant's little Jokes A federa l judge ruJed that the Coeur d Alene Tribe own the outhern ne-lhird of Lake oeur d'AI ne. Turn. out President Grant gave it to them in I 73, but up until nO\ . the tatea urned Gra nt wa ju t kiddj ng.

Both have solid claims to that lake Let' weigh the owner hip argu men t . The Coeur d AJ ne Tribe ha Lived fi bed and wor hipped on the lake ~ r mill nnia. The late of Idaho ha been polluting it for decade . You make the call.

Experts Issue their reports on the Monica dress That pe ky dre wi th the my teriou tain has resurfaced in the n w . A team f exp rt ha. be n call di n toe amine it, including the ·Hint From Heloi. e" lady wllo te tified that a Little vinegar hould work ju. t fine. • Bottom lines is Jim Kershner's look at issues In the news. The views are the writer's.

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Anti-hate group tries to disperse 'Lemon' dollars Human rights needs addressed By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer COEUR d ' ALENE - For the past six month . lo al human right offi iaJ have been trying to put forth a positive message into the community, including eking money to oppose the view of the Aryan Nations. Following the Aryan ' 2 -minute march through downtown Coeur d'Alene la t month, members of th Kootenai Task Force on Human Relations mu t deal with the aftermath of the "Lemon to Lemonad " program, which raised more than $35,484 for variou ' cau e . LEMONADE continued on A3


LEMONADE

continu ed from A 1

On W dn day ta k fore m mber Tony tewart told memb r of the Coeur d'AJ ne Kiwan.i about th la k fore ' hi tory and what it int nd to Tony Stewart of t he Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations talks to Kiwanis Club members about human rights and the ulemons to Lemonade" pledge drive Thursday afternoon at The Iron Horse. JOY NEWCOMB/Press photo

do with th money. 'I a ur you w ar taking thi very riou Jy," h aid. Stewart aid the 2 526 pledge from individual and companies throughout th country were earmarked to 23 diff rent organizations, in luding human right ta k for in Bonner. Kootenai and Ada countie , th orthw t Coalition Again t Maliciou Haras ment, the AACP and poka n ' nity in Action. o fa r, t he ta k force ha taken in the largest amount of money, about $16 000 . Mo r e money com in each day for every g ro up , he aid . The Norlhwe t oalitio n had


received $6 000 as of large numbers of people, if Wednesday. they last an extended period of One of the ta k force' first time, if they focus on schools duties is to forward the money or if th e y focus on keeping to designated agencies or pro- young pe ople from joining grams. hate groups. It also has to pay the bills for "We'll pend all the money in the six-month effort, including Idaho, and every project will printing thousands of petition have a direct human rights or forms and mailing them across civil rights mission," Stewart the country. Stewart estimates said. this will cost between $1 ,500 He said unspent funds will and $1,600. remain in the task force's generOnce the bills are paid, the al fund until the board votes to task force will begin to look appropriate them. for programs that directly A group requesting any of benefit human rights in the the funds must submit a clear, specific plan to the board, state. Programs will be given based on the task force's critehigh priority if they focus on ria and priorities.


Close to Home '1-2-19'

Hate parade • gtvesway to kindness By Cynthia Taggart tafh Titer

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veryda inceJuly20 the mail ha confirmed Ton Stewart' faith in human g odne s. He opens the po t office bo for the Kootenaj County Ta. k Force on Human Relation and envelope turfed with checks and kind note tumble into hi hand. Mo t are from the 2 526 people who pledged mone ba ed on how long the Aryan Nation marched through downtown Coeur d Alene in July. People counteracted the white upremaci t parade of hate by pledging their dime , quarter , dollar and more to 23 favorite human right organization . And rhe weren't empt promj e . Since the .. -minute march on July 1 about S30,000 ha rolled in. Aryan ation leader Richard Butler mu t gl w with prid I know he rai ed o much for the ta k force, the Northwest Coalition Again t Maliciou Hara ment, Temple Beth Shalom and the Martin Luther King Cent r in Spokane the United Negro College Fund the Anti-Defamation League and more. "I think people here want the world to know we don't ignore hate but ri e above it,'' Tony ay . ' I've never e n people pay a bill with uch eagerne ." Th note with the checks are imilar in entiment. 'Thank for doing omething con tructive with omething o de tructive." ·'The Aryan looked liked fools.' "Here' $25 ... in honor of m Jewi h homo exuaJ and black friend . ' Several people ent more than the pledged. "Even though it wa onl 2 minute , I'm ending $4 ," wrote a Spokane woman who pledged SJ a minute.· I expected it to la t 45 minute . ' Coeur d Alen ' Combo family enc about 14, rai db Rachel, 3 Taylor, 5. and Chri topher and Nichola , 9 at their 1 monade tand. Sandra Combo e plained to her children that the people marching hated other ba ed Continued: Close to Home/B2

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Alter Sandra and Jamie Combo explained to their children lhal the Aryan Nations hated people based on skin color or religion - and that such hatred was wrong - the children raised about $14 from a lemonade sland and senl the money to the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relalions. In lront are twins Chris left, and Nicholas 9, and Taylor, 5. In back are Rachel, 3 Jamie and Sandra. The task force has raised nearly $30,000 in response to lhe Aryans' July18 parade.


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Hate comes in a glossy package New white supremacy group targets North Idaho homes with mass malling

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• No charge: Spokane won' prosecute man who drew racist sketches./12

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n , whit uprem cy group ba d ia andp in1 i b hmd an expensi e m mailing targeting homeown r in N rth Idaho. Th mailing includ an anti- emmc b kl t and a fu ll-col r -fo I-tall p ter lhat claims religi upcriorit. f lh wh.il

ConlimJed: Racist message/A16


Racist message: 4,000 copies sent to Aryan Nations Continued from A1 While the mas mailing apparently doe. n'r break any law it ex:pen e and ophi, tication urprised human right activi t and law enforcement officials. Authoritie don't know how many packet have been mailed who mailed them or all f 1be area targeted. Mo t arrived late la t week or early this week. An e timated 400 homeowner in the Emerald E tare neighborhood of Hayden. received the packets. Other were mailed l homeowner in Prie t River, according to human right activists. Doz n" of copie of Lhe ame material were handed out at the Aryan Nation compound prior to the July l neo-Nazi parade in downtown Coeur d'Alene. The Aryan Nation wa upplied with 4 000 copie of the literature from a benefactor who al o paid for po tage a church member aid Thur day. " We've mail d them out to everybody on our (church) mailing list, and we know that they're being mailed out in other rate too,' the member aid. At lea t a half-dozen homeowner , including one Jewi h family, have turned the lilerature over to the Kootenai County Sheriff' Department. Kootenai County Pro ecutor Bill Douglas, who ha een the Literature, aid he was urpri ed by the expensive quality of the material enclo ed in pla tic-reinforced mailer . ' It's a hate me sage that doesn 't rise to the level of a bate crime under Idaho law ' Dougla aid. He aid its content are despicable. Authorities say there' no evidence ugge ting a particular group is being

Its a hate message that doesn t rise to the level of a hate crime under Idaho law. ,,

Bill Douglas, Kootenai County Pro ecwor

targeted . A ranking heriff inve tigator aid he believe dis emination of the literatur i protected by the First Amendmenr and doe n t con titute a hate crime. "There no evidence tbat ju t one group is being targeted with thi material ' the inve tigator aid. Everybod i g uing it. But it anti- emitic tone is particularly rightening to Jew , including an elderly Hau,er woman. 'She believes be wa targeted with thi tuff becau. e he a Jew aid the woman 's daughter, who asked oot to be identified. My mother i terrified over gettjng thi with her name on it in the mail, the woman aid. Tony Stewart a member of the Kootenai County Human Right Ta k Force aid tb mailing contajns a 'vile me age of hate.'' H aid h di turbed that perpetrator. of hate in North ldaho may now have a n w wealthy funding ource. The m age i repugnant to anyone who beHeves in the dignity of all persons and supports equaHty and justice for all Stewart aid. ' The Human Rjghts Ta k Force condemns the message," be said. We can al o ay to tho e who are doing it that the good people of North Idaho will ay emphatically no to the message of hate. • Bill Marlin can be reached at (509) 459-5444 or by e-mail at billm@spokesman.com.


Logo on a supremacist poster purporting to chart the descendants of Adam.


Page 86 Saturday, October 3, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane. Wash/ Coeur d'Alene. Idaho

Our View Coeur d' lene shouldn t shrink from Richard Butler's plan to march his tired old hide up '/:Jerman A venue again.

Chance to make more lemonade Co ur d Alene ha nothing to fear from plan by raci t leader Richard Butler to march h' gang of ex-con and misfit down herman Avenue again next July. Th Old r odile howed how path tic his movement i when he failed to mu ter 10 g e tepper July 1 to parade hi contempt f r lhi country and hi community. Meanwhile civic bu ine and human right leader and local famiJie turned h_i hatef t into an pportunity to rai e mon y for human right and to explain to their childr n why raci m i wrong. Co ur d Alene merged tronger for the ex rci e. Mayor Steve Judy houJdn't be itate lO grant Butler' reque t for march on July 10 or ome other day that wouldn't interfer with ake ity' renowned Fourth of July eel bration or other c mmuruty event . That would give local plenty of tim to prepare. Rather than worry about the ranting bogeyman ofRimrock Road wheth r he II continue to march until he lither into hi hellbou nd grav , I cal leader hould build nth· year' extraordinary re p n e. Th r were many ilv r lining. to the 199 hate march: the alt mati e event for y ung ter provided by area bu ines leader , th '·lem n -lo-lernonad ' pledge drive that rai ed about $30 000 C r human right the human right rally in p kane the uperb police re pon e. There wa even a ilver lirung to the national media c verage me had feared o much. All the attention gave parent and educator. a chanc to tell children ab ut Hitler' moo trou deed during World War II and about th gen ration of American that acrificed and died t top the madne . Le on learned the region youth avoided the Aryan Nation pectacle in drove . Mayor Judy and other hould build on the thing they did right thi year. Al o they houJd lobby for Jaw that might make it p ible t fore high-ri k parade applicant to help pay for secu rity. oeur d'Al n and Kootenai County taxpayer paid a c mbin d 100 00 to keep the p ace lhi ummer. Th money c uld be better pent building playground . o ur d Al ne i n wor ' for wear b cau e of the July 18 march. ornmunity leader hould know by now lhat Butler can l hurt the region image any wor ·c than be already ha . Hi follower are few. He' 0 and in p or health. The marches and bad pubLicity mo t lik ly will die with him. Until then it won't hurt the eur d' Al ne ar a to keep making I monad out f lemon . D.F. Oliver a Qr the editorial ~ r d


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Idahoans angry over Aryan video Supremacist message mailed to as many as 3,000 homes By Bill Marlin t IT writer

The Aryan Nati n i preading its white supremacy message in a new wa : a videotap mailed t man as ,000 ortb Idaho b m . Man angry r cipi n thre ut the vide or turned them r to law en~ rcemeot official on riday. 'Where can we de troy th e public! •• mayb in big bonfire. Lb p pie know lhat we'r ju t not

' liVe re witnes. ing the most pensive mailing in the history of the 1yan ations.' Tony Stewart. Kootenai 011nty Task Force 011 Human R lotions who've call d m fe I it' Continue11· Aryan vldeo/A11


Aryan video: 'It makes my

home feel dirty' Continued from A1

an intru i n into their home , aid Coeur d'Alene human rights activist r hal Mend. One pe on who called aid, ' le make my borne feel dirty.' ' On the video, Butler pends 30 minute explaining hi white upremacy religion - e entially the ame rile age he preached for the pa t 25

year. The video begin with cene of Life in the United States imposed over a waving U.. flag. The opening ound track play Kate Smith' rendition of 'God Ble s America." The mailing c me two months after hundred of po ter explaining r6 Aryan Nations beliefs were mailed to homeowner in Kootenai and Bonner countie . Financial backers of the first mailing are two wealthy Sandpoint men who call their mini try the 11th Hour Remnant Mes enger. The mini try upplied Aryan Nation with 4 000 of the ' Adamic race pure-blood seedline posters and money to mail them, Aryan official previou ly confirmed. The Aryan Nation 11th Hour Remnant Me enger and America' Pr mi e Mini trie in Sandpoint pr ach the same brand of Chri tian Identity religion. The Aryan Nation Web ite recently added a link to the 11th Hour Remnant Me enger. The white upremacy churche claim white people are the true clilldren of God. that Jew are the !f;fspring of Satan and that people of co rare inferior. ony Stewan, of the Kootenai Coonty Ta k Force on Human Relation , aid he find it 'very curious" t ~ the video mailing follow the artier po ter distribution. ' We're witne ing the mo t expensive mailing in the hi tory of the Aiyan Nations" tewart aid. " We find that of great interest and cone m." Buzz Arndt r the B nn r County Human Right Ta k Force aid reci-

Cover of AryanNations video.

pients hould ither de troy the tape or end the package back unopened and stick the Aryan Nation wi th the $1.24 co t of return po tage. Aryan Nation official Michael Teague wouldn't ay Friday whether the 11th Hour Remnant Me enger founder paid for the vide and mailing. ' I have no comment on that,' Teague aid. "Yahweh, God, works in my teriou way ." Teague al o wouldn't ay how much the tape and mailing cost. "Just ay that it wa very expen iv . He aid 2,400 copie of the vid o were mailed from a rand m mailing list we were given.' Mend said Postal Service officials told him 3,000 c pie f the video were mailed. "It took the Po t Office two days to hand le them all ' he aid. It appears rhc video was mailed to many f th ame peopl who got the po ter tw month ago. In the video, Butler an wer que tions from an off-camera int rviewer. Behind the 0-y ar- Id Aryan founder · a bu t of Adolf Hitler. Teague aid lhe e ion wa taped in August in the Aryan ation Church. He w uldn t a wh c nducted th int rvi ~ . • Bill Morlin can be reached at (509) 459-5444 or by e-mail at billm@spokesman.com. , #

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Community earns human-rights ' award •

THE PRESS Wednesday, Nov. 11 , 1998 A5

Lake City recognized for handling of Aryan march By MIKE McLEAN Staff writer

COEU R d' A LENE - The community re pon e in countering the Aryan Nation parade la t summer is being r cognjzed by anti-hate advoate. The city of Coeur d'Alene will be pre ented a human right award from the Anti-Defamation League on Nov. 18 at a Co ur d'Alene Chamber of Com merce luncheon at noon at The

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Coeur d'Alene Resort local merchant offered a variety of alternative to the July 18 march, which brought international media attention to the Lake City. The award will b pr nted by Bruce Kort. ADL Pacifi Northwest regional director. "ADL i giving the award to the community and its neighbors in North Idaho, including ordinary citizens, political leaders and the bu iness community for their exemplary actions and response to the attempted injection of hate and divi ivene into their om- · munity," Kort aid Tue day from his Seattle office.

He commended downtown bu inesses that were "closed to hate" during the parade. He also recognized other area businesses that offered fr e or discounted activities for those who wished to stay away from the parade. "What a wonderful example of what communities can do in respon to hate." he said. While recognizing that First Amendment protection isn't ju l for popular viewpoints Kort said "What fights bad speech i mor good speech." The ADL, founded in 1913, i th leading organization in fighting antiemitism through programs and r-

vices that count ra t hatred, prejudice and bigotry. Mayor Stev Judy aid the combined effort of the bu ine community, th Kootenai County Ta k Fore on Human R talion and the Lemon to Lemonad campaign how d the world that r al Idahoans can ri e above th rh toric of a t w malcontent . ''Th community came together xtrem ly well to take ometrung that wa negative and make it as po itive a po ibl ' Judy aid. Tony tewart. ta k fore m mber and organiz r of th Lemon Lo Lemonade campaign, aid the ADL i one of th outstanding ivil right

groups in America. "Fo:· th m to r ecogoiz u for human rights i a p cial honor" t wart said. 1t end a me age th~t w do tand up for civil right in the face of hate." The Lemons to Lemonade ca mpaign rai ed more than $1,100 for eac h of the 28 minutes the Aryan marched through downtown Coeur d'Alene. The fee for the Coeur d Alene Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon is $10. People intere t d in att nding are a ked to make r rvation by Tu day. Re e rvation :664-3194


CdA wins award for parade stand B

Laura hireman

taffwnter

Anti-Defamation league praises city's response to Aryan NatJons th city n

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Award: City

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may face suits Continued from A1

Jonathan Crowell, who was arrested when he refused to let police search his backpack, and Gary Bizeck, who was arrested for carrying the cane he must use to walk because of a knee injury, HiJdes said. "The city has nothing to be proud of and nothing to be awarded for " he said. ' Hildes plans to file a tort claim on behaJf of hi client against the city Kootenai County and other la~ enforcement agencies involved in crowd control for the parade. He aid tlie claim will name individual police officers. Since Kort did not attend the march because he wa at a human rights raJJy at Gonzaga University in Spokane, he aid he did not know much about alleged civil rights abuses by the city and locaJ law enforcement. Norm Gi el, a member of the Task Force on Human Relation said he's delighted with the forth~ coming award. "The ADL . . . is a wonderful o~ganization and they've done much good for.American society " he said. The ADL was formed in 1913 to figh~. hatred, bigot-ry and antisemitism. GisseJ said he trusts the police handled the situation correctly. "Those were very tense times and tense problem and I'm not going to econd guess the police " he said.

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The Anti-Oefamatlon League award to the City of Coeur d'Alene will be presented at acnnony at The Coeur d'Alene Resort on Nov. 18 at noon. The cost Is $10 per person. For men lnformallon cal lhe Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce, (208) 664-3194. Hildes, who said his clients wouJd also be "deeply offended" about the award, aid he further disagreed with the ADL not protesting the parade. "This idea of leaving the town to the Nazis was bad," he said. "As a Jew who' allegedly represented and allegedly protected by the ADL I'm disgusted.' ' Ignoring the Nazis and their ilk has not made them go away, he said. "I lost an awful lot of relatives (in World War D) because people didn't fight back when they shouJd have " he said. ' But Hilde said he did like the Lemons to Lemonade" drive. Gissel said people contributed about $28 000 in the campaign. Other than "Lemons to Lemonade,' though, about the onJy view they hared was a hatred for the Aryan Nation 'philosophies. "Parading the Nazi flag down Sherman Avenue was the most disgraceful, most di gusting thing I ve ever seen " Gissel said. • Staff writer Ken Olsen contributed to \his report. Laura Shireman can be reached at (208) 765-7147 or by e-mail at lauras@spokesman.com .

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Serial killings Police departments compare notes on series of murders/82 To contact lhe North Idaho ofl1ce, dial (208) 765-7100. toll-free (800) 344-6718; Fax: (208) 765-7149

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Opinlon/84

NIC staffer target of racist threat Recipient did not file complaint with police By Heather Lalle ta[[ writer

COE R d'ALENE North ldaho Colle~ employee ha received a I tter that c nlain racial lur b cene language and a death threat. college officials aid. Th recipient, ho e name wa not reLea ed, cho not to file a formal complaint

with e ur d A1 n P lie Department IC legal counsel Dana Wetzel said. Per anally, I find this letter to be both c wardl and ullerl reprehen ible, Nl President Michael Burke aid in a memo 10 all facu lty and taff. North ldah Coll ge pre id nt, I fully intend to continue thi in Htution longstanding upport for a w rking and learning

en ironm nt UlRl i Cree of raci m, hatred and maliciou hara mcnl. · College official would not ay wb ther the recipient of the letter, which w d Liv red to an · IC addre la t w ek, i a member f the cbool' faculty or staff. It · not the first threatening I tter received at the school. In April, day after community lead r attended a human right c Jebrati n, an un igned leUer attacking the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation and task force spoke man and NIC prof sor

Tony St wart showed up in a tudent governm nt ugge tion b x and n veral cars around campu . College officials aid the campu al o has been litt red with Aryan ation pamphlets. Wetzel aid it' unclear whether the late t hat Letter i connected to the Aryan ati ns, a white upremaci t group with a compound in Hayden Lake. ' l don't think an one can a for certain, Wetzel aid. ' There w no Aryan Nation ignatur .


