Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Scrapbooks 1997 by Molstead Library at North Idaho College

'Crayon Kids' float makes colorful point Likepeople, they come in many hues By Ward Sanderson Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE-The living room looked pretty normal, except in one comer. That's where the neon mountain range erupted in rows of bright, pointed peaks. They were cones, bigger even than the traffic type, in orange and black and green and yellow. On Friday, they'll be hats for 19 children riding in or wall<lng alongside the "Crayon Kids" float. Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations volunteers have been planning the spectacle for a month. But Wednesday, the makings of the July Fourth American Heroes Parade entry still were strewn all over Judy Hyatt's home and garage.

The idea is cute, simple and important: Crayons come in many colors, and so do people. The float will be a giant wooden crayon box, and the kids will ride inside. " It's 'Celebrate a Community Committed to Human Rights,' " Hyatt said, echoing the task force slogan. This week, a total of 50 volunteers helped get ready. On Wednesday, a handful of folks stuffed 5,000 (real) crayons into plastic bags. They'll be given away at the parade, along with human rights fliers and copies of pictures drawn by local kids. The eight pictures chosen all drive home human-rights themes: They're crayon kids, or a man in a wheelchair, or flowers-each with the face of a different race.

Lil Klsl'11mo1o/The Spokesman-Review

Kootenai Task Force on Human Relations members Judy Hyatt, Tony Stewart and Judy Whatley prepare crayon hats for kids to wear in the parade.

Âˇ'J planned to choose one drawing but l just couldn't pick," said Hyart, a Canfield Middle Sch.-101 teacher.

Adults pitched in, too. Fred Meyer donated the 4,000 plastic bags. United Paint donated the Continued: Parade/83

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Parade: Many joined effort Continued from 81 colors used to paint the float to Crayola-esque completion. "The thing that's helped us through the years is that we've gotten a lot of support from business," said North [daho College's Tony Stewart. Kaylee Crusewas getting ready, for the parade, but those hats sure were big. The 4-year-old tried a yellow model on for size, and it slid down over her eyes. She was quiet for second - then let out a wee squeak. OK, Hyatt said. We'll try another one. Task force volunteers hope the simple lesson of the crayon box will make a mark more lasting than anything made from wax. "We've always felt the future of human rights is through children," Stewart said. "And," volunteer Theresa Potts piped, "it's such an easy lesson."

Conference plans to get tough on hate crime Increased funding and legislation to be addressed atNIC meeting, aired Monday

•

By Andrea Vogt

On1V

Staff writer

COEUR d ALENE - Washingt n's and Idaho' repre entative to the White House Conference on Hate Crime are armed with request . The conference which will b broadca t live Monday at NIC's Todd Hall, i expected to include announcements. of new law enforcement and prevention initiatives to get tough on hate crime . NIC Interim President Ronald Bell

;l ......

The While House Conference on Hate

Crimes will be.broadcast from 8:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. In NIC's Todd Han in the library. The public is welcome to attend. Local legislators also have been Invited.

::,,

• More federal funding for monitoring hate crime and the activities of hate groups. • Increased federal funding and peronnel for police diversity programs and eminar to train rate and local law enforcement agencie to identify hate crime. • Federal legi lation creating criminal and civil penalties for malicious hara ment committed aero tate lines.

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and Northwe t Coalition Again t Maliciou Hara ment director Bill Was muth were invited to attend and wiJJ

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ln addition, the group i urging univeritie nationwid to study the new Gonzaga Institute for Action Again l Hate. According to a Gonzaga University subcommittee drafting the concept the institute will create everal new course on the cau e of hate and ways to combat it a well as a clearinghouse for research d~ta expert and iaformation on hate crimes. "This i a terribly important issue aid Tony Stewart spoke man for the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human

Relations. The president, vice president attorne general and secretary of education will be joined by member of Congress state and local official and 350 leader from law enforcement civil rights, youth, education and religiou communitie . The conference will be broadcast from :15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in NIC's Todd Hall in the Library. The public is welcome to attend. Local legi lators al o have been invited.

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aho THE COEUR d' ALENE PRESS Friday, Nov. 7, 1997 AS

NIC to host teleconference on dealing with hate crimes By JOE BUTLER Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - On Monday, NIC's Interim President Ron Bell will meet with President Bill Clinton at a first-ever national conference on bate crimes. While the Coeur d'Alene community will not be able to accompany Bell to Washington, D.C., residents can watch some of the proceedings at NIC. The college is one of 50 locations through the country chosen to host the conference via satellite. The public and any interested elected officials are invited to NIC's library from 8:15 am. to 10-.30 a.m. Viewers will be able to see Clinton's remarks on hate crimes issues and bear bis plans to strengthen anti hate<rime policies.

People who attend can also see a panel presentation with Attorney General Janet Reno, Secretary of Education William Bennett and other leaders.

Cabinet members will host several sessions in the afternoon, and Reno will hold a closing panel. Participants are invited to a r~eptlon at the Holocaust Museum. About 350 religious, educational, political, youth and law enforcement leaders from the country will brainstorm on how to improve policies, or share posi-tive things their respective communities are doing. Bell will be accompanied by Bill Wassrnuth, a former Coeur d'Alene priest who now is the executive director of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment The Kootenai County Task Force has given Bell a Hst of eight points and recommendations to present These include praising Clinton for his tough stance, urging other schools to adopt hate studies programs like Gonzaga University and supporting programs that will assist law enforcement and the overall community in dealing with diversity.

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Clinton pledges to fight hate crime MC-linked teleconference considers plan of attack By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer COEUR d 'ALENE - Legislation and education are two key areas to focus on in trying to combat hate

crimes. President Bill Clinto n said Monday in a teleconf1rence linked to North Idaho College. Clinton was the keynote speaker at the White House Conference on Hate Crimes. an event at George Washington University. More than 350 political, spiritual, youth, educational and law-enforcement leaders attended the first-ever confer-

ence, which discussed ways to reduce congressional plan which will increase crimes related to race. sexual orientation, the scope of hate crime legislation to religion, gender or disabilities. Most of cover violence to homosexuals, disClinton's Cabinet was also present abled or members of an opposite sex. Two conference delegates were Ron "All Americans deserve protection from hate," Clinton said. ''We should Bell, interim president at NlC, and Bill mak e our curren t laws tougher to Wassmuth, a former Coeu r d'Alene include all hate crimes that cause phys- priest who is now executive director of ical hann." the Northwest Coalition Against Clinton went on lo lend support to a Malicious Harassment in Seattle.

NlC was also chosen as one of 50 localions across the country to link up to part of the conference via satellite. About 40 students and members of the comm unity were able to watch Clinton's remarks and part of a roundtable discussion with leaders from various communities in America. HATE CRIME continued on A5

• •

: · White House conference gives Bell hope By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer COEUR d' ALENE - Ron Bell, the interim president of North Idaho CoUege, didn'l discover anything he didn't know at Monday's Whit.e House Conference on Hate Crimes. Jnstead, BeU found that many of the 350 delegates s hared bis belief that leaders • musl work to preserve the dignity of all citi-

.,. zens.

•1 found it quite inspiring,• he said Monday evening in a phone inter view from the Holocaust Museum in Washinglon, D.C. "1 llstened to inspiring people, and talked to people who care.• An emphasis oo dignity is important for

any leader, ranging from the president of a community college to lhe presidenL or a country. "lf we don't concentrate on the fact that everyone needs to be treated with dignity. it can be explosive," Bell said. "If hatred domi· nates. reason goes out the window: Much of the oneday confer ence revolved on the need to reduce hate crimes by Bell concentrating on th e sou_rce - ignorance or fear. Even people who don't support but don't do anything try

to stop hate can be made aware of the effects of violence. "111e conference reinforced that we are heading in the right direction and the need to make things safe for people who are pressured, and a pla.ce where people can feel safe expressing themselves," Bell said. We also need to make an environment for people to reinforce the good it's not all bad." A coUege campus is a place where people of all viewpoints can find the freedom to hold open dialogues, withou_t any side attacking, dominating or trying to strip anyone else's dignity, BeU said. He said he has been gathering names of fellow delegates who may be interested in 4

speaking at NIC.