BONNIE HUDLET/Press photo

North Idaho College cultural diversity advisor Mont e Tw in listens to Equality Club president Josh Buehner at a rally Thursday. // ... / 5 ~ 9 f'

,Not NIC tudents, ta.ff rally for diversity

Burk · aid haling aml actively oppo ing hate group may not b produ tiv in th long run. "I would urg u all pr nt h r today to By J OE BUTLER ek Lo find a way pa L halr d, bigotry, preju- · Staff w riter di and raci m." h • aid. "I would argu that a t fall, a group of tudent and taff that way i tl1rough impa ion d y t compasat orth Idaho ollege d cided to ionat di cour . th kind of di our that g t th community tog ther in the lhi olleg mbodi and nurtur in it curfa of incr a · d a tivriculum and in th h art and ity from ar a hat mind f il faculty and taff.' group . would urge 111 rally al O includ d a From the top down, US all present mom nt of ii nee for Mat1h w the colJege community agreed that hepard, U1e h mo xuaJ tuunity i needed lo combat hateful b ere today to dent who wa ' recently beaten to attitude or di crimination. d alh in Wyoming. n TI1ur day, the ame group seek O fi Il d a Organizer hand d out yelheld a ond rally to e what way pa hatred, I w ribbon in hepard' m mtill ne d to b done. . tr · d' ory, lel audi nee memb r ign b1go "Thi v nt today and imiJar Y, preJU tee a ympalhy card [or hi family, v nl to folJow ia the n xt f w and racism.' and al O invited them to ign a month are L timoniaJ lo NIC's pl dg of upp rt to the gay commitment to sp ak out, to take -NIC President and I bian communilie in th high road, to defend the Michael Burke Wyoming. rights of our felJow human ne of the olh r pre eot r being again t inju tic , e pe ialwa Bwana John on, a NIC tuly in our backyard," aid NI Pr id nt d nl and quality club vi pre idenL H said Micha I Burke, the keynote speaker at the ec- relaliv in alifornia always off r to r nt him ond annual Human Div rsity Rally. a -Haul to move Lher , ·aying that Idaho i a About 50 people li ten d to a panel of p ohaven for raci ·t . pl talk ab ut the n d for increa ed dive r ity in rth Idaho and at the olleg . DIVERSITY continued on A10

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DIVERSITY continued from A4 "Thing that happen here happen in other place too," he aid. 'The re t of th country ee ldaho as a place for skinhead . and we ne d to heal thi image." John on aid a big step in improving diver ity is to keep pr judicial thought away from childr n. Mlt i our job to prepare our children for the world ," he aid. "To end them out without preparing them how to work with different race and cultures sets them up for failure ." Every race can represent a finger he aid, and when combined with other fingers. can be a "mighty fist" that can trike blows again t intole rance and racism. Student Le lie Abrams said women are till di criminated against, though change ha come about little by little. There stilJ need to be a trohg r balanc b tween parents balan ing career and hild care. Mont Twin, NI ' cultural div r ity advi or aid love can

b a trong r force than hate. He al o said the college ne ds to do more to how it love for diver ity around campus and in the cla room. All four peak r wer unified in their upport for human right and firm tance against even ca ual light or joke . "I would t LI anyone that the e are inappropriate " Twin said. "I u d lo say nothing and ignor them, but then I realized if you don't ay anything it may be conveyed that you condone the b havior.¡â€˘ om in th audience aid that more peopl hould have come to the rally, and they ar n't sur lh me age of understanding i s inking through to the overall North Idaho ommunity. Tony St wart, fa ulty advisor to th NI student Human Equality lub, aid la t summer' Aryan march and subsequ at count rprotests howed that thou and of people oppo hat . 'The Inland orthw t has pok n out in loud term ," he aid. 'Th d ar being own, but anything a h of you can do will h Ip."

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For human rights

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Jesse Tinsley/fhe Spokesman-Review

• North Idaho College student Rose VIiiareal signs a card of condolence for the family of Matthew Shepard, the University of Wyoming student who was beaten to death last month. NIC President Michael Burke was the featured speaker at the school's human rights rally.


City wins praise for response to parade By Laura Shireman 11,1,1

Staff writer

• COEURd'ALENE-Astbecity : accepted an award Wedne day for 1t c handling of the Aryan Nation parade, iL : braced for el anoU1er one. ::; Th city did the right thing in urging people to tay away from downtown : during the white epamists' parade last :it July, aid Bruce Kort regional director .. oflbe Anti-Defamation Lea~e, an ~ organization known for 1ghnng anti:; Semiti m. He pre ented Coeur d'Alene z and the Kootenai County Task Force on 0 Human Relations an award Wedne day ; for lheir r ponse to the parade. w " It is regretful that the reward for z doing it so well the first time i that you ¡ have t do it all over again," Kort aid. Thal same plan of action - urging Continued: Parade/AB

Kalhy P!onka'TheSpo SIJlllll-Revlew

Sandy Patanao applauds remarks by Bruce Kort of the AntiDefamation League during award luncheon Wednesday.


Parade: Not everyone agrees with assessment

Some ofthose arrested ar last summer's parade objected to the city receiving an award.

Continued from A1

re ident to ta away from downtown - i h w the task force will handle a parade Lhe Aryans plan next summer. ¡ 1 We d like to plan and hold our own party rather than attend (Aryan Nation leader) Richard Butler's party and that will continue to be our philosophy ' said Doug Cre~ell president of the task force. But declining to protest doe not mean re idents hould be silent about white upremacist , said Tony Stewart a North Idaho ColJege profe ' or and ta k force member. It' es ential ab olutely e entiaJ, that the community never remain ilent in the face of hate ' he said. Even within the task force not everyone agrees with taying away from downtown. Rev. Bob Ha eries, of St. Luke's Bpi copal Church in Coeur d'Alene d e not object to people quietly prote ting white upremaci ts. 'Standing on the side of the street and turning our backs i one uobooxious way to do it," said Ha series also a ta k force member. 1 don t think a noi y prote t i appropriate. ' However it' more important to offer alternative activities that support human right than to prote t he aid. But he added: "l would probably make ure there was somebody repre en ting the reljgious community making iJent prote ta well as at the alternative activities." Some of tho e arrested at la t ummer' parade objected to the city receiving an award. Several prote ter were arrested for refu ing to allow police to earch their bag

carrying concealed weapon or refusing to turn over sticks that supported sign. Larry Hildes an attorney representing four prote ter who plan to file a civil suit. against the city, has aid Coeur d'Alene doesn t deserve favorable recognition for its handling of the parade. He claims the city unlawfully seatched his cljents bags. Charge against one of Hildes' clients, Gary Bizek pf Calgary, Alberta were di missed Wednesday. Becau e of a knee injury Bizek used a cane to waJk to the parade, Hilde aid. Police charged him with possession of weapon with the intent of committing as ault after Bizek refused to relinquish the cane. Prosecutors dropped charges after concluding their case couJd not be proven beyond a rea onable doubt,

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according to a motion filed Wednes-

day. One man handed out tlier denouncing the AOL outside the Coeur d'Alene Resort where Wedne day's awards luncheon wa held. "The AOL is the main ource of repre ion against writer , publi hers and revisionist intellectuaJ who represent an alternative viewpoint," said Michael Hoffman, who in the past has circuJated Jiterature suggesting the Holocaust was a myth. 'They're posing a a human rights group and they're not. They're ,a Stalinist group. • Laura Shireman can be reached at (208) 765-7147, or by e-mail at lauras@spokesman.com.


Songwriter inspires students for MLK tribute By BILL BULEY Staff writer

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Sea ttle mu s i ian and ongwrite r mad e hi ro und s to veral North Id ah o hool Monday, in piring th e m to accept diff re n e b twee n pe opl . Tom Hunter vi ited with filth-grade classe in all three el mentary school in Po t Falls, including Ponderosa, Prairie View and )tic , aloog with Winton El m ntary in Coeur d'Alen . Hunt r will vi it the oth r Coeur d'Alene area elementary chools today and Wedn day: The idea i to coll ct th view of fifth-graders in Po t Falls and Co ur d'AJ n chooJ di tri ts on human right and put them into on song. On Thur day, th tud nt

will ing th

ong during a human rig h eel bration at North Idaho College. The theme of thi year' celebration i 'Together We Can Make A World Of Difference." Hunter ¡s quick wit and easygoing manner with his guitar playing and torytelling abilities kept the chiJdr n focused , said Ponderosa teacher Mandy Surratt "He did a wonderful job keeping th ir attention," Surratt aid. "Tom really got the kids involved with the song ." Seltice Elementary teacher Kay HalJ said her students reacted to Hunter just the same way. 'The kid loved his music," sh said. "They were really excit d with what he said." Hunt r's reaction was mutual. 'Thi i all brainstorming. It' the am process I would go

through by myself," he said. 'They can hear how their ideas got into the song." Hunter will use this input with the song he composes. Which is exactly what he wants. While Hunter said he isn't performing before the students, he is instead trying to arouse their imagination through music and words. He urged students not to be afraid to share their ideas, even though they might differ from those of their classmates. "Rather than just presenting something, what rm interesting in is sort of stirring up their thoughts and seeing if I can get some response from them," he said. "In this context, I'm interested in making it as interactive as

"The kids brought up differences they could relate to," she said. "And a lot were very personal to them - things like clothing styles, money, handicaps, race and religion." Hunter, who lives north of Seattle, said he wanted to take on the project because "we live in a culture now where we are more interested in watching a performance." He wants to change that o students learn they, too, can have a good time while haring ideas to create a song. "Songs create a place where we all feel strong together," Hunter said. The students are scheduled to sing the song Thursday at 9:30 am in the main auditorium at NIC .

lean." According to Surratt, that method worked well too.

Staff writer Andrew Biscoe contributed to this story.

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Tom Hunter makes a point about writing folk songs to Winton Elementary students. BILL BULEY

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Sara Haight reacts with laughter and smiles to some of Hunter's antics.

David Coontz, left, and Peter Dahl listen t o Hunter's comments.


A4 THE PRESS Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999

A4 THE PRESS Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1999

Roundup Roundup

Assembly on human rights Thursday at Schuler Auditorium COEUR d'ALENE - Fifth graders from Kootenai County will lend their voices and hearts to campaign for diver ity and tolerance on Thursday. The 14th annual Human Rights assembly at North Idaho College will include music and messages of peace and toleran e. The "Together We Can Make a Difference" assembly begin at 9:30 a.m. in Schuler Auditorium. Each year about 1,200 fifth-grade students from the Po t Fall and Coeur d'Alene school disbicts pack the auditorium to hear messages about human rights. Many tudent will also participate in the a sembly by inging or speaking. The event always coincides with the Martin Luther King Day celebration. It i ponsored by NIC, NIC's Human Equality tub, both school disbict and the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation . The task force will al o pr sent $6 000 to local teachrs Thursday to be used for grants promoting diversity. The grant will be funded by money raised during la t year' ul..emon to Lemonade ' pledge drive.

'Lemons, Lemonade' grant recipients to be announced today COEUR d' ALENE - Area tudents will r ap om of lhe fruit of a nationwid campaign launched la t umm r lo promot diver ity and toleranc . oordinat d by the Kootenai County Ta k Force for Human Relation , the "Lemons to Lemonade" program more than $30,000 wa rai ed for future program . Th amount wa bas d on each minut that upporter of the Aryan Nation marched through downt wn Co ur d'Al ne. Thi morning task force m mb rs will announce . ,600 in grant to local teachers for program that will en ourage diversity and multi uJtural activitie . Thi i lhe .fir t round of grant . Ta k fore memb r hope, v ntually, to fund at lea t $22 000 in grants. Th grant will b announ ed at 9 a.m. today at North Tdaho Colleg . hool that will benefit from the grants includ Canfield Middle hool, Fernan Elem ntary, Priest River El mentary, Hayden Lake Elementary and Heyburn El meatary. TI1e Human Equality Club at NI i al o among the li t of grant winners.


age B2

Friday, January 22, 1999

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People in society

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations asked participants in Monday's Martin Luther King Day celebration in Coeur d'Alene what they desire for their community. Here are some of the replies:

My dream for the community is: • That more diver e culture can live peacefully in our area. The opportunities will be bound le , not onJy for u now, but for our future generation . -Willi Buerge • To walk down th treet of Coeur d'Alene and see many different hade of kin color and have many different language . -Judy Whatley • That everyone will be treated equally. That you LI be judged on your in ide in tead of your outside. That people won't be afraid to have the courage of peaking out for who they are. -Helen Nordllnd, age 13 • To provide encouragement direction and re pect to the area' young people through mentoring programs that will help them reach important goal in their live . - Cathy Schaefer

• That everyone will have the courage, the trength and the hope to walk down the treet without the fear of somebody judging them by the color of their kin but for people to acknowledge them by who they actually are. -Kathryn Custer, age 13. • For the community to unite and fight prejudice and inju Lice . We need to love our neighbor and give each other a hand. - Mary Zlchko • Where the citizen can feel safe from harm -where especially the children can play freely out of their parent' sight. - Katie True, 52 . That we will realize that ace pting difference in other lead to the development f better people and the enlargement of our pirit . -Wes Hanson • That thi world will be able t live together in peace and love for each other. We are all God' children o that mean we are all brothers and sisters. - Rocky Zabel • That hatred will be changed into under tanding among all of us. That the cocoon of ignorance and fear will split apart, allowing the dazzling butterfly f peace to fly upward in expre: ion of all our better nature . -Jane Brooks

• For everyone to like each other no matter what color their skin i . - Sophia Armstrong, age 7 • That we can ri e above the reputati n we have been given by a very very mall group. - Richard Kingsley • For a world where my children and future generation will be able to make racism and big try a part of our nation s past-Bob Spring

• A quality of life that provide peace happine opportunity and appreciation to all citizens o they can work play and Live together in harmony. -Janelle Burke • That we will grown in diversity a we al o grow in love. - Judy Hyatt • For monthly community activitie dedicated to promoting the variou a pect of human right and relations. - Lyn Dantlng • To work together, offer more ducation and training for the poor and ingle mom . -Jane Reid • That ome day there will be no homele people. Where they can have helter,.food and a good education no matter what color they are. -Vanessa Mares, age 13 • That North Idaho can become an area known not for hatred and intolerance, but for it dedication to human right and human equality. That people of every race, religion and sexual orientation would feel free to come here, knowing they are being welcomed with open hearts and open minds. - Jennifer James • That we may in pire each other and enjoy the uniquene inherent to every person. -Mary Anderson • That all people can be free from the inju tice of di crimination from economic , gender, race, age religion, di ability and sexual orientation - only then Dr. King' dream will be complete. -Josh Buehner • That all our community member , regard le of age, race, ex or religion would take the time to bare their individual talent with the children of our great city. - Cassie Brag, 35

• That we all can continue to have dreams. That our freedoms in this country will be preserved to allow our dream to come true. That our children futures will be met with a surance that their right will be preserved and their dreams realized. - Dan Austin • That all faith communitie will recognize, accept and demonstrate respect for one another. - Bob Hasserfes • That tho e member of our community and state who believe that injustices are being done will not be' afraid to peak out for fear of retribution by those person who would choose to enforce their will upon them. Ju t as the black people endured the oppression of the white majority, o mu t tho e who di agree with Idaho' dominant political party al o endure and speak out. - Starr Kelso

• That we begin to realize the importance of teaching our children from birth through school and on into ociety that all people are equal. With each new generation we would achieve a kinder more caring society. -Carol Casey • That the mall beginning that we have made tonight may continue to grow without opposition until we don't need to think about it - it will become a second nature! - Ray, Leslie, Megan and Zack Theander


By TRICIA JO WEBSTER Staff writer

Ju

t after Chri tma "hate litrature" debunking the Rev. Billy Graham wa found on the parish haJI lable · of t. Luke' Episcopal Church. TI1e lilerature compiled by Thoma Robb, h ad of the Ku Klux Klan in Arkan as, also urg d pari hioner to take a closr look a their own religiou I ade .

Rev. B b Ha eries believes St. Luke' wa targeted by the

Chri tian Identity Movement becau Ha· ries is "the clergyman mo t publicly identified with oppo ing raci m and antimitism.'' he said. Hi church aJ o has mixed-

closed for 11.KDay COEUR d'ALaNI Today i Martin Luther

King Day. Most state and federal office are cloaed. There will be no mail. Ho~. hank bl'llD(~ al ome upe~ be open, a wlll mo t businesses. Coeur d'Alene, Post Fall and Lakeland school dis· tricts wiU also be closed. as we11 as North Idaho College.


race members, couples who have adopted children of color and has mi~ sionaries in Honduras. But Hasseries is not alone. He is a member of Diakonia, a group of area religious leaders who focus on serving their community's needs with the belief that there is "love for all, favoritism for none," Hasseries said. Followers of the Christian Identity Movement don't agree with this belief system, Hasseries said. They want peo, p1e to choose which culture is best,

which race is best, which religion is

best

"God has no favorites,• Hasseries

said. "Diakonia'a concern is not with flagrant racist anti-Semeties," he said. .rwe're concerned about the infiltration of local churches by subversive racists and anti-Semetics." Subversive tactics are becoming the weapon of choice for the Christian Identity movement, according to Hasseries.

Christian Identity followers will "join the church, become active members and then begin to raise questions leading to a division within the congregation ," he said. "It's the oldest method of intimidation," Hasseries said, " disruption within the ranks." Oiakonia was made aware of such "subversive" activities a couple of months ago when one of its members

FAVORITES continued on A2

••

A2 THE PR ESS M onday, Jan. 18, 1999

FAVORITES

continued from A 1

read of th n w hristian Identity trategy in som Christian magazin s. he brought it to the attention of fellow Diakonia members and they d cided to tak ome prev ntiv m asures again t it, Hasseries said. The grou p decided to host an address by usan DeCam p, a r nown ed exp rt on the Christian Id ntity Movement, in Coeur d'Alene. De amp erve as the coordinator of th e Montana A ociation of Churches and co nd u t work hops throughout th region. He r publicati on ar u. ed by the Unit d Meth odi t hurch and the Chri tian Chu rch-Disciple of hrist to al rt th ir members about th hri tian Identity rnov m nt' "me age of hate." ·1 00 many p ople ar till taking thi movem nt too lig htly," Ha serie said. ·

He hopes the public will attend the discussion in order to become better informed with what the Christian Identity movement is attempting to do. "Susan (DeCam p) knows the questions they ask. She knows their tactics, and she wants u to know about them also," Hasseries said. Tony Stewart, a member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, said 'This is an excellent way of briefing the public. It will enlig hten many, many people about the depth of the Christian Identity movement." Hasseries is looking forward to the chance to educate himlf, fellow religious leaders and the faith community he erves. "If we're informed, we are going to be better equipped and prepared," he said. "Keeping my foc us in the midst of turmoil is something I've been accustomed to fo r a long time," he said, uand I can handle intimidation."

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Clinton proposes still more cigarette taxes May rise 55 cent per pack/Cl

'Lemons to Lemonad ' grants awarded/ A5

Friday Jan. 15, 1999

Partly cloudy

The Hayden Lake chorus sings during the celebration.


JOY NEWCOMB/Preu photos

Left, Tes Schaefer, 10, left, and Danielle Reed, 10, of Hayden Lake Elementary sing "Free at Last" during the Martin Luther King Celebration Friday night at the St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Above, Amelia Phillips, member of the Kootenai County Task Force talks about her dreams for future generations in our area and throughout the world.

Speaker at St. Pius luelday Faith communities respond to forces that would divide them

Susan Decamp will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 625 E. Haycraft Ave. There are two sessions, one for pastors, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and one for the public, from 7-9 p.m. All pastors attending the first session should call 765-5108 for lunch.eon reservations. The public is asked to register before the evening meeting at 6:30 p.m. Both sessions will be guided by Zachary Bruce, administrative assistant for the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment. • •


1,200 students collaborate on anthem for celebration

T

om Hunter trummed hi guitar, looked out at the students packed into Schuler Auditorium at North Idaho College. and miled. "I feel lik I have a whole bunch of new friend in Idaho," he said, laughing. He does. After all, he collected input from more than a 1,000 fifth-graders in Kootenai County's public chools and weaved it into one song that ould mak a big difference in North Idaho. Even a world of difference. Hunter, a songwriter from the Seattle area, pent three days visiting fifth-grade classroom in Post Fall and Co ur d'Alene this week to come up with a song for them to sing at Thursday's 14th annual Human Rights Celebration. He asked students their view on what made people strong, what made them kind and what made them different. He tied in their comments with his own musical talents to come up with a song. "'There' 1,200 songwriters in this," he said. Hunter put the finishing touches on the composition Thursday morning, just before he had to present it to the students. All of them sat in front of Hunter and enthusiastically belted it out a he led the way. The song goes like this:

"A world ol omarence" Together we can make a world of difference A different kind of world where differences make people strang Together we can make a world of difference . Where different or the same we'll know that everyone belongs Different bodies, skin and clothes, different way to move and grow Hobbies, sports, music, shows, things we like to do Different things to Jiope and fear, to help, support, encaurage, cheer So come and join us over here, we'll make room for you The history of human rights is changing ¡wrongs to make the right Using laws and truth to fight, like Martin Luther King To make sure everyone has room, starts right here in our classroom By listening for what we can do to welcome different in Being strong is attitude, as much as exercise and food It's in your heart and what you do to leave put-dawns behind So let's let difference make us proud, as we keep on showing how We can connect right here and how, to help each other shine. Hunter's visit to the area was paid for by funds raised in the "Lemon to Lemonade" campaign last year.