HATE CRIME

continued from A 1

Some of the panelists included Grant Woods. Arizona's attorney general, Tammie Schnitzer. a community activist from Billings, Mont., Peter Barant. a retired police chief from Boston, 11nd Raymond Delos Reyes. a Filipino high school student from Seattle. "As a policeman, I knew weapons can destroy people. and I have learned that words can also destroy." Barant said. Vice President Al Gore urged t~e audience to "press on" in efforts to have people live togetht!r in peace. ;; Gore's speech was followed lry Clinton, who announced weasures that include allow(lig victims or housing-related Irate crimes to seek monetary damages from their attackers and devoting up to 50 extra 1181 agents and federal prosecutors toward enforcing hatecrime laws. "We can fight prejudice by fi_gh ting ignorance and fear: Clinton said. "We will marshal our resources to give us a powerful tool against hate.'' Tony Stewart. a po;itical sci~nce teacher at NIC and a member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. coordinated the local connection to Washington D.C. "I found it very informative; he said afterward. He is now gathering comments or suggestlClns from the conference and plans to send them to the White House. • Stewart said many of Clinton's goals against hate crimes were ~imilar to a platform recommendi;d by Kootenai County's task force. For example, both groups ealled for tougher legislation, increased training and awareness

BONNIE HUDlfT/Co.ur d'Alene Press

Do ug Cresswell watches Vice-p resident Al Gore during t he White House Conference on Hate Crimes via satellite Monday morning at North Idaho College.

for law enforcement and additional education programs promoting diversity. Stewart said the need for increased emphasis on ha te· driven activity was shown over the weekend. when the Coeur d'Alene area, including Lhe college, was blanketed by propaganda from a local whitesupremacist group.

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N. Idaho is exhibit A for hate meeting ''I'm not happy about being targeted." said Marshall Mend, one of two task force members singled out in a nier distributed in had harassed them so much they had moved. Coeur d'Alene By Andrea Vogl and Hayden Lake last week路 And Cindy Swift, a fed-up Post Falls parent, S1aff Wn1cr end. "It puts me and my family in jeopardy." debated how to tell school board members COEUR d'ALENE - As Ron:1ld Bell she. was pulling her son from high school, Over the past !WO weeks. Mend had helped shook hands Monday with President Clinton saymg he s been targeted by racists. find new housing for a Filipino man. his wife al the White House Conference on I-late and 4-year-old son. who reported being Crimes hi~ North Idaho College campus was Bell, NK's interim president. made a targeted by a group of skinheads living in being 1i'uered with Aryan Natio~ propagan路 timely visit to the national hate crime Post Falls. da. conference. Kootenai Coun1y's Task Force The couple. who both grew up in Post While the Marine sextet played for the on Human Relations is reporting that an Falls. received racist niers in the mai l and at president's guests. an Asi~-Amcri~an family Aryan Nations propaganda campaign has thei r door with "you could be next'' mesm Post Fulls was waking up m a new intensified in recent months to a level the residence after telling police that skinheads watchdog group hasn't seen in years. Continued Race/A10

Race-basedharassment, fliers strike area asWhite House conference begins

Clinton opens sumnit on combating hate crime By Laurie Snyder

S1aff writer

WASHlNGTON - President Ointon called for an "all-out campaign" against hate crimes a1 the first-ever White House conference on the issue Monday. The question of the' day: What can be done? No one found a magic bullet that would

end crimes tarieted at individuals because of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. But the mood.in the packed auditorium al George Washington University was hopeful. The president invited about 300 community activists, state legislators and police officers to listen to speeches and kick Continued: Hate crlmet/A10

Page B4 Wednesday, November 12, 1997 Toe Spokesman-Review Spokane. Wash/Coeur d'Alene. Idaho

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Our View

An increase i11 ra.ciJt activity in No11h Idaho callsfor an active responsefrom all the regions decent people.