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Students celebrate freedoms, differences at MLK holiday program Stories by BILL BULEY Staff writer f the United States government tried banning ice cream and chocolate, Umbriel Temiraliev knows what would happen. An uprising. But in the former Soviet Union, if the government decided people could no longer have those same treats, the reaction of the public would have been vastly different, Temiraliev said. They would have accepted il They had no choice. "What the government said goes," said Temiraliev, a senior at Coeur d'Alene High School and former resident of the Soviet Union. "In the former Soviet Union, people were afraid of the government They were afraid to speak freely." That's why he urged students gathered at North Idaho College's Schuler Auditorium 111ursday to appreciate the freedoms they have in the United States and to fight for them

I

when necessary. "Be less naive and more skeptical,'1 Temiraliev said. Freedom, equality and the right to be different were celebrated at the 14th annual Human Rights Celebration Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Program. About 1,200 fifth-graders from Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene school districts participated in the event titled "Together we can make a world of difference.'' Students sang "Free at Last," danced to the song, "Respect," presented paper "Children of the World" and read statements about bow they believe they can make a difference. "We know different is good,'' said Pam Pratt. principal at Fernan Elementary School. Josh Buehner of the North Idaho College Human Equality Club who emceed the event, asked students not to just think of Martin Luther King as a man who was a champion of civil rights. Instead, he told them they should focus on what is Martin Luther King. ''I think Martin Luther King is me and you," Buehner said. "1 think Martin Luther

King is black and white:' In prepared statements, fifth-graders promised to try and work together. Rachel Sandford of Hayden Lake Elementary said courage and nonviolence were the best ways to stop hatred and injustice. Amanda Webster of Dalton Elementary said people should be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. "We can celebrate how different we are, yet we are the same, we are people," she said. Temiraliev urged students to "never be afraid'' to speak out against wrong. His great-grandfather was sentenced to 10 years in prison because he publicly said he didn't like the Soviet regime. "Every human being has the right of freedom,·• Temiraliev said. Guest speaker Franziska Koenig said she was glad to be in the United States. She was 8 years old and living in East Germany when the Berlin Wall was finally toppled. "I wouldn't be here if the Wall hadn't come down," she said.


First 'Lemons to Lemonade' grants awarded By JOE BUTLER Staff writer

COEU R d' ALENE - Four elementary chools a middle school, a college tudent organization and a singer will be the fir t recipient of grants from the community response to last year's Aryan Nations downtown march. More than $35,000 were rai ed from la t summer's "Lemons to Lemonade drive, which a ked people to pledge money for the amount of time the Aryans marched in Coeur d'Alen . Th money wa clivid d up among lo al and national human right group . Th Kootenai County Task Force on Human R lation , which received about 23,000, decided to give the money to educational programs that promote diversity, to lerance and

multiculturalism. This i a great day " said ta k force member Tony Stewart as the fir t $8,500 jo grant were announced. Another $12 000 will be available later this year. The grants will pay for books, videotapes. peakers, singers and othe r teaching materials and visual aids. Stewart said eve r y grant application that wa turned in was completely funded . Here i a summary of some ofth grant : • Carol J. Griffin a teacher at Priest River Elementary, will r ceive $1,289 for a collection of books and video about human rights, cultural diver ity and conflict resolution. The money will benefit 569 students along with counselors and tea hers. • Fern.an Elementary teacher Teri Hamilton and parent volun-

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teer Linda Jacquot received $1,500 to buy 30 multicolored lycra dance bag to u e in music, drama and physical education programs. • Lisa Timmon of Hayden Lake Elem ntary received $500 for a election of multicultural books including those from Asian and African cultures. The grants al o include teacher resources.


,otenai County/Continued From •••

THE PRESS Friday, Jan. 15, 1999 AS

BILL BULEY/Press photos

Guest speaker Alisa Klots, a Russian resident visiting North Idaho, smiles while students applause after she sang a song at the Human Rights Celebration at North Idaho College Thursday.


Money to leam The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations gave schools the following amounts Thursday to purchase educational materials to promote human rights: • Canfield Mlddle School, Coeur d'Alene-$440 • Heyburn Elementary, St Maries-$700 • Priest River Elementary, Priest River - $1 ,290 • Fernan Elementary, Coeur d'Alene-$1 ,500 • North Idaho College Human Equality Club, Coeur d'Alene-$1 ,500 • Hayden Lake Elementary, Hayden Lake - $500 • Tom Hunter, a songwriter who conducted classes in music and human rights in Kootenai County this week, was paid $2,600.

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Doug Cresswell, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, second from right, announces the task force donations to areas schools from 'Lemons to Lemonade' pledge money. From left, Carol Griffin of Priest River Elementary, Jim Minkler, NIC social science division chairman, task force member Tony Stewart and Judy Whatley, task force vice president, listen during a press conference Thursday morning. ANDRE NEY/Press photo

• J ea nne Ree e from Canfie ld M iddle h ool re eived $350 to bring the prog ram Th rough the Ey s of a Frie nd" back to the school. The drama foc u e on th e tal e of Anne Frank, a Jewi h teenager who penned he r though while hidi ng from th e a zi in Holland during World War II.

• Lynn Eccle from Heyburn Ele me ntary receiv d $700 to bring a ' Living Voj e " program to the · chool wstrict. The program ailed "The Right to Dream," u theat r, vid o a nd di us ion group to pas on torie abou t ivil right truggle in the 1950 . • North Idah o Coll ege'

Human Equality Club received $1 500 to go toward a human right seminar planned thi year. • ing r and ongwrit r Tom Hunter rec ived $2,600 to help ar a tud nt reate song about diversity. Each of the recipient picked up their awards Thur day. The task force ha al ready begun to accept application for the next round of grant . The money a k d for can be a larg a $1 500. Th application mu t deal with an ducational program for children. Applicants mu t be from any of the publi or private chool in North Idaho. Application form are availabl through tewar t and an b ubmitted anytime betwe n prior to O t. 15. Each will be r v iewed by the ta k fo re grant committ Informati n: 769-3325


Race for rights King's legacy inspires Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls students By Ali on Bogg

C ta ff writer

OEUR d'Al..E - Ko tenai County fifthgrader eem determined to eradicate raci m and prejudice. ome 1,200 of them from Coeur d Alene and Po t Fall cho 1di trict attended theJ4th annual human right celebration Thur day morning, in h nor of Martin Luther King Jr. One b one. tud nt paraded aero the tage at Bo ell Hall Shuler Audjtorium t make taremen promoting diver ity and equality, fri ndship and ki.ndne to all people. regardle of race religion or other difference . Idaho hould improve law that ' tick up for human right ' aid Megan Frank ofBorah Elementary chool. "Let omeone new play with you and your friend , even

if he or he looks a little different," aid Ju tin

Vandergriend of Pernan Elementary. P opl hould ju t try to get along bett r aid loire Aode on of Bryan Elementary. If ou're nic lo everyone, they' ll be nice to you. Why i. that o hard ?" be a ked. Good que ti n. Thi year vent fall ju. r ix m nth a[1 r the Aryan Nation paraded through downt wn C eur d'Alene, trump ting their me age of while upremacy. They believe being different i not good,'' Pam Pratt, principal of Fernan El mentary, t Id rhe tudent . But. be aid 'We know being different i good. ' T date Kootenai ounty human right organization , in a cru ad labeled "Lem n to Lemonade," hav rai ed more than $35 .from people who pledged variou. Continued: Rights celebratlon/82

•


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Members of the Fernan Elementary Character Leadership Team pump up a human rights celebration at North Idaho College on Thursday by dancing to Aretha Franklin's 'Respect."


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Human rights groups supportlawsuit against Aryans By MIKE McLEAN Staff writer

Human right I ad r ar h ring about a law uil filed again t Aryan Nations l ad r Richard Butler and memb r of hi ecurity fore by a Bonner County woman and her on, who ar victim of an alleged a aul . The uil wa lodged lat Monday in 1 t Di trict Court by C ur d'AL n attorn y and human right activist Norman Gis el. He wil1 rec iv a i !'an e from famed lawyer Morri D and hi high-powered legal t am from th national anti-hate orga nization

Southern Poverty Law C nt r of Montgomery, Ala. Th uil all g Vi Loria Keenan and h r n Ja on wer driving on Rimrock Road near 1h Aryan ation compound on July 1 when memb r of th urity fore chased them for more than two rnil , hot at them with a ault rifl s, detained th m, battered them and lhr ateoed to kill th m." A K otenai C unty heriff d t ctive who inve tigat d th incident r ported th Keenan 'car had five bull l hot and a t:ir h t out. Doug Cr swell, chairman of the Kool nai County Ta k For ¡e on

Human R lation , w lcom d th 1 gal action. ''I'm glad the K nans decid d to pur ue i Lhrough ivil hannel ," h aid. 'Mayb thi will help au lh shutdown of h compound. When those kinds of behavior occur becau e of Butler and hi curity force , th y need to b held ac ountable. res well i al o encouraged that Gis el, a memb r of th La k for board of director , wa abl to enli t th help of an att rney with D ' r putatio n of bringing down white uprema i t group . Tony Stewart, anoth r member of

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Rights celebration: 'His dream is within all of us,' club leader says Continued from 81 amounts of money for each minute the march la ted. Earlier Thur day morning. $8, 30 of that money wa. di tributep 10 ·chools to promote diver. ity programs. For example, Priest River Elementary received $l 290 to buy books and videos that promote tolerance and racial equality. North Idaho College' · Human Equality Clu b received $1,500 to conduct a human right min.ir. Jo h Buehner, president of the club. served .i. master of ceremonies Thur day and a ked the tudents to 1hink .ibout what King meant to them. · " I think Martin Luther King Jr. i

in me and you," Buehner said. ' He is black and white, Jewi hand Catholic. His dream is within all of us.' Students from . e ery school had created paper dolls, each one representing a different country. The doll were pasted around a giant poster of the w rld, until the globe wa. circled with doll symbolizing countrie like Thai land, Mongolia, Egypt, Sweden, Scotland, Japan Honduras and South Korea. Foreign ~xchange tudent from Germany. Russia and Kyrgyz tan al. o spok 10 the tudent about life in their c untries. Franziska Koenig of Germany i a senior at Coeur d'Alene High School. he talked about growing up and playing next to the Berlin Wall. She

aid he alway wondered what was on the other side. When the wall came down in 1989, Koenig was 8 year old. We were so happy, ' he said. '·AJI t.he people were so friendly. 1 couldn't be here if the wall hadn't come down.'' Umbriel Temiraliev, of Kyrgyzstan, formerly part of the Soviet Union, talked about freedom of speech. His great-grandfather was impri oned becau. e he poke out against the government Temiraliev aid. ' People were afraid to speak freely," he said. "The U.S: is the biggest and best example of freedom and democracy. Maintain this tradition and appreciate what you have because you guy. are going to run this country." • Alison Boggs can be r.eached at (208) 765-7136 or by e-mail at a1isonb@spokesman.com. I


the task force, said the Keenans couldn't have better lawyers working on their behalf. He said Gissel is knowledgeable about local history and has a special interest in civil rights law. "Morris Dees is an extraordinary civil rights attorney," Stewart added. Stewart said Dees has not only won similar cases, but he has forced hate groups to turn over their assets to plaintiffs. In some cases, courts have even awarded the future earnings of hate groups to Dees' clients. "It's an incredibly effective use of the law to protect the victim," he said.

Bill Wassmuth, executive director of the Seattle-based Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, said the case is significant "People have the right to drive down a public road without fear of being attacked by such vigilante activity," he said. Wassmuth, a fonner Coeur d'Alene resident, was once a rarget of a bomb detonated by members of the Order 2, an Aryan splinter group. He said Butler and the Aryan Nations compound has spawned violence throughout the past two decades. LAWSUIT continued on A&


-REY11BW an Nations sued ·over allege IT l ON OF

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NEWS ONLINE : WWW.SPOKANE.NET

Large judgment could bankrupt supremacist group c 1999, The pokesmtm-Review

By Bill Marlin taff writer

Th Aryan Nations is being ued by a nationally known c1 il right organization tbal want to bankrupt Richard Butler and his hite supremacy chu1ch. Th outhem Poverty Law Center filed the civil uit Monda in Kootenai County o er an a ault alJegedJ carried out la t umrner by at lea t thr e Aryan ecurity guards. The la\ ·uit i the legal trategy of Morri Dee ,

INS IO E

• The Southem Poverty Law Center has had great success in court with battles against racism./Page A4

a Montgomery. Ala., civil right attorney and a longtime foe of the Aryan Nati n the Ku Klux Klan and other whit upremacy group.

Similar uit by Dees and hi la\ center over the past 20 ear have bankrupt or put a severe financial pinch on five other raci t organization , including the Klan. A large judgment could force Butler to urrender the Aryan Nations compound and other et ·. Butler, who tur

81 next month wa almo t at

a lo for word hen told Monday evening that be is being ued by Dees. The Aryan leader bad not en a copy of the uit which is expect d to be served on him today. ' I never knew anything about the as ault until a week after it happened,'' the Aryan founder aid. 'I don't have any other omment." His longtime attorney Everett Hofmei ter, cou.Jdn t b reached for mm at. Civil right leader throughout the region applauded the uit. They expre ed hope. it will lead to the unraveling of the Aryan Natlon , a white upr macy hot p t in the region for almo "t a quarter century. "That would be ju t fine if tru law uit would Continued: Aryan Natlons/A4


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Jesse Edward Wartleld, loreground, coordinated security lor last year's march through downtown Coeur d'Alene. Richard Butler is seated al left In the vehicle.


Aryan Nations: Unspecified damages sought Continued from A1 re ulL in clo iag that compound down aid Doug Cre swell chairman of the Kootenai County Ta. k ForceonHumaa Right. The uit wa filed in Kootenai Count Di trict Court by Coeur d' Alene attorney Norman Gi el who is affiliated in the legal action with the Pov rry Law Center ba ed in Montgomery, Ala. G" I and De declined comment. VicUm. of the a ault and plafotiff · in th ca ar Vi t ria K enan, 42, of Coeur d Al n and her 19- earold son fa on who now lives in Seattle. The defendan ar~ Aryan Nation al known as the Church of Jesu Chri t Chr_i tian, and Saphire Inc.,

the corporati n that own the Aryan compound near Hayden .Lake. Also named are Butler, his former ecurity chief Je Edward Warfield· John S. Yeager, Shane Wright and thr e unidentified J hn Doe. . Warfield 43, i the onJ pe on currently chacg d criminally for the as ault. Yeager and Wright current whereabout aren't known. ' The Keenan were a ·aulted and terrorized on a public road by members of the curity force for the Aryan Nati n ,· aid the uit. Jt eeks un pe ifi.ed damage for a ault battery faJ e impri onrnenl intentional infliction of emotional cli tre s and reckle and negligent conduct.. The suit ma not go to trial for at I a ta year, and th defen e may try to move the ca e out of Kootenai County. The trial of a imilar lawsuit filed by Dees in l990 again t the White Aryan R i lane (WAR) co t the city of Portland$ ,000 for ecurity. Coeur d'Alene May r St ve Judy reached for comment in Boi e, aid the uit i evidence 'of one mor way

thi community i, tanding up to the e bate mongers. ' "It' a tatement about how ur community a a whole i making a ·tand for human right ,'' Judy aid.· l think the community will be glad LO ee thi ." Bill Was muth the director of the Northwe t CoaliLion Against Maliciou Hara ment aid the uit wa an appropriate re pon e t ·'Aryan vigilante who believ the are above the law. "'Over the year , Richard Butler' Aryan Nation ha attracted people into the area who have no re pect for law and order ' Was muth aid. "Thi kiad of lawle· ae d e n t repre ent the good people of Idaho or the region he said. A jury will now have an opp rtunity in this civiJ case to deal with this Im I sne .·• Brue Kort regional director of the Anti-Defamation League al o prai ed the Southern P verty Law Center for filing the uir. Go get 'em, Kort aid from hi eartle office. Tony Stewart a founding member of the Kootenai County human rigbt

Rle/lhe Spokesman-Aevlew

Edward Jesse Warfield laces criminal charges In the alleged assault. t k ~ r e ·aid h and thers ar amaz d'' 1hat Dee agr ed co take the case.


' I consider Morris Dees the mosteffective attorney in tbe country, even globally, in bringing civil suit against hate group " tewart aid. The LO-page complaint allege that Butler aod Saphire lnc. 'authorized the Aryan ecurity force to u e violence· again t anyone con idered a threat. Butler wa n't involved in tbe a ault but the Aryan kinhead guard acted under hi upervision and control the uit all ge . The incident occ.uned la t July 1 about two weeks before Butler and 1 of bi Aryan and neo-Nazi follower marched tl'lrough downtown Coeur d'Alene. Butler aid he ord red increa ed ecurity at bi 19-acre Aryan compound after receiving death threats. The suit says Victoria Keenan and her son stopped their car about 10 p.m. on July l near the entrance to the Aryan compound on Rimrock Road. The Keenan stopped to earch for Ja on Keenan' billfold that 'had inadvertently fallen out of the car." After the young man retrieved hi

wallet the Keenan were driving away when their 1977 Da un backfired, the uit says. Immediately Warfield Wright and Yeager and a many as three other unidentified skinhead ' left the Aryan compound in a truck and began chasing the Keenan ."' The security guard chased the Keenan car for more than two miles down Rimrock Road, ·' hot at them with as. ault rifles, detained them, battered them and threatened to kill them ' the u.it ·ay . The Keenan ' car which careened into a ditch during the chase, wa hit by at I a t five bullet fr m an a ault rifle a sheri(:fs report aid. Sh oting into the Keenan car on a public road urrouoding aod detaining them pointing firearms and threatening to kill them ·'were extreme and ourrageou act , ' the uit say. • Bill Morlin can be reached at (509) 459-5444 or by e-mail at billm@spokesman.com.


Targeted by hate groups, Dees also has their number Marlin Legal war BytaffBill writ~r punctuated Morri Dee i the No. l a as ination byname- targel of violenl white upremaci t . The calling, hare him a much a the ew World Order. firebombing But their threat name-calling and even

Lifi magazine listed Dee as one of 199 'Heroe of the Year f r hi legal accompl' hmeots.

a firebombi ng of Dee office in Montgomery Ala., haven t topped b¡ legal war again t white upremacy gr up and their leader. His legal work man ay, mak l1im the pre-eminent civil right Jawy r in the nited States. m caU him a latter-day larence Darrow.

The 62-year-old co-founder of the outhero Poverty Law Center in Montgomery is the ma termind behind a civil uit filed Monday that will attempt t bankrupt the Aryan Nation . The law uit bould be legendary, co tly

Ale/The Spolcesman-Revlew

Continued: Dees/A4

Morris Dees has a perfect record in lawsuils against white supremacist groups.

Now, he co.ming I North ldab Lo battle .Richard Butler and the Aryan Nati n in a Coeur d Alene courtroom.


Dees: Attorney tries to keep a low profile Continued from A1

Later while attending law h I h founded a nationwide direct-mail b ok publi lung company. e also became increa ing[y active in the civil right movement of the 1960 . · B for be turned 30 De was a millionaire. Hi bu ine succe s led him to become finance direct r for rhe pr idential campaign of McGovern in 1972. Carter in 1976 and Kennedy in 1980.

and cont nti u . D e, and hi uth rn Po erty Law enter D e old bis mail-order bu ine for $6 million have run other white upremacy mgan.izati n out in 1969 to the Times-Mirror Co. D e aid the of busine · \ ith imilar law uitl. ·'pull and tug of my con cience · plunged him The Aryan ation uit i th ixth maj r ca full-time into civil right law. of it kind brought b D es. He hasn't lo. tone yet. By 1970 he began forming the Southern D . and Poverty Law Center attorney , inPoverty La\ Center with Jo eph Levin Jr. Dee cluding chief counsel Richard Cohen, represent u ed hi direct-mail talent to build the centers without charge people who have been victim of ndowment which today exceed $63 mmion. The radall m tivated crime . center has a . taff of 55. Ju t la t ummer De s won a 7. million The ceoLCr' fir t office in Montgomery was judgment in South Carolina again t a Ku Klux fireb mbed in 19 3 and there have been everal Klan group re pon ible for burning d wn a ' erious attempt to kill Dees. predominate! black church. The verdict again. t B yond the threat on hi life Dee ha the hri t ian. Knight · of the Ku Klux Klan developed hi hare of other critics, too. includ d $15 million in punitive damage.. He i twice divorced, and legal paper from ''That jury deci, ion wa a day of reckoning for tho e proc eding are widely di ttibuted by white the Klan." De aid after the trial ended. "The v rdict ·how that there are . till ome thing acred in the country, till ome line that no one can cro ." upremacist looking to weep dirt hi way. Dee. do n't talk about hi. ca e until they've The daily new paper in his hom town tb been decided by a jury. Montgomery Adverti er al ha publi bed unHe d e n't grant interview before or during a flattering torie about Dee and U1 · Poverty Law trial and deliberately attempt to keep a low Cent~r.. In 1992 the new paper ran article profile. que ttonmg why th re were no blacks in the For the Aryan Nation ca. e he collaborated center' top management. with Co ur d'Alen attorney Norm Gi.sel a longAnd the center -and D e have been criticized time civil right activi land unaba hed admir r of for u ing hate crimes against minoriti . LO olicit Dees. donations for tbe Poverty Law enter. · I never thought in my wilde t dreams that l'd De bru he off th critici m and a s hi be trying a ca e with Morri Dee . aid Gi el a record how hi life-long commitment t civil ljfe-long Idaho re ident. Dee wa born in 1936 in Shorter Ala .. the son rigbt . of a farmer and cotton gin operator. Hi grandfather wa in the Ku Klux Klan. • Bill Mor11n can be reached at (509) 459-5444 or by Hi parent didn't que tion egregation but e-mail at billm@spokesman.com. b th treated .black and minoritie with genuine re pect, Dee wrote in hi. autobi graphy 'A Season for Ju tice. ' Hi mother, Dees write , invite~ black friend t it at the family dinner table a he helped them fill out papetwork for public assi tance. A a boy growing up in the outh, Dees recalls he received a whipping from hi father for calling a field band a " nigger. ' Dee wa activ in agriculture during high ·chool and wa · hono'red in 1955 by the Alabama Future Farme of America. He · Id watermelon and chicken to help pay his way to the Univer ity of Alabama but agricu lture wasn't hi calling. He dabbled in poli.ti and worked in L958 for populi t Alabama gubernatorial candidate George Wallace. oon, the two Alabamian became di.am Irie.illy opposed. Once in college, De tarted a dire t-mail birthda ake bu ines .


Associated Press

Standing in front of a statue of Martin Luther King Jr., Morris Dees, right speaks to a crowd in Raleigh, N.C., after receiving Ku Klux Klan paraphrenalia as part of a civil settlement in 1993.


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Forced KKK to turn its headquarters overto lynching victim's mother

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Th ouLhern Povert Lm cnl r \ a founded in 1971 in M nlgomery. Ala., by allorney Mo.rri Dee and Jo eph Levin Jr. It elf-d crib d mis i n i. t "'win equal right. for poor p ople and min itie by taking high-impact, higb-ri k ca that few attorney have the resource· to tackl . ' In 19 J, the center created Klanwa1ch. an organization that ira k. activiti , of more than 4 raci I and net -Nazi gr up. Th c nter al ha fil d oumcr u law, uit over the past three decade , including ome aimed at hutting down raci t gr up . Dee handle mo t of the c urtr m work. Here are . me f Dee.· and tbe c nler' mo ·1 ignificant ca e : • Sued the YM A in Montg mcry, Ala., in l 6 for bl eking lack fr m u ing it swimming p ol . A federal judge later ordered an end to the di criminatory practice. • Brought an affirmative action uit in L972 that challenged the racial makeup

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f the Alabama tat Troop r . The center won a court order later affirmed b the U.. Supr me Court, requiring the tate t hire one black trooper for every , hite trooper until blade made up 25 p rcent of th force. • Filed the fir l su ces ful ex di cnmmation ca again t the federal government in 1973. The U.S. Supreme C urt later ruled a uncon titutional Department of Defen e regulation granting certafo benefit to endcemen but not their dep ndent. . • ued the lnvi ible Empire of the Knight of the Ku Klux Klan in 1979 after 100 of it. m mber u ed bat. , ax handle and gun ia a lash with ci ii right march r in Decmur. Ala. ft wru che center' fir t lawsuit again t a white : upremacy organization. The FBI inve Ligated the allegation but couldn't find nough e idence for criminal civil right pr cution. . Th law uit wa. re lved in 1990, with Khm men ordered to pa damages, perform community ervice and top their hite supr macy aclivi . The al had to attend a cla about race relation and prejudice taught by the civil right group lead r, anacked in 197 .

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• Brought a uit in 19 l on behalf of Vietname e immigrant fi h nnen in Galveston Texa . who e boat were burned' by th€ Knight of the Ku Klux Klan. One of the defendant was Te a Klan leader Loui Beam who later became 'amba ador at large' for the Aryan Nation . . A court order ended the intimidation by the KJan and hut down it paramilitary training ba e . • Sued the White Patriots Party in North Carolina in 1984, alleging it illegally obtained tolen military weapon and u d . . military per nnel to train Klan recruits. A {'ury d cided the Whit Patriot wa. an ii egal paramilitary army, and ordered it di banded. everal member later were onvicted in .a plot to blow up the Southern Poverty Law Center in retaliation. • Won a hi toric $7 million judgment again t the United Klan of America in 1987. Two members earlier were c nvicted for the lynching of a 19-year-old black man Michael Donald who wa hanged from a tree. A a result of Lhe suit, the United Klan wa forced to tum over its headquarter in Mobile, AJa., to Donald mother Beulah Mae Donald. In the 1960 , the United Klan had

threatened civil right Freedom Riders, murdered civil right worker Viola Liuzza during the Selma-to-Montgomery civil right march and blew up Birmingham's Sixteenth Street Bapti t Church, killing four young black girl . • Won a $1 million verdict in 19 8 against two Klan organization including the lnvi ible Empire and ll Klan men who attacked an interracial march in Forsyth County, Ga. In 1994 the Invisible Empire leader wa forced to pay damage and di band hi organization. The KKK office equipment was given to the NAACP. • Convinced a jury in Portland to award $9 million to the family of a black man, Mulugeta Seraw who wa beaten to death by neo-Nazi kinheads. The 1990 judgment was against White Aryan Rei ranee (WAR) and it founder Tom Metzger and hi on, John Metzger. WAR and its leaders were accu ed of inciting the murd r. The judgment i being paid off by a court rru tee who intercept contributions made to Metzger WAR organizatjon. • Brought a 1993 uit that forced the tate of AJabama to remove the Confederate flag raised over the state Capitol 30

years earli r by then-Gov. George Wallace. Dee argued that the flag wa a painful reminder of intolerance and bigotry. • Sued a white upremacy group known a the Church of the Creator in l994 for it role in the murder of Harold Man field a black ailor who erved in the Gulf War. The center won a $l million default judgment against the organization. Before the uit ended the Church of the Creator transferred owner. hip of it hea~quarter to neo-Nazi leader William Pierce to keep il from falling into the hand f Man fie ld' heir . [n 1995 the center sued Pierce for hi role in th cheme and won an $85 000 judgment again t him. • Won a $ 7. million verdict la t year against the Christian Knights of the Ku Klux KJan and everal of it leaders in South Carolina for the burning of a predominantly black Macedonia Bapti t Church. After the verdict center attorneys tarted legal pr cedure. to attach bank account property and other a ets of the Chri tian Knight and five of it member . Dee aid he hope'd the verdict would put the Chri tian Knigh out of busine .


Aryan land sale blocked Richard Butler target of lawsuit for unspecified clvil damages By BiU Marlin Staff writer

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COEUR d'ALENE - An Idaho judge issued an rdcr Wedn day preventing the Aryan Nation from ¡elling or transferring legal owner. hip of it 20-acre c mpound near Hayden Lake.

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The order wa ught by Southem Poverty Law Center lawyers who represent Victoria Keenan and her on Jason Keenan.

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The North Idaho woman and her a are :ming the Rev. Ri hard But! r and Lhe Aryan Nalion for un pecifted civil damage . The Kecnans alleged lhey wer " bot at terrorized, a aulted battered and fals ly impri oned la t ummer wh n Aryan curit guard cha. ed their car. 1n eeking damages for the pair, the outhern Poverty Law Center hope to bankrupt Butler and the Aryan Nations and end up with tb k ys to the compound. The building and property ar worth an e timated $203.000. Di trict Court Judge barle W. Ho ack igned a temporary re training order bl king Butler fr m eUing Continued: Aryan Natlons/B4

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,Page B4

Thursday. February 25, 1999

The Region

Aryan Nations:

o, and it' nor because of finances " Hofmeister told the judge. Butler. who turned l on Tue day looked di heartened and bad no comment when a ked out ide the court about the freeze put on ti property. The legal move by the Southern Poverty Law Center, working in conContinueo from B1 junction with Coeur d'Alene attorney the Aryan proper or tran ·ferring it Norm Gi el i intended to keep the .Aryan from hidfog a et or making to a tru, t. them elve ' judgment proof. A permanent injunction also i ''The Aryan Nation compound i bei ng ought. the only known a et" of d fondants Butler and hi attorney Everett named in the uit court papers aid. H fm ei t r, were erved with the The judge order aid the action re ·training order later in the day wa taken without notice to Butler , h n th y appea red in court in a b cau e he ha ' threatened to derelated matte r. troy or di po e ' of the compound Hofmei ter a. ked for 30 mor day ·to keep it from falling into the band efore Buller mu cre p nd to aUega- of his perceived enemies. · cio.n outlined in th civil complaint. immediately after the uit wa filed h judge granted the reque l. on Jan. 25 Butler allegedly took Ho[mei ter aid he can t repre ent tep to transfer legal owner hip of Butler b cau e fa p tential conflict the white uprernacy church court of intere 1. d cuments. ay. ·'We're trying to find an ther atButler . aid that before any Jew rorne , and haven't been able to do got hold of the church he would bum

Attorney cites possible conflict

it to the ground " ex-Aryan follower Floyd Cochran said in one of the newly filed documents. In another document a longtime FBI informant said Burler run hi operation ' like a dictator ' and ded to be called 'Fuhrer by his folio lnformant Vince Reed aid be once prevented a man from being beaten with a ba eball bat by ecurity guards. The man wa being ejected from the Aryan compound, for reasons that aren t explained during the annual Aryan World Congre Reed said in an affidavit. His affidavit was filed to bolster 1he plaintiffs' contention that Butler appoints and upervi es ecurity guard at the Aryan compound. The compound i owned by Saphire Inc. a corporation that Butler created with his late wife. It officer are Butler, hi daughter, Cindy Witberwax, and her hu band Howard Corky'' Witberwax. Bill Marlin can be r:eached at (509) 459-5444 or by e-mail at billm@ poke man.com


LIZ Klsl11mot0/lhe Spokesman-Review

The Rev. Richard Butler, right and his attorney Everett Hofmeister, at the Kootenai County Courthouse on Wednesday.


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NORTHWEST

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1998 NW1

Jet-leasing sector is showing signs of health despite weakness in airlines' jet orders, Page NW3.

Taking Off:

, Looking Back: Winn~rs & Losers of '98 The Year Was Kind to Incumbents But Region's Farmers Took a Licking A Wall

treet Journal

ews Roundup

The Northwe t continued to strut its stuff in 1998, a the economy expanded ye again and the region attracted drove of revenue-enhancing touri ts no to mention new full-timer who didn't mind paying some of the highe t housing price in the nation for the privilege ofliving in five tate blessed by Mother Nature. But all was not well: Wheat farmers and tuna catchers saw prices and sales fall in the face of global oversupplies. Asia's woes ailed across the Pacific Ocean with a vengeance. Chip makers cast about for buyers. The National Basketball Association strike annoyed fans in Portland and Seattle. And, as if you didn't notice, the region entered what meteorologists said was a 20-year cycle of wetter- and colder-than-normal weather. Then there were the Bill Gates videotapes. The year produced a multitude of winner and lo er . Here are but a few of them: WinnerJ WHALES

Overall, it was a very good year for leviathans. For one thing, members of the Makah Tribe, on their first and extraordi·

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the white supremacists views. In the end, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relation turned th event into a fund· raiser, collecting more than 35, 00 with a campaign the task force dubbed uLemon to Lemonade. ·

n~i\Y well-publicized hunt in 70 years d1~n t come close to bagging one. And Ke1k~, lhe st~· of 'Free Willy, " took a step lowar ct real-life fr edom when he moved to a ea_pe~ off the coast of rceland from a rehabll1tation tank in Newport. Wi nner

Coe.UR

D ' ALENE

~he Idaho _town woo an award from the Anti-Defamation League for its re ponse to ~ demon tration in July by the Aryan Nat10n, at which 91 marc)lers were outnumbered by hundred or spectators protesting

ff/inner ..................... THE MEDIA . . Th Y would

have be n hard-pressed for Ju1cy Northwest candal if not for Mary K Letourneau and Viii Fualaau. But lhe for: ~er teac~er and h r 15-year-oJd paramow· ca~e through: _Befor she gav birth lo th:ir s cond. child whjle serving- a pri on te1_ m on a child-rape conviction, sh pos ct tor a photo that ran on the cover of the Globe tabloid under the headJine .. e candal Teacher's Shocking tory· Mx Baby Behind Bars! " Then, the happy co{ ~le ~ppeared on_ !elevi ion 's "Inside Edi· lion, where Vtl.l revealed h 'd Jiad a


The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Presents

The 18th Annual Gala Event


~ The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations cordially invites you to attend its 18th Annual Gala Event and Fund Raiser. It will be held at the spectacular Clark House in Hayden Lake on Monday, January 18, 1999 at 6:00 p.m. This year, besides a delicious array of foods, wine and coffee tasting, we will be conducting an incredible silent auction of items and services donated by local citizens and businesses. We would Jove to have you join us for a fun fiJJed evening. Since space is limited and tickets are going fast, please complete the enclosed form and mail with your check. If you have any questions call Tony Stewart at 765-3932. Tickets are $25.00 each. If you have any new items or services you personally would like to contribute to our silent auction, please contact

Diana at 664-6644

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The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations wiJl host a special evening honoring the memory and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the day of his birthday, Friday, January 15, 1999 at 6:00 p.m. The program will be held at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 501 Wallace Avenue, Coeur d'Alene. Following the program the Task Force will serve refreshments. Please come and bring family members and friends. The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations would also encourage you to attend the North Idaho College Popcorn Forum on Thursday, December 10, 1998. The Popcorn Forum is hosting one of the 50 dty celebrations sponsored by the Franlclin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The keynote speaker will be Bm Wassmuth, Executive Director of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment. His address will be followed by a response panel and a short video. The celebration will be held in Todd Lecture Hall in the NIC Library at 1:00 p.m.


From both sides When a civil rights group decided to sue the Aryan Nations, was it seekingjustice or abusing the courtsfor political ends?

Lawful, warranted, reasonable response When Temple Beth Shalom in Spokane celebrates a bar mitzvah or a major holiday, it hires extra security guards. Like other targeted by Aryan Nations hatred, Jews living in the Inland Northwest are keenly aware of the threat this group poses. Along with African-American, Hi panic and gay residents, Jews Sutt seeks Justice ften avoid North Idaho. Aryans have assaulted The danger they perceive is ba ed not on wild imagination but reality. us all; let'sfight back. That's been underscored by a law uit filed Monday against the Aryan Nations by the Southern Poverty Law Center. On Julyl the suit allege , Aryan Nations ecurity guard conducted a terrifying a ault. According to the lawsuit, as many as six skinheads chased a mother and her on Victoria and Ja on Keenan, for two miles down a c unty road, firing at them with assault rifles. The provocation? The Keenan car backfired. The suit also says that the Aryan detained the Keenans and threatened to kill them. Although one of the alleged participants has been charged criminally that case won't provide civil damages compensation for the Keenans. Nor does the criminal case strike at the power base - the Aryan Nations, the seedbed for this kind of activity for the la t 25 year . Passing up the opportunity to sue the Aryan Nations ver this epi ode would only heighten the sense of danger too many Inland Nortbwe t residents already experience. We must never hesitate to pur ue a civil remedy simply because the defendants are part of a political group. This suit was not rought against the Aryan for their parade in Coeur d'Alene, their repugnant heil Hitler alute or any other of their hateful, but protected expres ions. It wiU not infringe on their First Amendment right . It will not stop them from speaking, writing or marching. In tead the suit seeks civil damages from an organization whose members are accused of as aulting and threatening the Lives of thers. If ecurity guard from a downtown hotel bad opened fire on the Keenan ' car both the guard and the hotel itself imilarly ould be held liable. For a quarter century the Aryan Nations compound bas been a ¡ magnet for Neo-Nazi and other white supremacists, pulling them from all over the country. If thi law ujt winds up weakening tbjs rganization power and making it accountable for some of the damage it has done that re ult can only trengthen the freedom and p r onal afety of all who live here. Jamie Tobias Neely/For the editorial board


Worthy cause doesn't justify ruinous remedy It' possible to applaud the intent but regret the method by which dvil right attorney Morri Dee intends to put the Aryan Nations out of bu iness. The Southern Poverty Law Center which Dees co-founded, filed uit Monday in Kootenai County over an incident involving three Court misused Aryan ecurity guards last summer. A Coeur d'Alene woman and her Lo.wsuit real purpose son, a Seattle resident, say the is political suppression. guards chased them, firing gunshots, for more than two miles along a public road near the Aryans' compound in North Idaho. This adds up to a valid civil case, not to mention a criminal one though authorities have charged only one Aryan with a crime so far. Avenging the victims and securing justice for them is a meritorious intent, but that' only incidental to the current lawsuit. lt foremost purpose is to do what Dees' Alabama-based center has ccomplished against other hate groups: bankrupt the Aryans into , ilence. That s why the Southern Poverty Law Center took the case, rather than a local trial lawyer working for a standard contingency

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Thus, the justice system is being used not so much to make the plaintiffs whole but to stifle objectionable belief . Objectionable the Aryans' beliefs are, without question, and bow a y it would be to cheer Dees strategy. After all, if the legal system can somehow make the racists go away, that makes life a lot more comfortable for the rest of society, whose duty it really is to eradicate bigotry not with the force of law but with the force of morality. The justification for free speech, after all, is faith that a fully informed public will ultimately reach sound and just decisions.

Dees strategy lacks that faith. And if it works on behalf of Dees' worthy ideals it can just as easily be turned against them. Well-intended plans ometimes get out of control. The time to be alert to that risk is now, not after it's too late. lf Dees obtains a judgment that takes every last cent and square foot of real estate from Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler, there will be no weeping here for the racist himself. But there will be a ced of anxiety that some other lawyer with a different agenda, one bac}ced by a different warchest, will someday apply Dees' tacticsbut not hi high principles. Doug Floyd/Interactive editor

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'Members of the edltorlal board an, Stacey Cowles, publsher; Chris Peck.

editor. Scott Sines, managing editor; John Webster, opinion edlto,; Rebecca Nappi, Doug Floyd and Ken Sands, 1n18ract1ve editors; Jamie Tobias Neely ¡and D.F. ONveria, wrttars; and MlltPriggee, cartoonist.


.

ALAN STEINER/Press photos

• Above, with their school's honor on the line, Coeur d'Alene High School Principal Steve Casey prepares to be body slammed by Lake Cit y High School Principal John Brumley during a sumo wrestling match. The match ended in a tie.


• Below, during a mothers-of-the-basketball-players pregame dance, Sue Bramlet sets an example of school spirit with the other mothers.


THE PRESS Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999 A&

torth Idaho

• Right, students from Coeur d 'Alene High School cheer during the Fight for the Fish basketball game Thursday against Lake City High School at Lake City. In addition to the basketball game, the two schools were judged on their school spirit and awarded the trophy fish.


• Left, Brad Bramlet, father of varsity basketball player Chad Bramlet, leads the Lake City students in a cheer before the varsity boys basketball game. • Below, Coeur d'Alene Principal Steve Casey presents the fish to his students after they were named most spirited.


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Lake City schools raise $1,125 fll' lunan rights

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COEUR d' ALENE - A crosstown rivalry b tween Lake City and Coeur d'Alen high chool nded up bringing in more than $1100 for human right effort . k part of thi week' annual Fight for the Fish, tudent from both chool lri d to boost spirit and cooperation by selling links to a paper chain for 10 cent api ce. During half-time of Thur day night' basketball game, the repree n ta ti ves from both school stretched both halve of the chain across the packed gymnasium. After both principal connected the 11,250 link a heck for $1,125 wa given to Tony tewart, a repres en ta tive from the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation . 'The e two hoots wer model for students everywhere, and I wi h everyone acros the country could e thi , " tewart aid. "Wi 'r bowing that you can compete again t each other, but till can be good friends. "I thi nk the futur of North Idaho is in good hand ." tewart aid the student did a good job rai ing o mu h money in just four day .

ALAN STEINER/Press photo

Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations member Tony Stewart connects two lengths of chain Thursday during the Lake City and Coeur d'Alene High School Fight for the Fish during halftime at Lake City High School.

"It' a great exampl of th p op! of North Idaho r spondiog," he aid. wThe pirit wa o won-

derful, with veryone taking a part'' The money wilJ go into¡th ta k

force' coff r , and help pay for ongoi ng programs to combat intolerance and push cooperation.