Every ugly instance must be countered The baulc for human rights is never easy. Advocates have been beaten and killed fighting for such basics in this country as the right 10 sit at a lunch counter or on any bus seal. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was cut down by a sneak assassin because he had the guts 10 demand his U.S. citizenship rights- and lodream. Much has changed in the 30 years since Dr. King fell. We've expunged bigotry from our laws. Business and government no longer can use race, religion, disability or gender to discriminate · against individuals. Unfort unately, no law can eradicate prejudice from our hearts. It's tenacious. And, if1he truth be known, we all have biases against something or someone. In its worse form, bias surfaces in hate speech and actions 1ha1 victimize helpless people. When that happens, the bigots should fee l the sting of public outrage and. when applicable, the law. It's happening again in North Idaho. Recently, racists have crawled out from under their rocks to distribute hate literature and harass law-abiding citizens. A student human rights leader at North Idaho College was called a racial slur and spit on by an unknown assailant. Fliers were spread through Boundary County attacking the area's Hispanics. A mixedrace couple left Sandpoint because they didn't feel welcome. A Filipino man decided to move his family after bring harassed by Post Falls skinheads. And, on Monday, the NIC campus was liuered wit h Aryan Nations propaganda. No one seems to know what spurred area racists to step up their activity. But past experience has taught local human rights activists that such activity must not go unchallenged. Racism flourishes in a vacuum. It also prospers when elected and civic leaders refuse to take the problem seriously. North Idaho's elected leaders at all levels should follow Gov. Phil Bau 's example by denouncing racism every time ii surfaces in their cemmunities. Prosecutors and local police should use Idaho's tough laws against malicious harassment 10 penalize those responsible for hate crimes. Schools should educate against racism and enforce a zero tolerance policy toward skinheads who harass classmates. Pastors should challenge prejudice in their congregations. Civic · g!oups should encourage discussions about this problem. Individuals should examine their hearts. Racism is a sickness that has claimed 100 many victims already. D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board

Idaho Roundtable Spokane, Wash./ Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Sunday, November 23, 1997 Page 111

-Decent people n1ust continue to thw~rt Guest column

Sfoker ht.at'\.

,eevlew

the neo-Nazis' every hateful stratagen1 By Norm Gissel Special to Roundtable

here's been a recent flurry of neo-Nazi activity in our area. Many people are asking: "What's going on?" Âˇ A bit of history: The neo-Nazis made their presence known in North Idaho in 1980 with the distribution of threatening letters, race-baiting, painting swastikas and World War II Nazi slogans on the walls of locaJ businesses. At that time, a locaUyweU-known neoNari terrorized several small children of color in Coeur d'Alene - an act for which he promptly went to jail. Neo-Nazis seemed to have three goals then. The first was to victimize and harm various American citizens they hated, i.e. people of color, Jews and others they decided they didn't like. (Mormons have recently made the list.) The second was to bring so much pressure on North Idahoans that we would be forced to move from our homes. The third was to seek community approval of these acts. Neo-Nazis believe race is the sole object of politics. They also believe North Idaho is ideally suited to be accepting of this fata lly flawed view of life. They did succeed in bullying and hectoring segments of our community. For the bully, the act of bullying itself is a victory of sorts. However, they failed completely in their larger agenda. Public opinion was unanimous .in its opposition to the neo-Nazis. Following this first foray, an outbreak of criminal activity occurred in 1982-83 by a neo-Nazi subgroup, The Order. Its crimes included armored car robberies, a bank robbery, counterfeiting and assault. The group's goal was to instigate a revolution based on racism. This idea was no more successful than the first efforts. In 1986, a smaller, second subgroup, Order Il, bombed