A4 THE PRESS Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999

Kooten

I

'Lemon' funds go to teachers Money for llvarstty plans By JOE BUT LER

Staff writer

At

additional four elementary chool in the area will receive money to promote diversity and human rights. Teachers from Spirit Lake, Idaho Hill, Sagle and Athol elementa ri e recently re eived gra nts from the Kootenai County Task Fore on Human Relations. Thi i the task force's second di tribution of grants, using money rai ed from last summer's "Lemon to Lemonade" effort to combat the negative message of

the Aryan Nations. "These educators have produced extraordinary grant projects that will pr omote and enhance human rights within their curricula," said Tony Stewart, chair of the task force's education committee. "Once again we witness the goodness and commitment of the people in Nor th Idaho to justice and understanding for all people and cultures." Last month, the task force gave $8,500 to seven schools and organizations. About another $10,000 is still available to teachers or programs through North Idaho trying to advocate tolerance and multiculturism.

Here is the breakdown of the current grants: • Ana Vazquez-Schnepf and Sandy Bu nch from Spirit Lake Elementary will receive $1,500 to buy the "Reading RainbowH vid o series, and also arrange to have a Seattle singer and performer visit the school for the day. • Sheryl Puckett from Idaho Hill Elementary in Oldtown wa awarded $1,089 to buy books, videos, puzzles and other material to promote cultural awareness. • Tom Prez from Sagle Elementary rece iv d $1,000 for "Come Walk in My Shoes," a disability awarene s program. It will also bring peakers, a wheelchair

port team, a puppet how and other uppli . • Athol Elem ntary lea her Laura Bauman and Marly Blagden re ived $1,500 for multicultural book and video for art and dance program . The ta k force i accepting application for the next round of grant . Th request can be as large a $1,500, and th appli ation must deal with an educational program for children. Applicants must be from any of the public or private chools in Idaho' five northern countie . Applications are accepted until 0 L 15. Wormation: 769-3325


Diversity • group gives grant money B Heather LaJley taffwnlcr

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Funds stemming from anti-Nazi pledge drive support programs In 4schools d elop pr grams about • com from the mor Lemon Lo Lem nade ummer' Aryan ati n

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o well• Heather Lalley can be reached at (208) 765-7132 or by e-mail at heathert@spokesman.com


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Close to Home

Fallow the signs to safety By Cynthia Tagg rt

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Staff writer

o wond r Kootenai Coun Juvenile Detention Center n ed enlarging. Kid commilte nearly 1.700 crim here in 1997. Tbe number\ a taggering enough to alarm people in high place . Sure, build a bigger d tention center the aid, but at the ame time find more wa to keep kids u of trouble. That' when Project afe Place entered the cene. "We're not waiting~ r a tra~edy to happen. We路r hoping to preve nt ne,路 a Beth Barcia .

the C eur d'Alene woman cho 路en to co rdinate the new program. Project Saie Place identifies busine es where children can find help in emergencies. Yellow and black sign as obvi us as road ign mark place afe for children to go when they're lo t, confu d cared or angry. A Kentucky firefighier inadvertently began the prow.am in 19t 3 when he took charge of a &oy who decided to hang out at the fire tation. The b y aid he had n home. In tead of leaving the kid on the tr et the fir fight r deHvered him to a up rvi ed youth helter. By d ing that. the firefjghter lowered the b y' chance of becoming路 a criminal r crime victim.

Jesse Tinsley/The Spol!esman-Revlew

Beth Barclay hopes to see these Project Safe Place signs around the community. ' Kid who run away from home either become a victim r a perpeuat r within the first 24 hours ' B th ay~. The firefiJthter' response helped so ial worker realize that Kid couJd benefit from friendly intervenci n and might eek it ut if they knew it wa~available. The program that dev I ped enc ur ged bu ine owner to offer thei r tore a afe place . Continued: Close to Home/B&


Idaho

Close to Home: Kids need help Continued from B1 Coun elor taught employee how to react to kid who need help - offer them a eat, the phone a nack which que tions to ask them and when to call for more killed attention. [t pread to 300 communitie . With money from two state agencie , Beth is pulling together a program in Kootenai County and hopes to launch it in May. To tart it'll cover the Coeur d'Alene School District. She'U need at lea t 15 businesses from downtown to the Silver Lake Mall willing to help kid . Volunteers will be trained. She 11 al o need 20 peQple who can pa background checks to learn crisi intervention. These are the

people busines es will call when children need more than a helping hand. Beth and people on the program's advi ory board will explain the project to schoolchildren this pring. 'Thi i aimed at kid who aren't already in the y tern, maybe in the wrong place at the wrong time, or even just locked out of the hou e," Beth says. If you'd like more details or want to volunteer for Project Safe Place, call Beth at 676-0772.

their goodness and excitement.'

Applause,applause

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations wa delighted with a $1,125 donation from Coeur d'Alene High and Lake City High students last

lf you're planning your ummer vacation factor in the Coeur d'Alene SummerTheatre's chedule. Travel in June. The eason start July 8 with Andrew Lloyd Webber' "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. ' Forever Plaid," a funny how about the fou r-part harmony group of the 1950s, will oren July 22. 'The Pajama Game ' wil open Aus. 5 and 'The Will Roger Follie ' will clo e the ea on. Seats go fast so buy sea on tickets in advance. Call 769-7780 for detail .

week. Student sold paper links to a human rights chain for a clime each. Kid presented human right activi t Tony Stewart with the chain and the check at a rally during a big basketball game. " What a wonderful night it was," Tony ay . " I wa o overwhelmed by

• What draws you to the Summer Theatre year after year? Be specific for Cynthia Taggart, "Close to Home," 608 Northwest Blvd .. Suite 200, Coeur d'Alene, ID, 83814; FAX to 765-7149; call 765-7128; or e-mail to cynthiat@spokesman.com.

Chain reaction


North Idaho

tne

College

Seminar combats camnus .___homophobia Human Equality Club workshop addre e homosexual tudent i sue b Dan heckler Sentinel Reporter The Human Equality Club i bo ting a eminar to di us way to deal with haras ment ba ed on exual orientation. During the ent. peak.er will addre i ue lhat homo exual tuden fa.c on the liege ampu . then a re p n e panel will a wer que tion rom che audience. Work hop· will provide more opportunity for interacrion ith the penkers at the conclu ion of the program. Titled ''Dealing with homophobia on college campu e : Way L c mbat hara ment and di crimination ba ed on xual orientation." lb eminar will pre ent ay to help people deal with iolen e and hara ment on campu accorcting to Tony Stewart, Human Equality Club ad i er. tephanie Carnahan from lbe Univer ity of Oregon will talk about the

equality of people. Diane San , a member of the Montana Stace legi lature will peak on ho • tephanie Carnahan, publi policy deal with hate crime University of Oregon. again t homo exual. . Marc Adams will peak on hi . per onal • Diane Sand , Montana experience of being homo exuaJ. tate Legi lator Adam, wa a Lambda Literary award finali t for hi book 'The • Marc Adams, Lambda Preacher' Son." Literary A ward winner finali t We need to addre the for "The Preacl}er' Son' continual problems gay and le bian tudent. are dealing with ," H.E.C. Pre . Jo h Buehner ajd, " People need to be knowledgeable." tewan aid the club wanted to take an active role and rai e awarenes . "The Human Equality Club ha done a wond rful job dealing with Human Right , but ha given thi i ue le attemion, 'Stewart aid.

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H.E.C. member Kathy Pollard said he wanted to have the ymposium to et an example for the community and how that he would take a stand. ''l support human rights for all," said H.E.C. member Jennifer James. "I'm not selective on who should be treated equally." Buehner said is he expecting attendance from area colleges such as UI, WSU, Gonzaga and Whitworth. "We want to bring students from area colleges to spark activism to address those issues students and college communitie are faced with," Buehner said. ''There has been an increased activity dealing with human rights on college campuses in the Northwest,' Stewart said, "This will facilitate that" Buehner said he wants all tudent who are intere ted to attend. "We don't want people who believe a certain way¡ we want a diverse group to address this issue, ' Buehner said. The event is funded by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations; no public money i being used, Buehner aid. The event will take place April IO from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Edminster Student Union Building. The free seminar is for college students; a current student ID mu t be presented for ad.mi ion. Space i limited. To reserve a


Task force gets boost for rights Nonprofit corporation formed to back scholarships, host of diversity projects B Heather Lall y laff \ rit~r

OEUR d ALENE- North Idaho large t human right organization now will be I F YOU GO able to raise more mone and pro ide For more more educational Information on the program . Popcorn Forum, caU Calling it ··a major the NIC College day in the evolut:Jon Relations office at of the Kootenai (208) 769-3316. County a, k Force on Human Relation ' ta k fo(ce m mber ~ ny tewart announced Thursday the formation of a nonprofit corporati n the Human Right Education Foundation Inc. Th new foundation will be I d b former tale n. Ma Lou R ed. There b uld b a wa i r corp ration to giv more ea ily" Reed aid. "W kn w w can't di tate lolerance .... The way t do this i through education.' The foundation, which h pe to rai e 1 , 0 in it fir, t year ill support cholar hip diver ity work bop and camp and re ·earch pr grams. To keep it n nprpfit Latu , the toundation mu t teer clear of politi al activitie undertaken by the Kootenai 0110ty Task Force Continued: Foundation/BS


during the forum, which works to bring the hurnanitie toJife. It's really important the ·tudent ·upport it " aid NIC tudent government Pre ident Ben Toew , who e group upplie much of Lhe funding for the forum. Too often when we come to college, tud nt. think about money . . . . It s a time for developing a philo ophy a:nd an wering ome question . By looking .at Continued from B1 hjstory, we can always better our elve in the on Human Relation uch a supporting future." legi ·lation. That won't prevent the foundation The second annual human right banquet from focu. ing on education Stewart said. will be held in connection with the forum and ' If we re ever goi ng to eradicate prejudice will raise money for the new education and bigotry if in education, he aid. "The foundation . lt will b at 7 p.m. April 8 at the younger you tart the better. Coeur d Alene Inn and wilJ feature pre entaIn addi tion to th l'\ew foundation, tewart tions from scholar. portraying Thomas Jefferalso unveiled the chedul for the 29th annual on, Eleanor Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Popcorn Forum. The forum which run. April 5-9 at North All of the Popcorn Forum events are free Idaho CoUege, will focu on the hi tory of the and open to the public, except the human Western world during the past 1,000 year . right banquet. Tickets are avai lable for the Scholars will portray hi torical figure of the banquet by call ing (208) 769-3325. era to di cu advances in cience economics religion philo ophy art and civil rights. More than 40 out ide exp rt , NIC facu lty • Heather Lalley can be reached at (208) 765-7132 member and tud nt will erve on panel or by e-mail at heatherl@spokesman.com.

Education one way

to combat hate


A4 THE PRESS Friday, March 5, 1999

Ti Force adds 'educational ann' Reed to guide new foundation By BILL BULEY

Staff writer COEUR d' ALENE - A new foundation i xp t d lo h Ip I.he Kootenai ounty Task For e on Human Relation rai fund i:tnd battl bigotry. The T ation of the Human Right Education Foundation "i ju t a important a d v lopm nt

today a wa th birth of Lh task force in 1981," aid member Tony tewarl on Thur day. 'The only way to radical bigolry i through du-

Reed

Mary Lou Reed named to new human rights post Task fore diver i:fies/

March 5, 1999


RIGHTS

cont inued from A4

the corporations to give more easily, and a way to go after foundation grants," Reed said. Another purpose of the organization is "to pr.omote a greater understanding and depth of knowledge of th value of ethnic diversity and racial tolerance." " o thi new organization i considered the educational arm of the task force," Reed said. "You can legi late all you want to, but you can't legi late changes in attitude and hate and change in h arts and mind. The way do to this is through education." RIGHTS continued on A7

. The foundation's first project is to II "benefactor table ' at the ta k force's annual banquet cheduled April 8. Tw nty tabl costing 500 ea~h will b r s rved for corporation or individuals. Th organization al o hopes to put on diversity work hop in the n ar futur , Reed aid . The _foundation will also try to :work with bool-age chjldren ''to introduce them to the ex itement of diversity and th wealth that _th r i ahead of them," and how important it i "to under tand and respect other people.¡â€˘


1ourney through time ...

IIC announces schedule tor annual Popcorn Forum COEUR d• ALENE - The 29th Annual Popcorn Forum and Convocation Series Symposium i heduled for April 5-9 at North Idaho CoJlege. Thj y ar' forum will be a "Journe Through Time: What Happ ned in th W tern World in the econd MHI nnium 1001-2000 AD.?" The purpo e of the ev nt is to observe and ruscus "the great vent and hi torical characters affecting life in the Western world over the la t 1,000 years," organizer Tony tewart said Thur day. The ympo ium will feature guest scholars and panelists portraying historical character who had a major impact on the ciences, economic , religions. philo ophies arts and civil rights. The keynote speaker on April 9 will be Rhodes Scholar Clay Jenkin on. His p ch, ''Where are we now in cience economic , philosophy, reLigion and political/social development?" will try to integrate the subj ct covered in th forum's fir t four day . Jenkinson "i a mast r of trying to integrate and bring thing togeth r," tewart aid. Ben Toew pr sid nt of th A ociated Stud nt of NI , aid the Popcorn Forum help round out a student' education. "I think another important aspect of colleg i a time for developing a philosophy answering ome qu stion that every p r on has to a k in their lives," he aid Thursday. POPCORN continued on A6

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EDITION OF

1HESPOKESIUN·RIM£W · NEWS ONLINE ·

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Profile in making a difference Chicago film crew finds students working hard for human rights

By Heather Lalley taffwriier

COEUR d'ALENE-Chicago filmmaker

Larry Walcoff had no problem finding kids

tudying human right for his educational video on the ubject. But it wasn't until he and hj film crew traveled to Coeur d Alene that they found tudent · a tuall d ing om thing. Walcoff and hls rew from Northbrook, lll.ba ed General Learning Video spent Wedne clay and Thur day at Lake City High chool profilinS the chool human nghtsclub and teacher nc Edmond for a ,~deo that will e Id to clll$rooms around the country. The Co ur d'A1 ne egrnent will make up 15

minute of the hourlong video wb.icb al ·6 alure tudent in Wa hlngton, D.C., ru cu ing the Holocau t and Japanese foternment camps during World War II. None of lhem were makfog a difference " Wal co ff aid. 'These Coeur d'Alene ) kid are doing thing and are making a difference.' The2- ear- Id lub ha rai ed hundred of d liar for human rigb organizati ns. Students have collected hundred :>f pound of i d and clothe for needy orth Id.ab familie . Th y have poo ored ' era] imp veri hed children mNepal. Th 25-member group has researched and written a pamphlet on human right and · working on Continued: Club/AB

Joan Dwyer/Spacial Ill The Spo1;esman-R1111ew

Rose VIiiarreai talks to her human rl_ghts club as a video crew films the action Thursday at Lake City High School.


P-11e AS

Friday, March 12, 1999

From the Front Page

Club: 'These kids are remarkable' Continued from A1 I

a Web page. 'A lot of time we ju t talk ' aid Edmond , a hi tory teacher and the group dvi er. '{The club i ) a place to bring up human righL and mak U1em part of the dial gue al chool." n Wedne da , Edmond honors American Hi to cla. pre ented a tudeot-written

play for the chool called ·'Created Equal: The Story of African-American ." The film rew taped the performance which traced th live of black from before lavery to modern time . Walcoff aid a few audience member heckled the performers because of their stance on human rights, bur the tudent were undeterred. 'The e kid are remarkable.' he aid.

"They re remarkable becau e of th ir commitment and more o becau e of their commitment where there i a ri k, a genuine ri k . . . They take that risk because they perceive what they are doing will make a difference. ' Student aid they were flattered by the attention their club ha received. ' lL's really a great organization " enior arah Vanek aid. " I wish we could do more than wedo." 'Thi is a rehearsal tand by Walcoff coached rhe student a they huddled near a locker. ' Ready . .. and you'r busy putting

The Spokesman-Review

b oks away. That' it. Let' hoot it for real." , Students laughed and applauded a the cameraman and boom microphone operator got into po ition. ' Let's get a tight shot of her ·igning the petition Walcoff aid a a tudent igned a bright yellow Lemons to Lemonade petition. The petition were circulated la t um.mer in re ponse to the Aryan Nation parad . The white upremacist group, with a compound near Hayden Lake marched through downtown Coeur d'Alene la t July generating much controver y and national media attention.

Walcoff learned about the Lake City group because f that parade, after r ading an article in the Chicago Tribune that mentioned the human right club. "I don't know what the e kid will do JO year from now he aid during a break in fiJming. ' But they'll be different than the other kid in this cbool becau of their experiences.' • Heather Lalley can be reached at (208) 765-7132 or by e-mail at heatherl@spokesman.com.


Honk 3 times if you believe police legend

-

Huckleberries

The pok man-Review

D.f.

Oliveria

Huckleberries In June 1996, ISP Cpl. Jonelle Hessler got her first Attagirl award for dropping a ticket against a Wa hington man seriously injured in a Bonner County crash. Now, she gets her econd - for her November promotion to sergeant, which make her the only ldaho la to hold that ISP post. Attagirl . .. Donna Kelly potted thi on Columbia Paint's readerboard: "Get Thinner Now, Ask U How . . . Hmm. IS-R Interactive Editor Ken Sand who ranted again t gambling in a March S editorial pent last weekend with two ex-Univer ity of Oregon bud who also turned 40 thi year - at Las Vegas of course ... Stat of the Week? Cama County' unemployment rate of 1.3 percent is the !owe tin the state. But before you move there to look for work con ider thi . That represent six unemployed out of a work force of only 446 . . . So you re mad becau e you got one of tho e goofy mailing from The 11th Hour Remnant Me enger claiming Abraham Mose and King David weren t Jewish. Write back and demand to be taken off the racists mailing Ii t. So ay human-eights activist Tony Stewart .. . How did tate Rep. Larry Wat on D-Wallace, duck out on that ales-tax redi tribution vote without my notice? It' important to the Kootenai County half of hi di tcict. I mu t be slipping. Or feeling orry for Idaho' dwindling Democrat .


Ill

:Z Ill .a iC

Survey: Prejudice on decline More 'friendly' toward minorities By BILL BULEY Staff writer COEUR

d'ALENE

Prejudi i 'eclining in Idaho, a ording to th r ult of a r c ntly ompl t d urvey. "'In r port i g od n w ," said BiU Wasmuth, ex cativ dir ctor f th

Northw t oalition Again t Maliciou

Wassmuth

Hara m nt. "Idahoan ar b coming more tolerant of th div r ity in th stat and mor willing lo work log th r."

The urvey. complel d in January by th Cent r for Public Policy and Admini tration at Boi e tate niv r ity was ba d on a imilar tudy in 1988. ll ughl to 'asse ra ial and re ligiou prejudice in Idaho" and find out if the attitudes of Idahoan have "changed ignifiantly over a period of time." Tb r ult indicate that inde d, th y hav . In r pon to tb qu tion, "In th ar a wh r yo u liv , whi 'h of th foUowing would you ay b t d crib th majority attitud toward minoritie ?' Forty-on p re nt an w r d ·• omewhat fri 11dly, · while 18 p re nt aid "v ry fr ien dl y." Tw nly p r nt w r n utral, 14 p rcenl ' om what unfri nd ly" and p r ent "very unfri ndly." PREJUDICE continued on A2


PREJUDICE continued from A1 Those responding "very friendly" and "somewhat friendly" increased by 10 percent and 11 percent, respectively, from the 1988 survey. Ov rail. th e random phone urvey of 659 people age 18 and over found that views toward peopl e from minority communities have improved in Idaho over the past decade. "It i good news to see that a larger percentage of the population is

supporting human right ," said Tony Stewart of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. He attributed the urvey results to educational effort in the school and around th community to let both young and old know the wrong of raci m. "I think th results how th good people of Idaho certainly do reject the doctrine o{ hate group that come to our state " he said. Task force m mber Marshall Mend believes racism is not just declining in Idaho, but throughout the United States.

"It's going down because there' more diversity all over the country and the world is getting mailer. We're beaoming more of a world conomy, not just a national economy," he said. Mend aid that even though there is less racism, people like Ch evy Kehoe and Timothy McVeigh and members of the Aryan Nations are unwavering in their white supremacist beliefs. "I see a lot of people getting out of the movement and we have less racism and bigotry than we've had. The people who are

Hasseries agreed the rise in people experiencing hate crimes was troublesome, especially while tho:re ~ e people were reporting preJudice was declining in Idaho. "It seems like there's an incongruity there," Hasseries said Wednesday. "I think there's been a tolerance that ha come from those that are opposed to hatred, rather than meet hate with hate." The survey shows the task force must continue its efforts to ba~e racism, and support organizations that help victims of hate

till in the movement are very hard core," Mend said. The survey wasn't all positive. It found that 5.2 percent of the respondents - compared to 3.7 percent in 1988 - said that in the past two year they or omeone in their household bad experienced a hate crime. Was mutb called that "very concerning. n "It indicates that an increa ing number of people are acting out their prejudices in a fashion harmful to their neighbors," he said. Task force member Rev. Bob

crime , Stewart said. Was muth agreed. 'This report should encourage Idahoan to redouble their efforts to make Idaho a place where everyone feels welcome, where everyone i treated with re pect," Wassmuth said. The survey was commi sioned by the Northwe t Coalition Again t Maliciou Hara sment and sponsored by The Pres the Lewi ton Morning Tribune' the Boise tatesman and the Idaho Fall Register newspapers. It ha a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.


First malicious harassment case teSls1rCOui'ity"'¡,..., When Dodge's trial began Wednesday, about two dozen potential jurors were excused after 1st District Court Judge James Michaud asked whether they could By Susan Drumheller fairly judge the case. They said they could Staff writer not. Another man was excused when he said BONNERS FERRY, Idaho - The the malicious harassment law should be case of the state vs. Dodge may not be a put on trial, not Dodge. popular one in Boundary County, but.it's The law bas been tested, having prean important one, according to human vailed in a U.S. Supreme Court challenge. rights advocates. The q11estion now 1s whether Dodge broke Clint Dodge is charged with malicious it. arassment, a felony with a maximum "This case is about one £erson's human unishment of five years in prison or a rights and another persons hatred," Dep5,000 fine, or both. He's accused of uty Prosecutor Todd Reed said in his harassing a Hispanic man in a Bonners opening statement to the jury. Ferry grocery store last summer. Defense attorney Ro: er Williams con-

Verbal exchangeingrocery store with Hispanic man spawned charge

i

tends the case has more to do with a salt-ofthe-earth man's conlllue today Inthe frustrations case, which is the first with a language time amalicious barrier. harassment charge The charges has been prosecuted stem from a In Boundary County. July 19 shopping trip. Antonio Ponce, a 42-year-old tree nursery worker, went gr~ry shopping with his 5-year-old daughter. Upon entering the store, he was approached by Dodge, a 30-year-old landscaper whom he'd iret before. WHAT 'S NEXT Testimony will

A witness, Carolina Villanueva, said she beard yelling and saw the two men standing somewhere between the candy display and the soda POP. cooler. Dodge was waving his fists angnly over his head and yelling, she testified. She also saw Dodge spit at Ponce's feet. Ponce testified through an interpreter that Dodge said, "Get out of my face, l don't like Mexicans." Ponce's daughter hid behind his legs as the two men cussed at each other, according to Ponce's testimony. When Reed asked whether Ponce feared for his safety he answered, "Not so much for myself. My daughter was Continued: Trlal/83.


Trial: The law was passed 16 years ago Continued from B1 cared.' Later Ponce te tified that every time he saw Dodge, Dodge seemed angry. ' Every time I ee him I fear. I don't know what he has against me " Ponce said. During his cross-examination of Villanueva Williams reminded her of her testimony at Dodge s preliminary hearing la t summer, when she told the court that Ponce said he was fine after the confrontation. ' To me be Jooked Like he wa afraid she said Wednesday. Te timony will continue today in the case, wbicb is the first time a

malicious hara m nt case has been prosecuted in Boundary County. WilLiam is expected to bring character witne e to te tify on behalf of Dodge, a church-going Bonners Ferry native and former Navy corporal. The case i "very ignificant," aid Tony Stewart a political science professor at North Idaho College and a founding member of the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations. 'It sends a me age that you cannot do this without being prosecuted, be said. "Secondly, .it's a great comfort to the minority community that the community will respond to it. And it send a me age beyond the county that, ye , we do care.' Getting the malicious harassment law passed wa one of the first projects of the Kootenai County ta k force which formed in 1981. The maliciou harassment law pa ed in. 1983. Coeur d Alene attorney Glen Walker bad the states first conviction in the early 1980 .


-

Hot Potatoes

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Activist will be mourned

T

TheSpoke man-Review

he inland Northwest lost a human-rights advocate Tuesday when Spokane's Bill First died unexpectedly. First, the long-time press secretary for former U.S. House Speaker Tom Foley erved in recent years a a human-rights liaison between Spokane and Kootenai counties. He had little tolerance for prejudice. In August 1995, 50 year after World War D.F. lI ended he wrote a letter to the editor to locals who still Ollverla held a grudge against Japan. The Japanese should apologize for Pearl Harbor, atrocities against other Asians and the Bataan death march he wrote- and we hou ld apologize for the internment of Japanese-Americans and A-bombing Hiro h:ima and Nagasaki. Hi blunt logic will be mi ed. R.1.P.



1

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Democratic insider Bill First dies at 73 ¡EJ:-newsman helped shape polltJcal landscape By Jim Camden Staff wri ter

SPOKANE - Bill First, a former newsman who helped shape Spokane' political landscape and fought for civil rights throughout the Inland Northwest, died Tuesday at 73. First, who served for more than 20 years as press spokesman for U.S. Rep. Tom Foley, was a fixture in Democratic campaigns and nonpartisan city races. Although a resident of Spokane, he was a longtime member and key adviser for the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. A jazz and blues aficionado and a gourmet cook outside of political life be was the master of the well-timed announcement and the judicious leak. He was regarded as one of the most reliable sources of infoanation in local politics. 'He had this puckish sense of humor about politics, which was a great game that he played," said Jan Polek, a friend and former legislative candidate. "He always had a little something that was tickling him. ' First was born in lllinois, raised in New Jersey and served in the Navy in the Philippines during World War U.

He went to college on the G.l. Bill, and studied journalism at the University of Missour:i in Columbia, where he met his wife, Betty. They came to the Northwest in the 1950s, first to the Tri-Cities, and then to Spokane when he was hired as a reporter for The Spokesman-Review. First served as a roving state reporter for the newspaper, and in 1964 was assigned to cover a congressional race between the longtime incumbent, Walt Horan, and a young Democratic challenger, Tom Foley. When Foley won, he hired First as his press aide. "He had a wonderful way with words," Foley, now U.S. ambassador to Japan, said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "He had a deep commitment to public and political life, but with a sense of humor that saw it was possible to enjoy the work. ' Longtime friends and sometime adversaries recalled First as a scrappy campaigner and a colorful dresser. "Feisty was one of the adjectives you could give him/' said Werner Brandt, who worked with First on Foley's staff for more than 15 years. "He had some of the most amazing sports jacket combinations, and a

"He had a deep commitment to public and political life, but with a sense ofhumor. " Tom Foley

great collection of hats." First erved as the staffs expert on energy, mining and nuclear issues as well as its spokesman Brandt said. He refused to eat fast food and sometimes cooked meat on an electric rotisserie set up in the congressional office, in violation of House rules. Brandt recalled a November day when First was cooking a turkey on the rotisserie near an open window. The staff heard congressmen rush out several times, only to return grumblini, because bells in the haJJway - signalling they were needed for votes in the House - kept ringing. They weren t even taking any votes that day and Brandt and First realized the rotisserie was overloading the building's electrical system

and setting off the beJJs. ' Turn off the rotisserie, Bill " Brandt said. First s familiarity with city official , Chamber of Commerce directors and East Central Community leaders was invaluable to the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, said board member Tony Stewart. Stewart helped First join the board several years ago. "He never had any tolerance for exclu ion. Equality was at the tog of hi list of values, Stewart said. 'He u ed to say 'If you have everyone at the table, we're just a much better team.'' Last year when the task fore needed a countermeasure to the Aryan Nations parade, First helped put together the Hands Across the Border demonstration that linked Spokane and Coeur d Alene human rights groups. He uffered a cerebral hemorrhage Tuesday night while at home, ,and died a short time later at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Fir t is suivived by his wife, Beny and three son , David of Woodbridge, Va.; Jo eph of Wenatchee; and Louis of Kennewick. A memorial service i scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the West Central Community Center.


Flowering of Democracy History central theme at task force banquet By TARYN HECKER

Staff writer COEUR d'ALENE - Two pre iden and a fir t lady stepped into the pre ent day Thur day vening to hare their thoughts on diver ity, civil rights and democracy. Three performer from Thur day orlh ld aho College Popcorn Forum w re k ynot sp akers at the second annual Kootenai County Ta k Fore on Human Relations' Banquet

BANQUET continued on A3


Continued From •••

BANQUET

continued from A 1

The speakers compared the challenges they faced during their lives to the challenges being faced today. Dr. Clay Jenkinson portrayed Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Harry .Fritz played Abe Uncoln and Suzan Jarvis King was Eleanor Roosevell The banquet was a fund-raiser for a newly created educational arm of the task force , the Human Rights Education Foundation. The HREF is a tax-exempt organization which focuses on human rights education and diversity programs, board member Tony Stewart said. Stewart said the task force distribut-

ed $19,000 in grant money to school districts throughout North Idaho. The money, raised in last summer's "Lemons to Lemonade" pledge campaign, has run out. "There are more grants than we had money for," Stewart said. With money raised from the banquet, he said more grants could be funded, along with other activities. Norm Gissel, a task force member since 1984, received the Task Force Civil Rights Award, an award Stewart said is based on four criteria: • A long history of commitment to work in human rights. • Supports full equality, not selective equality. "He doesn't care what the issue is," Stewart said. "Hes a defender of human rights."

THE PRESS Friday, April 9, 1999 A3

• Demonstrates courage encountering prejudice and bigotry. • Does not remain silent in the face of hate. "He just gives and gives and gives, " Stewart said. He said that Gissel; a Coeur d'Alene attorney, has taken cases without pay for single parents, speaks openly to the media and condemned acts of violence. For the first year, the Mary Lou Reed and Phil Batt scholarships were awarded. James Two teeth and Valerie Fasthorse received those awards. Mayor Steve Judy gave a wekome speech and shared a faxed message from Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. Kempthorne commended the task force and community members supporting it, saying "you are the face of Idaho."


Last of 'Lemonade' grants distributed Kootenai County/ A4

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A4 THE PRESS Tuesday, April 13, 1999

Remainder of lemon money given out By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - The final fruits of la t summer's "Lemon to Lemonade" fund-rai ing effort have been harvested, in the form of a third round of grants to area teachers and edu ational program . The final allotment of education grant was handed out Monday to ix chool in North Idaho and Gonzaga University. So far, the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations ha handed out $19,500 of th more than $25,00 rai ed through last year' effort to counter the negative publicity from the Aryan parade. People were asked to

pledge money for variou human right group ba ed on how long the Aryan actually mar hed. The task force de ided to spend the bulk of the money on education programs to enhance cLiver ity and tolerance in the community. Member al o figured that they could potentially reach thousands of students and their familie through the grants. A total of 12 other grant have been given out to econdary schools and higher education, and have included money for material promoting diver ity and multiculturalism, to bring in speakers or mu icians or to offer programs. Stewart said the remaining money went to pay bills or toward

groups pecified in the pledge forms. The ta k force collected much of the money, but some of it was earmarked for certain human rights group or projects. This latest round of grants included: • $500 to Coeur d'Alene High School librarian Ann Burgeson to end members of the school's human right club to Camp PEACE • $990 to Post Falls High School teachers Page Harmon and Dona Pettoello for a program called "Focu on Tolerance." • $1 500 to Timberlake Junior/Senior High librarian Sharon Slaney to buy books and videotapes celebrating the history of ethnic minorities in America.

• $420 to Cynthia Mason and the Bonner County Ea rly Childhood Provider A ocialion for multicultural kit . • $618 to Rebecca' Awe orne Kids Preschool/Kind rgarten to buy a multicultural curriculum for the school • $345 for Muriel Stamp from Hayden Meadows Elementary to buy three series of works on how to deal with prejudice and discrimination. • $1,000 for Gonzaga University's Io titute for Action Again t Hate. Stewart aid if teachers missed this round of grants, more money will b available in the future due to the task force's rece nt creation of a Human Rights Education Foundation.


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BRIEFLY Grants awarded to combat hate • Coe11rd'Ale11e The K otenai County Ta k orce on Human R lations av arded more than 5,000 in it final round of mans to Lemonade grant . The human right group, which rai ed money during la I year' Aryan Nation parade, has gi en a total of 19.500 to I school in orth Idaho and Ea tern Wa hington to teach about multicultural is.! ue . Th final r und of grants went to: • ur d'Alen High Sch I lihrarian Ann Burge on, 00, lo nd tudent to Camp P CE. • Po ·t all teachers Page I !arm n and D na Pettoello, 990, i ra•· u · nT lerarr e.. pro ram. a Timberlake Junior- enior High hool librarian baron laney 1. -oo. 10 buv boo and video t tudy rhe hi tory of minoritie in the United tat . • Cvnthia Ma ·on oftbe B nner ounty Earl Childhood Provider iation. $420. to buy l'{lulticultural kit:.£ r the Bonner C?ouoty Library. P t Fall.' Rcb ca Martin of Rebecca'. Awe ome Kids Preschool-kindergarten., $61 • for multicultural curriculum. • Muriel tamp of Hayden Meadow Elementary chool, $345, l buy material about d aJing with pr~udice and discrimination. • Gonzaga University In tilule for li n Again I llate, 1.000, to evel p a pr gram and forum. to study and c mbat hate.

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Library to host Holocaust events COEUR d' ALENE - In recognition of the Holocaust the Coeur d'Alene Public Library will be hosting a number of events April 26-30. Monday, 5-6 p.m., there will be a reception in the Human Rights room of the library to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the city of Coeur d'Alene receiving the Raoul Wallenberg Award for its stand against religio us hatred and racial prejudice. Special guests will be former mayor Raymond Stone and Tony Stewart. Both men participated in the receiving of this award. April 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon Brad Veile will present a program at the library on various aspects of the Holocaust using visuals from several museums as well as photos from Auschwitz ¡ and Majdanek . Topics wi11

include legi lation , g h tto , camps, resistanc and lib ration. Veile was on of 45 t ach r selected from aero . the country for the Holoca u t and Jewish Re i lance Summer Fellowshjp Program pon ored by the American Gath ring of Holocaust Survivors and-the Jewish Labor ommitte . Th trip included trip to Tr blinka, Auschwitz, Yad Va h m and th Ghetto- Fight r's Hous during three and a hall w ek' ludy-inPoland and I ra L H wa al o a recipient of th H. . lamb rg Outstandjng Educator Award. Thur day afternoon , 1:30-3 p.m., Veile will pre enl a number of topic c ntral to the Holocaust in a manner appropriate for a young r audi n e (fifth-grade and old r). lid . photos, ov rh ad and -o ther items-of intere t will rv a

th foundation of this pr entation. Due to pace limitations, eats will be reserved. The w ek's events will conclude with a Friday evening program that will focus on life in the ghettos. Topic will include formation, ev ryday life, forms of re i tance, and liquidation. 1rus program begin at 6:30 p.m. Question-and-answer periods will follow each of the presentation , if time allows. Patrons are al o en ouraged to spend time looking through the library's Human Rights Collection in the Children' Department as we]) as the Adult Department. The Human Rights Collection was tabli h e d with monies received from the Wanenberg Award and ha grown to nearly 1,000 item . The e materials are availabl for checkout. Information: 769-2315

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Community Heroes TASK FORCE: Support for benefit appreciated The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations has been working for years to increase public awarene s of the importance of racial and religiou tolerance. The ta k fore r cently held a very ucces ful banquet, chaired by a hardworking duo, Judy Whatley and Tony St wart. Proceeds from the fund-rruser will go to educational f forts that foster an appr ciation of diver ity among people and their b lief . 'W_e would like to thank the following busme ses and organization who con-

tributed by purchasing Benefactor Table ~t the event: A C Data Systems, lnc., AVIsta Corp., Burlington Northrn Railroad, Century Publishing, The Pre s, Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Coldwater Cr ek, Fir tBank Northwe t First Security Bank, ' Green tone-Kootenru, Inc., Hagadone Hospitality, Idaho Education As ociation, Idaho Independent Bank, Idaho Spokesman Review, Inland Northwest Bank, Margaret Re d Foundation North Idaho College, Pioneer Titl~ Insuranc , Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Tool.e.

MARY WU REED For the Human Rights Education Foundation Board

Letters Policy The

Press welcomes your opinions. Letters must include the writer's full name, hometown and daytime phone number (not for publication). Comments may be edited for length. Send letters to: Read-

ers Write, The Press, 201 N. Second Street, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 or P.O. Box 39, Post Falls, ID 83854. Fax to: 208664-0212 or 208-773-7002 or send e-mail to: editor@cdapress.com


r April 24, 1999

ostly unny Weather/ Vol. 92 No. 267

3 sections

e&Cul:ture Tobe members receive NIC scholarships By BILL BULEY

Staff writer

S

ome days, wh n Val ri Fa t Hor arrive at orth Idah Coll g , she r treat to the edg of the pokane River for a few mom n . he look out on the wat r, clo es h r ye . and imagine hei: great-grandfather, Morri Ant lop . and ther member of Lhe Co ur d'AJen Tribe a th y w r mor than l 00 y ar ago. he thinks about how th y Uved, th herilage they hared and the . pirit Lhat guided them on the ground wh r I now 'taad . ''I fe I a troag tie to thi land,' Fa L Hor e aid. COLLEGE & CULTURE continued on A3

BILL BULEY/Press photo

Valerie Fast Horse


COLLEGE & CULTURE continued from A 1 That' why it' -fitting, say NIC cultural diver ity advisor Monte Twin, that Fast Hor e and James Twoteeth both tribe members, were the fir t recipients of NIC cholar hip awarded by the Human Rights Education Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit group under the umbrella of the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relations. The scholarships are "a chance to how recognition and appreciation" of the trjb and it efforts to improve education, Twin aid . "It' important to acknowledge the participation of the tribe and particularly the educational activities at North Idaho College," he said. The cholarships, each worth one eme ter' tuition were pre ented in honor of former Gov. Phil Batt and former n. Mary Lou Re d, "both of whom are v ry active and involved in the human right movement, ' aid foundation board member and ecr tary Denny Davi . ''W, 're very excited to be able to give

the e cholarsrup for the first time this year" he said. "We look forward to making these annual award .' 1'woteeth is in his second year at NIC focusing on general studies. The scholarship, he said was a surprise, but "mean a lot to me." Fast Horse, who will graduate from NIC in a few week , said she wa surprised to be nominated. "I never imagined Twoteeth anyone noticed anythmg I did," she aid. Fa t Horse, 34, is hoping to b a Microsoft ertified system engineer. She is in the midst of taking a erie of six, $100 tests given by Mj ro oft to earn her certification. Her ta k is made even tougher when you con ider a few things about her ituation: • For the econd straight quarter he is taking 16 credits. • he corrunutes 60 miles round trip

from Worley for her daily cla se . "You never know what's going to happen on that road," she said. • She's married, with four children. • Works 30 hours a week at the Coeur d'Alene Casino. "When I graduate I'll get to know my family again. I will be able to get back to my flowers," she laughed. Fast Horse is quick to credit her husband, Ed Fast Horse, with making it po ible for her to pur ue her dream . "He's o supportive, I couldn't do iL without my husband," she aid. 'He take care of thmgs at home." There's a reason for her dedication to her education : Fast Horse wants to earn her Microsoft certification and tay in Worley so she can ho h help th Coeur d'Alene Tribe ho d on to its heritage, y t be prepared for the technology of tomorrow. "My ancestors ar very important to me," she said. Twin nominated both Twote th , a Plummer resident, and Fasl Hor for th award becau of their work at chool and home. "Their efforts show," he said.


12th anniversary of Wallenberg prize By TRICIA JO WEBSTER Staff writer

COEUR d' ALENE - Tw lv y ar ago th city of o ur d'AJ n wa honor d with Lhe Raoul WaJlenb rg ivi Award in r cognition of th ·ommunity-wid ffort to tand up to hal . Raoul Wall nb rg wa a w dj h dipl mat who ha been redit d with aving th !iv of at I a· t 100,000

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World War U. Th Raoul Wall nb e rg Humanitarian Awa rd i routin ly giv n t Stone honor an individual or organization that ha mad gr at trid in furth ring th human right m v m nt, aid Juli M i r, dir ctor of th o ur d'AI n librar , wher the award is hou ed. How ver, on July 16, 1987. Co w· d'AI n b cam th fir t city to b award d Lh Raoul Wall nb rg ivi Award. o oth r city ha b n


ANDRE NEY/Press photos

Norm Gissel and Julie Meier discuss a book before the 12th anniversary celebration of the Raoul Wallenberg Civic Award at the Coeur d'Alene Library Monday.

granted the award in . M i r aid ur d'AJ n wa iv n th award b au e o 'our ¡ity' tand again I th violation f human righ ." Along wi h the r cognition of th award am a plaqu and 5,000. Ray Lon wa ¡ may r of ur d'AI n at the time tb award wa giv n and ugg t d that th e 5,000 b u d lo tart a human right coll tion al th library. Th

them lo the library in the m mory of a lov d one who ha mad gr at humanitarian effort . Th library al o ha a childr n' collection of human right lit ra~ ture, whi h ome people didn' und er tand when th coll tion was fir t tart d M ier said. "In id we're all th am , and kid n d to learn t hat arty,'' Mei r aid wh n qu Lion d about ducating bildren on human right i u . Tony t wart wa on th Koot nai ounty Ta k For on Human Relations wh n U1 award wa giv n. He aid wh nth award wa giv n in w York ity, th announc r aid th civic award wa a one-tim award that would probably n v r b giv n to a city again. The ta k force wa bu v ducaling children about human right and pa ing I gi lation in th tat of Idaho in th '80 when th award


Our View If_there were an awardfor bad neighbors, the Aryan Nations wouldget it.