the home of a Catholic priest and several Coeur d'Alene businesses. The neo-Nazis fou nd that bombing a city was an equally poor way to gain social and political power in North Idaho. One other group of neo-Nazis began holding celebrations and hosting activities on Hitler's birthday. This also fa iled to gain public affection. (One is tempted to include a comment about the four men recently convicted of the 1996 bombings and bank robberies in Spokane. However, from what we have been able to learn, their belief system is so bizarre as to defy rational analysis.) We are now experiencing another round of neo-Nazi activities. Among these are driving a family out of its Post FaJls home and harassing a North Idaho College student. Additionally, leaflets and pamphlets have been left in numerous places throughout Kootenai County. They include unsigned leafl ets libeling members of our community so as to cause them financial loss and bold them up to public ridicule. By not signing these leaflets, the neo-Nazis responsible have added cowardice to their list of virtues. Neo-Nazis believe these actions are good politics. As a community, we must stand together as we have in the past. We know our duty, and to whom thjs duty is owed: our children, neighbors and country. Each time we are tested, we must rededicate ourselves to the larger issues of American democracy- the ones that define us as -Americans- decency, fairness, equality and respect for each person's dignity. It is on these issues we will prevail. â&#x20AC;˘ Norm Gissel is on the board of directors of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Guest Opinion A6 COEUR d'ALE NE PRESS/ NORTH IDAHO NEWS NETWORK Sunday, Nov. 23, 1997

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Unity best defense vs. neo-Nazis By NORMAN GISSEL

bullying and hectoring segments of our commu- However, what we have been able to learn nity. For the bully, the act of bullying itself is a about their belief system is so bizarre as to defy victory of sorts. However, they failed completely r~tional analysis. All we are sure about is that T here has been a recent flurry of neo-Nazi in their larger agenda. Public opinion was unani- tHeir affection for the U.S. banking system is activity in our area. Many people are asking, " mous in its opposition to the neo-Nazis. not without reservation. What's going on?" Following this first fai led foray into local polA very brief statement about the past activity Now we are experiencing another round of of this movement in North Idaho and surround- itics a remarkable outbreak of criminal activity neo-Nazi activities. Among these are driving a occurred in 1982-83 by a subgroup within the ing areas is in order. family out of their home in Post Falls, and larger neo-Nazi movement given the name of The neo-Nazis made their presence known harassing a North Idaho College student 'The Order." Crimes by this subgroup included AdditionaUy, there have been leaflets and pamin North Idaho in 1980 with the distribution of armored car robberies, a bank robbery, counphlets left in numerous places throughout threatening letters, race-baiting, painting swastikas and World War TI Nazi slogans on the terfeiting of US currency, and assaults of variKootenai County. They include unsigned ous kinds. The stated goal of this group was to walls of local businesses. Also at this time a leaflets libeling members of our community so instigate a revolution in the United States based as to cause them financial loss and hold them locally well known neo-Nazi terrorized several of course on racial lines. This idea was no more up for public ridicule. By not signing these small children of color in Coeur d'Alene, an act successful than were their first early efforts. for which he promptly went to jail. leaflets the neo-Nazis responsible have added For a short time things quieted down, and cowardice to their list of virtues. At that time the neo-Nazis seemed to have three goals. First was to victimize and harm vari- then in 1986 a smaller second subgroup given With a mentality unique to themselves, the the name "Order II" bombed the home of a ous American citizens whom they hated, i.e. neo-Nazis believe these actions are good poliCatholic priest, Bill Wassmuth, as well as bomb- tics. As a community we must stand together as people of color, Jews and others for one reason ing several business sites in Coeur d'Alene. To or another they decided they didn't like. we have in the past on the issues presented to (Mormons have recently made the list) The sec- their surprise the neo-Nazis found that bombus by this movement. We know our duty, and to ing a city was an equally poor way to gain the ond was to bring so much pressure on our felwhom this duty is owed; our children, our social and political power in North Idaho which neighbors and our country. Each time we are low North Idahoans that they would be forced they seek so ardently. to move from our home. The third was to seek tested we must rededicate ourselves to the largWhile all this was going on one other group approval of these acts from the local community. er issues of American democracy, those issues of neo-Nazis began holding celebrations and It was and is the opinion of the neo-Nazis that define us as Americans - decency, fairness, equality and respect for the dignity of that race is the sole object of politics, is the sole hosting activities on Hitler's birthday. Celebrating the birthday of one of history's each American ci1 izen. function of politics, and the sole cause of polimost accomplished mass murderers again tics. In short, race and only race is politics. It It is on these issues we will prevail. was also their opinion,that North Idaho was ide- failed to attract public affection. One is tempted to include here a comment ally suited to be accepting of this unique and Norman Gissel is on the Board of Directors of about the four men recently convicted of the the Kootenai County Task Force on Human fatally flawed view of life. At that time it is true that they did succeed in 1996bombings and bank robberies in Spokane. Rela_tions. His opinions are J,is own.

Spotlight on Racism NIC diversity rally pushes education,acceptance By JOE BUTLER Staff w riter

COEUR d' ALENE - "Get over it'' was the message shared at North Idaho College Monday as the best way to deal with racism and intolerance. Seven people representing NIC students, faculty, administration and the greater Coeur d'Alene community shared thoughts on racism at a prodiversity rally. About 100 students, facu lty and staff attended the event sponsored by the Student Human Equality Club and the Associated Students of NIC. Both groups hoped to bring awareness of the efforts against crimes and attitudes motivated by race, gender, sexual orientation and religion. Though opposition from hate groups was anticipated and security personnel were visible in the doorways of t's easy to Schuler Auditorium, no contrary views generalize, but were shared. we can't start The rally was partially prompted by the fighting hate until littering of the cam- we give informapus a few weeks ago tion about people with propaganda from local hate groups, and and get them the spitting upon and down to the indiracial harassment of vidual." Josh Buehner, human equality president -Ron Bell, and rally organizer. interim NIC president Buehner invited inter im NIC President Ron Bell, students Shaswati Roy and Bwana Johnson, Monte Twin, NIC cultural divers ity advisor, and Pat Johnson, from the Idaho Education Association, to be on the forum. "It's important that colleges become places where human rights are protected, and freedom of speech is assured," Bell said. BeU talked about his recent trip to Washington, D.C., where he attended the White House Conference on Hate Crimes.

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There, he learned how important it was to know people as individuals, instead of automatically lumping them into groups. The conference also taught him how hatred is bred by fear and ignorance. "It's very difficult to hate individuals, and very easy to hate groups," Bell said. And people who keep silent about hate can do as much damage as those who are actively seeking publicity. Issues the rally was trying to tackle can be observed in other areas, such as when people bash the college's administration, board, students, staff or faculty as a whole, but then say specific members of these groups are doing a good job. "It's easy to generalize, but we can't start fighting hate until we give information about people and get them down to the individual," Bell said. Bwana Johnson and Roy described how education and action are important in combating racism and hate. "We all have a big job ahead of us, and I'm involved too," Johnson said. "We have to start being involved in teaching our children, who are blank disks waiting for information." RACISM continued on A3

SECTION

Tuesday, November 25, 1997 To contact the North Idaho office, dial (208) 765-7100. toll-lree 800-344-6718; Fax: (208) 765-7

149

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

Don't let up, racism rally told Problem 'not going to go away,' so more thanlip service needed, NIC speaker says By Julie Titone Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE- Spotlighting the role that parents play in fighting racism, Bwana Johnson noted Monday that everyone enters the world free of prejudices. "Your child is a blank disk at birth, and you are the computer,., the North Idaho college student said at the United for Human Rights RaUy. The need to battle racism was the theme of the event, which was sponsored by the Associater-1