Say 'neo-Nazi,' you've said it all

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Dear Stephen Ha e : 1n a letter to the ditorye terda you a ked r ident of orlh ldah and Ea t m Wa hingt n a que tion: ¡ How ha Aryan Nation bad a dir ct effect on yo u? We don tu ually ditorializ about I tter we receiv . But we re making an exc plion tbi time. We inc rely hope it might cau e you lo recon ider your affiliation with raci t Richard Butler' organizati n. Al o we bope you'U read an bjective biograph of Adolf Hitler the mas murderer your organization lionize . On Memorial Day Monday, familie throughout th Inland Northwe t a well a thi country. vi ited th grave of lov done who died d fending the world from Hitler tyranny. The pre ence of azi flag on your uniform and al your compound i an in ult to their memorie . If you don 't think that a direct co t try thi : ThecityofCo urd' JeneandKootenaiC unty pent$100.000 mbin don p lice protecti n la tJuly to n ure your march through downtown Co ur d Alene wa pea efu l. Merchants who cl ed their bop t pr te t the march or to tay out of harm , ay lo t money to . Then, for year your neo- azi headquarter near Hayd n Lake h cared away c nvention bu ine and touri t . Haye you mu t b a newcomer. Or you wouldn't a kif any Aryan had ever yelled at hi Kootenai ounty neighbor . Or . pit at them. Or h tat them. La t year three Aryan including thencompound ecurity director Je Warfield cha ed do\l n and hot at a mother and h r on who e car had backfired a it pa ed the ompound. ln 1997 a raci t pat on the pre id nt of the orth Idab allege Human Equality Club. Aryan ations member and c mpound vi itors hav planted bomb in ur d Alene. B robed the home of a Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation leader. Committed murder. R bbed bank and armored car . ounterfeited. Need ego on. Local re ident have received lhr atening phone call from Aryan ation official . ome have been hara d by ra i t in pired by Butler rhetoric and annual hatefe t . Other hav been landered by the unwanted hate literature your group ha left on car wind hield and in driveway . The pre. ence of your orth Idaho compound intimidate minorities and ha given thi region an unde erved reputation a a haven for raci t . ln hort Haye the Aryan Nati n has be n Lhe , or t of p ible neighbor . An oth r que tion ?

D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board


EDITION OF

'JltESPoKEsiMN-RIMEW • NEWS

ONLINE : WWW.SPOKANE.NET "

CdA shifts an march over to old town dump Ramsey Road replaces Sherman Avenue route By Ken 01 en taff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Richard Butler and the Aryan Nation can parade on July 10 - down by the old dump, the city of Coeur d'Alene has decided. The berman Avenue route home lo last year' march, was rejected becau e of

INSIDE

• Clear d'Alene City Council explains its position in aletter./17

the downtown disruption and becau e it s not large enough to accommodate the 400 marcher Butler preclict will participate this year

the city aid. ln tead, the Aryan Nations was granted a permit to march along Ram ey Road from tbe outh oftball field parking lot to the Ko tenai County landfill transfer ta-

Aryan Nations parade moved The city of Coeur d'Alene notified the Aryan Nations this week that its July 10 parade will have to follow this route.

tion and back to the parking lot. The entire route is 1.2 mile city official aid. That ection of Ramsey Road traver es the old city dump, which mo tly i covered by the oftball field . Thi route will eliminate traffic conge tion downtown and keep acce open to Tubb Hill city parking lot , th Third Street boat launch and the softball and b baJI diamond at McEuen Field. ln additfon the Ram ey Road it offer more parking 'for the 400 marcher , ' the city aid in a letter mail d to Butler on Colllinued: Parade/A10

Staff map: Warren Huskey


The Spokesman-R·eview

Parade: Ignore marchers, says rights task force Continued from A1

Tue day etting condition for the parade. Butl r could not be reached for comment on the conditions for hi parade. La t ummer the parad attracted about 1 0 prate ters and prompted two dozen arrests a police truggled to b ure there were no concealed weapon or other problem brewing on the ideline . Several of tho e arre t have parked law uit and ome of the arrested protester won mall cash ettlement from Kootenai County - which lent heriff ' deputie to h Ip with crowd control. As a re. ult, the city spent thouand of dollars on legal expert thi winter, bolstered by a $20,000 helping hand from Coeur d Alene tourism magnate Duane Hagadone. The City Council recently pa ed three new law with everal new re trictjons on parades. ln the end, however, the city decided it couldn't deny the Aryan Nation a parade permit. "We once again mu t per onally a k each of you for your upport in the upcoming m nth - and the be t upport ou can lend i to avoid the parade," Mayor t v Judy and the City Council aid in a prepared

tatemenl. Onlookers add to the ri k of harm and encourage the Aryan to march again.· Downtown merchant are glad they won t have to deal with the marcher or the anti-Nazi prote ter along East Sherman Avenue as they did last year. ·' f m thrilled believe me if they can keep it off of Sherman Avenue," aid Dan Dolezal, owner of the Camera Corral. La t year during the pat'ade ' I was closed. I had the light ut. I was banging around with a fire extingui her and wondered if I bould have a Kevlar (bulletproof) vet.' Still Dolezal said he hopes people will ignore the Aryans. That's echoed by the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relati n . "They want the attention they want the confrontation " aid Tony tewart of the task force. 'We wiU never remain iJent. Still, we would not attend the march - we think that would be a mi take. The ta k force basn t finalized plan for re ponding to thls year s event. But the group has decided to hold all of this year events in Kootenaj County. La t year, the ta k force and its upporters went to Spokane for a rally on parade day and then held an inter-faith church ervice in Coeur d Alene the day after the parade. • Ken Olsen can be reached at (208) 765-7130 or by e-mail at keno@spokesman.com.


June 3, 1999

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Options to an activi planned


Rights groups prepared

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been anticipating this decision for some time. "We won't remain silent on this " said Tony Stewart, a member of the Kootenai COEUR d' ALENE - Members of area County Task Force for Human Relations. Stewart led the effort last year to raise human rights organization will spend the next month preparing for another effort to awareness and money for human rights including a rally in Spokane, a pledge drive counter th mes ag of th Aryan Nations. Though word came out Wednesday that and an interfaith service. the city of Co ur d'Al n will allow the Aryans OPTIONS continued on A3 o march July 10, human rights official have

By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer

OPTIONS continued from A 1 More than $25,000 was raised in the Lemons to lemonade program, based on pledges for how long the Aryans actually marched. The money was plit up and given as grants to more than 20 area schools. "The idea wasn't to make money, but to discourage them from marching," said Marshall Mend, a longtime member of the task force and the Northwe t , Coalition Against Maliciou Harassment. That any money was raised for human rights activities was an unexpected benefit. The task force .is expected to meet next week to discuss what ' kind of public response is needed for the parade. Stewart said the effort will be strong in this area, but probably won't be as ambitious as la t year's lemon effort, where members spent six months promoting the campaign across the country. "This time, we only have a 30-day window, and we'll have , to decide quickly," he said. There will probably be some kind of public gathering, he said. One thing that probably won't take place is the task force attend' ing the Aryan parade. "We haven't and won't attend • any of their gatherings, and ' urge others to join us in alt ma-

tive activitie ," t wart aid. "It' on of thi ta k fore ' deeply h ld-b lief that group lik the Aryan enjoy the type of confrontation and th att ntion they rec ive.' H admitted that ome in the ommunity, even good people in the human right movement, disagree wilh this philo ophy and would rather fa e the Aryan . A few al o criticized the ta k force and other upporters for leaving the late la t year whil the Aryan mar hed through downtown. "Ev ryone is exp ted to find th ir own plac where they stand on this" tewart a.id. He said the task force ha an 18-year-history of offering po itive alternative , including a fiv day human rights ta k force in 1989. "Whatever we propo e. we'd lik to w 1 ome th good people of the area Lo join u ," tewart said. 'This is a wonderful way to ay 'no' to their me age without confronting them.' Mend sugg ted a t w counterprote ter hold up ign promoting Morri De s, the head of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center ha filed a civil uit again t the Aryans on behalf of a mother and on who claim they were fired upon outside the Aryan compound last summer. "As long as they ke p marching, we'll b th re." Mend said.


Cd' A City Council's Statement on Aryan Parade The following statement was issued MMUlay by Mayor Steve }t1dy and the Coei1r d'Aleu City Council: Chris

Copstead, R01t Edinger, DeanHa Goodlander, Dixie Reid, Susan Servick and Nancy Sue Wallace, and.

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ast year many citizens of Coeur d'Alene shared their thoughts and feelings about the Atyan March held last summer. Some asked if the mayor or City Coun il members could stop the Aryan from marching at all, or if the city can requir the marchers to pay the additional costs caused by an Aryan event After much serious thought, the cicy has made a decision about what must be done regarding this year's pending Aryan parade permit Th,e city will be issuing a "conditional" permit to the Aryan's, which would allow the group to parade oo July 10, 1999. This has been av ry difficult decision for the city to make, but after months of reviewing how other cities bave handled similar situations. the answer is clear: The city simply ha no choice but to allow this group their parade, regardle s of the offensiveness of their message or the fact that the Aryans are oot re idents of our city. Because the safety of all citizen i of the utmost importance, the city reviewed several parade routes and decided that a Ramsey Road route would be best This would enable us to better control pedesbi-

The city simply has no choice but to allow this group their parade regardless of the offensiveness of their message or the fact that the Aryans are not residents of our city.

an and vehicular traffic, as well as improve access 1D emergency vehicles. In addition. the City Council has approved an ordinance t;hat prohibits persons attending parades and public ~ l i e s from carrying weapons. Also recently approved is a barrier tape ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor for anyone to cross a police-designated barrier tape during a parade. With regard to additional charges, all parade and special events groups must be treated equally. If we charge the Aryans for extra costs (e.g., cleanup, street closures, and some police costs), we must also charge all other groups holding spe-

cial events that incur additional costs. Thus, organizers of the Fourth of July Parade, the Kiddies Parade. and other1raditional annual events would have to be charged for their additional costs. Therefore, the solution to the exoeeacosts problem depends on whether aD other special-event coordinators would be willing and able to pay these additional co$ in order 1D continue ho.ktina their events. H they cannot, the city caonot charge the Aryans for the additional costs they impose on the city. Unfortunately, it is clear !rom previous court ruJiqa that extraordinary costs for poBce protection cannot be charged to the Aryans. As difficult as this newsJllUBtbe, let us assure you that we will not let Coeur d'Alene become known as tbe plice whete Aryans march. We~ flldter it be known for the bravery arid moral courage of its cimens wbo~ in support of their nation's Constitution, dow free speech in their commu,iity. We Qnce again must personally• each-Of J:OU. for your support in the upco,ning moni:las and the best support that you can lead jg to avoid the parade. Onlookers .Id to the risk of harm and encourage the Anane to march again. In closing, please know that1ou will be kept informed about the exact time and route of the parade once it is decided. Thank you for your support and prayers during this very difficult decision. Our prayers are with you, too.


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City Clerk Su san W ath er • said the city denied the Aryans' request for a parade permit July 3. Mayor Steve Judy said the change in the parade location was made with public safety in mind. "We're doing the best we can to control time, place and manner, and the basis of doing that, of course, is public safety," he said Wednesday. In a pr epared sta te m e pt Wednesday, the city called it a "difficult decision" to issue the conditional permit, "but afte r months of reviewing how other cities have handled similar situations, the answer is clear: The city simply has no choice but to allow this group their parad , regardless of the offensiveness of their message or the fact that the Aryans are not residents of our city." According to the application from Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler, there will be 400 marchers, an automobile and a dog taking par t in the parade. Police Chief Dave Scates said h e will meet soon wi th members of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Depar tme nt and the Idaho State Police to begin planning how to handle the march. He said it should be easier to deal with than it was last year because there are not as many intersections and other traffic concerns at Ramsey s uch as people trying to get downtown to City Park, Lake Coeur

d'Alen e, Tubb Hill and the Third Street boat launch. 'That' what our hope is," he aid. Koote nai County h e riff's Capt. Ben Wolfinger said the county will be ready to help the city handle the event. ~ It' th eir show, just Like it wa la t year, and we'll as ist the m a they need assistance," he said. Wolfinger aid there are safety concerns police will deal with during the parade at Ramsey Road, ju t as there were during la st summer' s downtown parade. T h re ar apar tmen t compl ex s , ball fi e ld s and th e Koot nai Coun ty solid wa te tran fer tation along Ram ey Road, h aid. Officer will al o r view how thing went while handling la y ar' Aryan march. ' If we mad any mi takes we'll try to learn from th e m," Wolfinger said. At la t year's parade on July 18, the white upremacist group based in Hayden Lake marched in downtown Coeur d'Alen for about 30 mfoutes. There were o n'l y about 90 marc h e rs. Bu t th e re we r e hundreds of proteste rs at the parade, and more than 20 were arrested. The ity i be ing sued for $13 million by five prote ters who claim th ey were illegally arrested . Kootenai County paid $80,000 to ettle with the ame five proteste rs. Another arrested protester received $15,000 to settle hi claim with the county, but bas filed a federal law uit against th city.


Th city hir d S atll attorney Steve Burman la t y ar to draft a new law with an y on making it tough r to hold a parade in Co ur d'Al n . The City Council approved a lengthy law May 4 that, among other thing gave it th right move a parade to a location wher it would11 t disrupt traffi and adversely affect publi servic . lt also approved law that ban weapons within 1,000 feet of a parade and mad it a mi em anor to cro s police-barri r tape. But at tha t sam m eting th coun il removed language from the prop d law that would have requir d parad organiz r to pay high r damage depo its, f e for poU patrol , cleanup and other co t cited by the city. "If we harg th Aryan for extra o t , w mu t al o charg all oth r group holding pecial ev nt Lhat iJlcur additional co t ," aid ity official in Wedne day' pres r I a . Weather aid th ity changed the lo ation of th parade rout thi year "to liminate lraffi on¡ gestion io th downtown ar a cau d by lhi v nt'' She said th r will b mor parking at the Ram y field parking lot than th r wa for the Arya11 mar h r a they gather d at lnd pend oc Point la t year. The city will al o be able to provid b tt r publk afety, better urity for tho in th march and tho attending th event, 'and the community a a who) by moving th location of th ev nt." Th onditional permit for July 10 ay th mar h r can

discu ed th upcomiJlg Aryan parade with a few bu in leaders in the community. Som ar air ady worri d it will hurt the umm r touri m ea on. That's an ongoing concern," he said. Judy said d aling with the Aryan parade has been and is among "the harder thiJlg the city of Co ur d'Alene i ever going to hav to d al with. "I think certainly th city as a whole has been dealt a tough hand with this one. It's one of tho e situation that we don't r present in any way what they have to say, and yet at the same time we're bound to uphold the Constitution," he said. "It's one of the tough deals that really challenges the community to the core." Richard Butler could not be reached for comment Wednesday.


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Task force details plan to counter Aryan event Region's reputation, economy 'at tak B BILL BULEY Staff writer COEUR d' ALEN E - Th Koot nai ounly Ta k For fo r Human Relation want July 10,

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gr al day in th hi tory f human rights. Th ta k for e and orlh Idaho Coll g ' Human Equality Club announ cl plan W dn day l count r Lh Aryan Nation parad h dul d n t month along Ram y Road. COUNTER continued on A5


COUNTER

Wednesday h will b upporting local human rights efforts. continued from A 1 'As the governor' oftic aid to m thi morning, it is imperativ that we The Inland Northwest Human Rights Rally and send a me sage aero s Celebration i cheduled for 10 a.m. - the same America once again that time a the Aryan parade - at Schuler Idaho is no haven for racism, Auditorium at IC. that we ar a tat that lt will include gue t speaker from different believe in the right of aJI backgrounds, plus music, dancing and even chilpeople," St wart ¡aid. dren planting flowers. The ta k for beli ves ''I do b Ji ve that this will be such a major trong tep to counter the event that not only on that day will the Aryans be march of th white a footnote, but they too will be a footnote in the upremaci t group are n ce ¡ history book and the people who support human ary becau mor than th right will b the major story,' aid Tony Stewart, region' r putation i at ri k. Stewart ta k fore m mber. Ta k for memb r ay Th "L mons to Lemonade" fund-raiser, in the parad could damage the area both conomiwhich people pledge money to human rights cally and ulturally. organizations for each minute the Aryans march, "There' no way around th fact that all will be brought back this year. a pects of bu ine ar impact d by tbe imag of Th ta k fore i also hoping that movie the- the area and peopl perceptions of who r ally ater . kating rink and bowling alleys - as they lives here,'' aid Jonathan Coe, pr sident and gendid during la t year' Aryan march through down- eral manag r of the Co ur d'Al n Chamb r of town Co ur d'Alene - will offer free admission Commerce. and games the morning of July 10 to provide 'Our ability to attra t visitor , our ability alt rnative to th parade. to recruit quality employe s, our ability to Gov. Dirk K mpthorne also sent word bring n w busin es to the area are affe ted


by th quality of life, and a big factor of that quality of life is the support for human rights and diversity. ' Coe aid the Coeur d'AI ne and Spokane chamber are teaming up to speak out for human rights and develop specific human rights programs that businesses can use at the workpla e 1 vel. Libby Barnes, marketing and communication director with the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, said not just North ldaho is affected by bad publicity generated by the Aryan march. "lt' important the chambers work together becau e this is a regional issue and our bu inesse are dependent upon the success and growth of the r gion' economy," she said. Ta k force president Doug Cresswell said even though the Aryans may not receive the publicity they got last summer when national media came to cover the march, the group's message of hate must till be rejected. H denied the Aryans were being djscriminated against because of their beliefs just because their parade was moved by the city from downtown to Ramsey Road near the Kootenai County solid waste transfer station. 'The dump just happened to be in that loca-

tion." Cre well aid. "The r a on i. for publi afety, not only afety for the parti ipants but al o thos who will b ther viewing the parade.' City official ~aid th move hould provide ample pa and parking for lh 400 marchers Aryan alion lead r Richard Butler aid would b taking part in the parad . "Th ir fr p ech i not b ing denied," t wart said. "But the city ha th r sponsibility to worry about ai ty." He doubted th Aryan would b d nied attention b cau e of the new location, which is on a four-lane road next to Ram ey Park. it of the old city dump. "You in them clia will mak ur th y get plenty of publi ily," h aid. Co said it wa ironic thal o ur d'Alene, whi h ha b n honor d nationally for it human rights a tivitie . ha been "tarred and feathered with a brush that says we ar omehow the center of hat " du to the a tiviti of a man group of p opl . "Vtle need to ontinu to r v r that." he aid. "If anything, rather than b ing the center of hate, we're r ally the cent r of human rights " aid ta k force member Mar hall Mend. Mor details about th right rally will be made avaiJabl in th next few we k .


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Human rights group begins campaign against Aryans By Ken 01 en taff wri ter

COEU R d'ALENE - The right to march does not mean the march i right r bat me sage part of an ad erti mg campaign tarted Wedne day, ldck off the human-right community re p< n e to the Aryan Nation parade. cheduled for July 10 in Coeur d Alen . Thi i a trong mes age ·• aid Tony ltz K1st11mato/The Spokesman-R8Vlew tewart of the Ko - The Kootenai County Task Force on t nai County Task Human Relations unveiled Its lirsl Force on Human salvo against the Aryan Nations Relations. I often parade at a press conference Wedwonde r why the nesday at North Idaho College. Arya n Natio n d n't realiz they don't have an upport in our communhy.' lo it continuing effort to pe uade peopl to ignor the neo- azi , th ta k force will hold a human-right celebrati n on parade day. That raUy will be in Coeur d Alene thi year instead of Spokane, where la t year' paiade-day rail was held. 'We want to counter with p itive tivitie raLber than attend Lh ir activitie and confront them.'' Ste\ art aid. G v. Dirk K m~thurne ha b en invited to the ralJ . The ta k f rce 1 • king bu ine e to offer free alternativ acti itie , uch a mo i and kating. It aJso i ending out the call again for donation ba ed on how long th march lru.ts. The ·' L mon to Lemonade · pledge rai ed 35 0 0 la t year. About $24, 0 rayed in Continued: Parade/A&

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Ko tenai aunty and wa u ed for anti-hate education. People will be able to 'ign up to d nate a late a parade day. D wnt wn bu ines e , many of which c1 d la t year becau of the d wntown parade route, are being encouraged to tay open. That' b cau e the march ha been moved to Ram ey Road at the city' orders. The ta k force noted it has ju l 3Vz weeks tO re pond to the Aryan march v . five month of preparation tim

la t year. But member predict an even bigger re. pan e than la t year. When the parade i over and the ¡houting t p the ta k force want it effort to be the highlight of July while 'the march of hate will be a footnote Stewart aid. 'We want to make it not only a major day, but a major tatement of human right .' Aryan Nations leader did not retu rn telephon call asking for c mmel)( Wedne day. The busine community, m anwhil is working to get the word ut that the Inland Norrhwe t welcome people from aU ethnic background aid Jonathan Coe director of the Coeur d Alene Chamber of Commerce. That's key to auracting touri ts, bu ine e and new people.

Bu ines ha to help pread the word added Libby Bame of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce. 'Where the rubber meet the road is CEO leader hip,'' he aid. That appears t be happening. About 20 busines e have donated $10,500 to promote the anti-hate me age. Thi year Aryan Nation. parade appear to be generating far less attention than la t year' event. No matter aid Doug Cre sw 11 president of the Ta k Force. ' I think the me age of hate i till being ent " Cre well aid. "I think we need to be vigilant. • Ken Olsen can be reached at (208) 765-7130 or by e-mail at keno@spokesman.com.


Questions or comments on these issues? Call managing editor Scott Sines: (509) 459-5405; Fax. (509) 459-5482

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n May J abou t 15 tud nt Crom ven orth ldah high ch ol and from Sp kan 's Medicine Wheel Acadcm came to North ldah llegc for a minar on ra i m. The heard Seattle teenager L e Anne Wang talk about her carch f ran identil in a m lly whit cultur . The heard Ma er Gra. hin al o of Scalllc talk about how lrangc it a grO\ ing up a an Orthodo J win la ka. And they Ii t ned to Tara Dowd. a ativ American Le n from p kanc who changed cl th during h r pre entation t ·h w h w p r on· appearance can allcr the perception of other . The tud nt watch d a lid how that hawed the inOuencc f hat group in our r gi n, and w re read th cont nl of a h rribly racist homh threat. Finally, they had a chance t meet in mall group L talk a out diver ity, lOl ranc and ho they an mak a differ nc . H -re ar ome or th ir th ught. :

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Raci m i · a problem in our · hool and community. There i a mix of race ·, like in mo L place . We have Native American\ whites and a few African American . Even though people say they are joking they till make racist comment . There are many people who do not accept interracial relation hip . U our ociety i going to survive, we ne d to learn to get along- we houldn't ay people are bad or wrong hecau e they believe r do thing. differently. Being different i · good. I f evcryhody wa the ·ame, the world would be boring. We would not have much Lo learn. - Krista Sperber. lakeside 1/igh School I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to have allended Lhe anti-raci m . cminar. Lee Ann Wang told of how a a child other children made fun or her Taiwane e family and joked about their type of food. h told of how people treated her family a· if they were inferior. She got a little emotional on the tage and l felt her pain and her embarra menl. I felt luck that no one had ever poked fun at me in Lhi har h way. When Tara Dowd came onlo tbe tage in gano ter clothing I formed m own opinion about her ha:cd on her clothing. Later on in her pccch. he took off her outer la er or clothing. I reali,:ed that my opinion of her wa. totally different from her real personalit and dre tyle. I felt a hamed that I c lUld have judged omebody o unconsciuu, ly. I did not even realize that I could ha c been ·o cruel and wrong. This really made me open up my eyes and think. I have decided that I will. n t fade into the hackground if an act of racism i. commillcd. I want to lake a ·tand and light Lo eliminate raci ·m. - Jessi Turner, Piiest Uiver Lamamw Ifigh The thing that really affected me wa that we were the only dark- ·kinncd people io the room and 10 see those Iides hurt me a lot, bccau c I Ii c with ii every da . The (bomh threat) letter didn't o[fcnd me, hut it brought tear Lo my c e . - Tashina Cooley, Medicine Wl1ei!I Academ I gel really upset when I hear people talking bad about other. ju the au, c they arc not like them. I'm glad that I went to hear others tell , Lorie about what has happened to them. When the pcakcr were talking about their lives, I almo. t wanted to cry .... I have 'Cvcral relatives \ ho arc racist I f I was to tell them we had a black kid in our chool. they would mo t likely tell me to watch oul because I might get hurt. Why doe thi alway happen? Just bccau e one ()1-!r on was like that doesn't mean that everyone i . Candace Paparazzo. Lt1keside f figh I heard different perspective Crom a diver e forum f peaker . They poke of vi ion of the future and brought up many good points. My favorite part was the lide how. IL remfoded me that Lbese hate crimes happen on a large scale, even lo while people. - Flora Limberhandi Medicine Wheel Academy

The wa Tara Dowd chang d her appearance created a big impact on me and many people I tal.ked lo. The . peechc · helped to open my eye. and become aware of the, ay we prejudge people either knowingly or unknowing! . - Rebecca Golden. Co,11rd'!l lene f/igh School I know how il Jed to be treated like . meone who doc n't count. I wa · at a tore 10 return . omething and I had a receipt to get my money hack. bu t the lady I bought it from left the ink tag on . o they thought [ stoic it. t the . amc time, my i ter. who ha, lighter skin lhan me, returned ·omething and <lid not have to show identi fication. - Megan Lozeau, Medici,,, Wheel

llcademy The picture. of children at Aryan rallies were not only di gu ·ting, but heart-wrcm:hing. I pra the e children grew up to be adul t. who do not hate. To be adult · who would break away from the viciou l')'clc that the were brought up in. I would Like to thank tho e who put together the conferenc • and tho c who . poke at it. You all opened the eyes or Idaho'. youth even , id ·r about hate. We were ahlc LO cc the effects or hate and we learned how we can prevent hate in scho ll. With the . kill that we learned at North ldaho College, we can erase bate. Nol right away but it can be d nc. - Tyler Kinnie. Pries/ River Lamanna I ligh I the antj-raci m seminar. I happened to be walking behind a group of alive American girls. One girl aid to her friend... I feel o out of place. there arc all of the ·e Suyapi around ... For tho:c of you who may not know, a Su api i a while person. 1ler friend tu rned around lo talk to h r and noticed me walking behind them. Th thought ii wa: really (unny and taned laughing. I am , hitc. Thi. group of girl gave me my lirst xpcrience wi th racism. A raci.'m ·eminar by it, elf cannot accompli h anything. 'eminar. ar in my opinion. Lhe Lir l tep in howing people how bad the problem of raci m r ally is. One mu ·1 honc. tly believe that change · need lo be made in order for our world to become a better place. - Jenifer Moore, 1,akeside I ligh

I would like lO expre:s my appreciation to tho e three high . t:hool ·tudcnL , ho had the courag to get up and peak .o openl . I reall learned a lot al the . eminar. It made m open my ·ye. , and gave me mor of an open mind toward other•. I al, o enjoyed when we went into group and had di cu. ion . It wa awe me. and anyone who mi d th minar missed out on a lol. I would like to thank lh peopl who made it po ible for me to att nd uch a great thing and T look forward lo it n xt year. - Yolanda Terres, Lake ide High chool •


SPEAKING

OUT

'Change the wurld (Jfle heart at a time' By Sarah Bide.lie Coeur d'Alene High School

. lide after slide of hate per onified Dashed upon the waJI, I saw the North ldaho that the re t of the world see . The human rights forum open d my eye to the incredible prejudice that is allowed to cxi t in m own back yard. But this prejudice i found not only in the Aryan we o vehemently disown. but in many of u in our community. I recently read a quote that said, "When omeone tell a lie about you, live so no one will believe him.'' We in North Idaho mu t how the re t f the world that the Arvan Natioru they ee in Time magazine i ·not who we are. But thi change must begin in our hcartli.

One of the speakers at the forum said there are three type of people in the world. The fir t group is the victim , the one who must uffer a the second group. the aggressors, mu L find a apegoat for their own Crustration . Yet it i the last group that its on lhe ideline , watches, yet says nothing. It is you and I who have the capability to ·top these inexcusable actions and tand up for what we know to be right. It is when we do nothing that the greatest tragedy occurs. What impacted me the most was the three pcakcrs who were my age. Their trong word. were backed by strong emotions, and I knew they believed in what they told us. Although each one had a different tory, their overriding message was a challenge for us lo find out who we are as individual , take pride in who we are as individual and love and respect other · for who they are as individual . In a time when my generation L,; labeled as hopeless, it is obvious there is hope that we have the capability to rise up and change the world one heart at a time.


A4 THE PRESS Thursday, June 24, 1999

Roundup

Human rights group to unveil plans for 'new endeavor' today COEUR d' ALENE - The Kootenai County Human Right Task Force i scheduled to detail plan today in it battle for equality for all people. Ta k force member Tony Stewart said the group will b joined for an 11 a.m. press conference by Hew\et-Pa kard representative from Spokane. Stewart said a 'new endeavor' involving Idaho and Wa hington will be announced at the meeting in the h rman Admini !ration Building at North Idaho College. Th an aouncement is part of the ta k force's longrange plan to fight discrimination. "I think it' a new era for the task force," tewart aid. "We're excited about thls. It's a new opportunity for u .' TI1e ta k force i co- pon oring the lnland Northwest Human Rights Celebration on July 10 at NIC.


Hewlett-Packard offers $SK for human rights Hope is to spread word across border By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer COEUR d' ALENE - Th addition of $5,000 to th off r of a n wly er at d arm of lh Kootenai County Ta k Fore for Human R Jati on will h Lp spread me sage of diver ity into Wa hington. H wlett-Pa kard pr nted th donation to memb r of th ta k for e and th la k fore ' Human Right· Ed ucation Foundation Thur day: The bardwar and el ctroni company pokan oHi e decid d to mak th donation because of th foundation' effort to rea h many p opt , especially tud nt . "Education will make many trides in changing hear t and minds," aid Liz Cox, HP's community relation manager. "It' vital in the Inland orthw st to mak ur thi i a wond rful place for all ethnicity and rac to live and play." The re ent donation al o will put the foundation' n t worth at more than $11,000, said Mary Lou R ed, a form r tate Lawmaker and head of th nonprofit foundation. Som mon y ha come from a rec nt banquet, along with last y ar' su fuJ Lemons to Lemonad campaign. She aid the mon y will allow the foundation to onti nu grant to educator in ortb Idaho, and hop fully xpand into ast rn Wa hington hools. An th r priority i to offer div r ity w rk h p • and training to ar a compani . Other bu in I ad r follow HP' xampl . ·~ hope w wiU be in th front, and this mon y can rv a seed money, and Uiat otJ1er ompanie will tep up to th p]al ,"

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Liz Cox, center, communjty relations manager for HewlettPackard's Spokane office, and Kim Greer, HP's financial operations manager, present $.5 000 to the Human Rights Education Foundation, an arm of the Kootena i County Task Force for Human Relations. Among those accepting the donat ion was task force chairman Doug Cressw ell, left. I ok at way to improve diver i-

"Education will mak many trid in changing h art and mind . It' vital in th Inland Northw t to mak sur thi i a wonderful place for all ethnicity and ra to live and play. ' -Liz Cox, HP's community relations manager

ty training and combat mesag of hat through the r gion. Various joint ta k forces are looking at verything from mark ting to touri m, along with creating an mployee referral n twork. ·~ hav a genuin fine area her , but r ally, the quality of lif i nhanced by diversity," Jame on aid. "And we are xtrem Jy pl a ed to see HP trying to support thi area." Cox aid her company has noti d that the need for diversity or problem with racial views isn't ju t r tri t d to on or two cities or owiti . And a more companie are doing work outside the country, th need to respect peopl ' vi w and cultures grows v n mor important

'Th hang for all of us isn't ju L ombatiug hat , but combating apathy." h said. "A lot of tim it i too a. y to ay that som thing doesn tan ct me, but it do ' h p rson from the t a h r l th bu ine owner ha an important rol to play."


SECT I ON

Friday, June 25, 1999 To contact lhe North Idaho office, dial (208) 765-7100, toll-lree (800) 344-6718: Fax: (208) 765-7149

The Spokesman-Review Spokane, WashJCoeur d'Alene, Idaho

Doug Cresswell, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, greets a $5,000 check from Hewlett-Packard with a smile Thursday. Llx Cox, public relations representative for H-P, was among company officials on hand to boost the task force's educational foundation.

T ask force gets boost

from Hewlett-Packard By Ken Olsen taff writer

COEUR d ALENE - The educational fight against hatred raci m and intolerance received $5 000 in fuel from HewlettPackard pokane divi ion Tue day. "This i our first major contribution aid Mary Lou Reed former North Idaho tate enator and o w pre ident of tbe newly formed Human Right Education Foundation. "We all recognize the time to strike i now and Lhe way to trike i education. ' I think this i going to be an in ;piration - it expand our horizon of wher we might go.' Hewlett-Packard believe education

will make the large t trides in chaniing the heart and mind of people explained Liz Cook of H-P. The educalion foundation an arm of the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation , will u e the money on both ide of the border. H-P hope its donation will prompt other busine: e ro contribute. ' I think there' a trong ca to be made for diversity and inclusivene s, Cook aid. It' key to anyone operating in a global marke uch a H-P. 'It good for bu ines ' Cook aid. On an altruistic ba is it' the right thing to do.' The education foundation was officially formed in February and held a fund-rai er banquet in April where it rai ed $7,000.

ShawnJacobsorvihe Spokesman-Review

The idea grew, in pan out of last year Aryan Nation march. The ta k force rai ed about $35,000 for variou human right woup: by a king people to pledge donation ba ed on the

am unt of time the neo-Nazi parad d up and down Coeur d'Alene Sherman Avenue. ome $24 from the o-c lied ¡'Lemon t l monade' effort went to Lhe Continued: Donation/BS


Page B8

Friday, June 25, 1999

The Region

Donation: 'quality of life is enhanced by diversity' Continued from 81

ta k force, whjch pu_t the money toward peakers, library material , and other educational efforts in the schools. For more than 15 years, the task force has belped victims pu bed major human right legislation and made other efforts. But education is the mo t important thmg it can do, srud Doug Creswell, president of the task force and former superintendent of Coeur d Alene chool . H-P thoroughly examined the task forces program before deciding to make the donation. 'We were looking for some real positive influences in the community," srud Kim Greer of H-P. "I e: pecially liked the idea of

the educational role. I think young minds are the place you can make a difference." The announcement of the donation also was accompanied by the Coeur d Alene Chamber of Commerce announcing it wa formjog a partnershjp with the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce called the "CEO Diversity Group." Part of the effort will include employment outreach to people from ruverse backgrounds, said Dee Jameson, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber. The group also will give a regional push to the anti-hate message and showing people that the "area and quality of life is enhanced by diversity,' be srud. A few weeks ago, the two chambers and the business community purchased newspaper ad proclaiming 'The Right to March Does Not Mean the March Is Right.'' That is rumed at the Aryan Nation's plans to hold another parade in Coeur d'Alene trus year - either July 3 or July 10. • Ken Olsen can be reached at (208) 765-7130 or by e-mail at keno@spokesman.com.


SECTION

Saturday, June 26, 1999 The Spo esman-Aeview Spokane. Wash/Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

To contact the North Idaho office. dial (208) 765-7100. toll-free (800) 344-6718; Fax. (208) 765-7149

"The challenge for all or us, business and citizen , Is not Just combating hate, but il's combating apathy," said Liz Cox, right, of Hewlett-Packard. She was among several company officials who presented Doug Cresswell, left, of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations wilh a $5,000 donation Thursday.

Hewlett-Packard helps put human rights drive over top COEUR d'ALE E-A new anti-raci m education foundation easily exceeded it 1999 fund-rai ing goal thanks to the generity of Hewlett-Packard. The pokane arm of the computer and in trument maker gave $5 000 to the Human Righ Education Foundati n it wa announced Thursday. The compan want all people of all backgrounds to be able to Jiv and work in the region and feel a g od about it as ~ e do,., said Liz Cox, community relation manager for the company. Her name was m' p Ued in a Friday article and phot caption regarding the gift. 'The challenge t r all of u , bu ioe and

cJttzen i not ju t combating hate but if c mbatiag apathy, Cox aid. ' It reaUy affect all of our lives. Education i , in the company' view, the best way to make important trid on tolerance and diversity. The Kootenai C unty Ta k Force on Human Relation , parent of the foundation, caught HewlettPackard' e e a the mo t effective way of making that happ n. Tb foundation grew out of la t year' fund-raising ffort by the human relations task force. The ta k force gathered donations for human right group ba ed on the amount of time the Aryan Nation marched

in it downtown parad . That 'Lemon to Lemonade" effort rai d $24,000 for the T k Force alone. It put money into educational efforts. from

early childhood educa tion to program at Gonzaga University. Thi latest donation likewi e will ga. to program in both Idaho and Washington.


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Task force announce rights events Sen. Craig to address diversity in workplace COEUR d' ALENE -Th Koot nai County Ta k For e on Human Relation and the North Idaho olleg Human Equality Club ar joining for with the Co ur d Alen Chamb rof Commerce, the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Bu ines Association and theSpokan Chamber of Comm rce n xt week to ponsor Craig two events. Next aturday at 10 a.m. the groups will pon or an Inland Northwe t Human Right Rally and Celebration in the huler Auditorium at orth Idaho Coll ge. Thursday at 8 a.m., the groups will play ho t to a breakfa t at The Coeur d'Alene Re ort featuring en. Larry Craig. He will addre diver ity and human relation in the workplace. The breakfa t will al o highlight the a tivitie of regional program by bu ine to produce a more diverse workforce. Th pokane hamber will be on hand to off r information about its Minority and Bu ine s Partner hip, which promotes an und r tanding of multi-cultural relations in the workplac and mploym at opportunitie for p op! of color. The Co ur d Al ne Chamber will provid information about the work of it m mber to promot a more div r e work fore . TASK FORCE continued on Al


THE PRESS Saturday, July 3, 1999 A3

Continued From •••

TASK FORCE con·tinued from A 1 The celebration will feature a number of brief addre e by representatives from the diverse communitie within the region as well as musical performances.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has be a invited to give a keynote addre . "The Coeur d'Alene hamber of Commerce is proud to be a sponsor of the Inland Northwest Human Right RaJly and Celebration," said Jonathan Coe, chamber director. "Our organization has

a long history of celebrating human rights in our community, and we are v ry ex.cit d about next week's activitie to show our community' upport for human rights.' o ·oug Cresswell, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, expressed the

Cre well sa id. He al o pointed to last w ek's $5 000 grant to the Task For e from Hewlett Packard as proof of the progres . Jo h Buehn r, pre ident of the North Idaho College Human Equality Club, said hi organization i honored to host the rights rally.

rganizatioo' . trong upport for thi joint ffort with th bu in ommunili in Wa hingt on and Id aho. "I b liev thi proj cl i another exampl of Lh gr at trid w ar making in th Inland Northw t to e r at a mor c ulturally div r plac lo liv and work,"

"It wilJ be a special day in Coeur d 'Alene, "said Buehner. The Thursday breakfast at the Coeur d'Alene Resort is $8. No reservations are neces ary. The July 10th human rights rally at North Idaho College is free to the public. Information: 765-3932


Saturday, July 3, 1999

Page A7

Front Page

Leaders plan human rights events By Brian Coddington taff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Local human rights leaders firmed up plans Friday to hold a rally and ho ta breakfa t next week in response to anticipated Aryan Nations event . A coalition of business and human rights organizations are organizing the July 10 rally in North Idaho College's Schuler Auditorium. The rally featuring speeche from minority community leader , begin at JO a.m. A Thursday morning brealcfa t also i planned at the Coeur d'Alene Re ort beginning at 8. U.S. Sen. Larry Craig will deliver a talk about diver ity in the work place. Both event are part of the ' Rands Acr the Border" movement promoting diversity, and will proceed despite plans by the Aryan Nation ro rally thi weekend rather than July 10. The Kootenai County Ta k Force on Hu.man Relation , NJC Human Equality Club, Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce, the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Bu ine s Association and the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the events. Gov. Dirk Kempthome also ha been invited to peak

at the July 10 rally which was originally scheduled to run opposite the Aryan Nation parade down Ram ey Road. Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler said Friday hi group ha not decided if it will tage a march July 10. • ln tead, Butler announced plan · to hold a rally in jty Park this afternoon a part of the Aryan Nati n World Congress this weekend at the white upremacist group Hayden Lake compound. · Human right task force leader aid the group does not have anything planned weekend. ''Whatever happens next week, we are definitely going to do our program ' said Tony Steward a lask force member. City official. have approved a parade permit for Aryan Nations members to march down Ram ey Road from 10 to ll a.m. July 10. Without a permit to march today, the kinheads can hold a rally in City Park without a megaphone.

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• Brian Coddington can be reached at (208) 765-7124 or by e-mail at brianc@spokesman.com


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