"Make yourselfthe one that makes a difference, and the rest wiltfollow. '' Shaswati Roy, rally speaker Students of NIC and the Human Equality Club. "The lip-service days are over," Johnson said. "This problem is not going to go away." Josh Buehner, equality club president, said the distribution of racist literature this fall was one motivation for bringing students an l faculty to-

gether Monday. There have been reported incidents of racism around the Panhandle in past weeks, including recent harassment of a Post Falls family. Buehner sees an increasing interest among students in actively fighting racism. He was Âˇ delighted by Monday's turnout of more than 100 in Schuler Auditorium. Blue jeans and ballcaps predominated: a few ties were visible. Members of the NIC board of trustees and the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations were also present. So were "a few from the other side," as trustee Barbara Chamberlain said. She spotted people she Continued: Rally/86

From the Front Page/North Idaho

BILL BULEY/Coeur d'Alene Press

North Idaho College diversity advisor Monte Twin, left, and NIC student Josh Buehner, right, flank NIC student Bwana Johnson, as he speaks at a pro-diversity rally in Schuler Auditorium at NIC Monday.

"It's an inside job," he said. "The more we love ourselves, the more we can love others." continued from A1 Finally, Pat Johnson said North Idaho isn't so unique in its attitudes. Roy said she has friends of all nationalities and 'This area is a reflection of what goes on everyreligions, and has found that the person inside is where," she said. "You are blessed with a lot of pubmore important. licity and certain groups get a lot of visibility." "Hate forms when ignorance takes over every Johnson said it is important to continue discusemotion someone can feel.'' she said. "Make yourself sions about hate crimes. one who makes a difference, and the rest will follow." "If you don't speak up, people will think you Klinger said nearly everyone has ancestors who agree with them," she said. "Continue to talk with are a member of some diverse group, and your friends, and say you don't like what's going on." Americans live through the world. She said this area has become a place that is She grew up, taught, and lived in diverse parts of comfortable for the minority of racists and bigots, the world, and improved her life for it. and it's easy for these groups to gain publicity. "Grandmas come in all colors, and they mostly "We need to speak up," he said. all want to bake cookies," Klinger said. "Families all Buehner ended the rally by saying the NIC comwant a better life for their kids. munity and Coeur d'Alene community doesn't want "My life hasn't been been diminished, but hate. enriched." "We need to get over the fact that people look difTwin said everyone has to choose to live in fear or love. ferent," he said.

RACISM

Rally: 'Grandmas come in all colors and most of them bake cookies' Continued from 81

"We can live in fear or we can live in love. When I act ou1 of fear, J usually hurt myself or other people." • Shaswati Roy, vice president of the Ac;sociated Students, was born in India and has friends of "more than 50 nationalities." "Now I'm here in North Idaho, and I've got to tell you it grows on you:· she said. She urged students to take Lhe lead in fighting racism. "Make yourself the one that makes a difference, and the rest will follow," she said. • Pat Johnson said she is often askeq why a black woman like herself stays in North Idaho, with its reputation for racism. "I tell them this is where I work. this is where 1 live,., said Johnson, who represents the Idaho Education Association. Racism exists everywhere, she said. It just gets a lot of attention here. "What we have created here is a comfortable place for racists and bigots to be. They get the publicity," she said. ''They speak out on every issue."

believed to be racists laking pictures. Buehner joked that his photo would probably be showing up on racist fliers. He's already been targeted. In early October he was spat upon by a stranger who accused him of being a ''nigger lover." NIC President Ron BeU opened the rally by saying it was a pleasure to be in charge of a college "where tile students let people know where they stand." He urged students to get to know each other as individuals. "It's very difficult to hate you when I know you.'' Other speakers were: • Mona Klinger, NIC speech instructor. She recalled that her life has been steeped in diversity, starting with the legacy of her immigrant grandparents. She has befriended, lived among and taught people of many backgrounds. ''I learned how to eat with chopsticks ... I learned to do the hula . .. I learned that grandmas come in all colors and most of them bake cooki~s.'' Klinger quoted Herman Melville, She encouraged students to reswho wrote in 1850: "You cannot spill pond by creating an atmosphere in :i drop of American blood without which it's seen as OK 10 object to :,pilling the blood of the whole prejudiced comments. world." "Tell them, 'I'm uncomfortable • Monte Twin, an American Indi- with that remark,' or ' I know you an who is NIC's cultural diversity don't really believe what you just said adviser, reminded the audience that to me,· '' she said. "Don't igMre it."

Jesse Tinsley/Tile Spokesman-Review

or. Ron Bell, North Idaho College president, addresses the crowd at the human rightsrally Monday norning at the college.

THB SPOKES

Idahoans answer racism with 'not in our town' Community, politicians rally against hate literature By Craig Welch Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - They fought volumes of hate with volumes of defiance. The broadest band of area politicians ever assembled against racism Tuesday denounced what may be the largest distribution of ba1e literature in Kootenai

County history. More than a dozen elected officials condemned a recent flurry of racial harassment by neo-Nazi skinheads, and the plastering of hundreds of cars with Aryan Nations fliers. ''In times like this we must be vigilant, we must speak oul," said Doug Cresswell,

president of Kootenai County's Task Force on Human Relations. Âˇ'We must say 'Not in our town.'" The rally at North Idaho College - the second in as many days- brought together legislators, county officials and mayors of the county's four largest cities. Politicians conspicuously absent from previous anti-discrimination rallies - including North Idaho's entire congressional Continued: Rally against racism/A&

Uz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

'We must speak out,' says human rights activist Doug Cresswell.

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Tasklorce gains allies in light against intolerance

By JOE BUTLER

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COEUR d'ALENE - A group of 15 public officials from across the state declared Tuesday the majority of people in Kootenai County aren't going to put up with hate from a small minority. City, county, state and U.S. elected officials joined religious groups and th Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations in affi rming the task force's views. They collectively condemned the recent littering of the community with racial hale literature. The an nouncement was made at North Idaho College's Library. "We're he re to speak out and denounce these materials," said Doug Cresswell, president of the task fo rce which organized in the mid-1980s to combat the same type of attitudes and activity. "It's time to speak out." While members of the Aryan Nations and other offshoot orga ni zations occas ionally scatter li te rature through North Idaho, Cresswell said this was the largest area of coverage in more than a decade. Neighborhoods in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Rathdrum were hit, materials were left at high schools and North Idaho College, and some of the leaflets were placed inside local newspapers and in phone booths. Cresswell said anti-racial activity has picked up in the last fow months after appearing to drop off in recent years. The president of NIC's Human Equality Club said he was spat upon and racially harassed and a Filipino couple in Post Falls decided to move after being harassed by neighbors. "It's time to be vigilant, and send a clear message," Cresswell said. "We

Rally against Racism: 'It's too bad it takes that long' Continued from A1

delegation - joined political foes. For a region whose recent civil rights efforts have been described as lackluster, the united front echoed the 1980s when North Idaho won national accolades for fighting hate. '' I think this was the most broad-based and complete representation, countywide, that we've ever had," said task force co-fo under Tony Stewart. "Today was a really important historical moment in Kootenaj County's human rights crusade. Our community is once again showing its true heart." But participants were divided Tuesday about whether the rally was the beginning of a movement. or a one-time publicity effort to combat a renewed image problem. Âˇ'My opinion is now it"s a political issue." said Josh Buehner, an NIC student and civil dghts activist who helped organize the rally and a similar one Monday. ''They (politicians) most want to speak out when things get to be really bad. And it's too bad it takes that long.,. The 19-year-old Buehner was among the first victims in the accelerated hate campaign when he was disparaged by a white adu It l~st month for his human rights efforts. Since then, area chu rches helped pay for a Post Falls Filipino fa mily to move when they were repeatedly threatened and harassed by skjnhead neighbors. A high school student in that same city was yanked from school after being targeted by racists. Earlier this month, anti-black, anti-Semitic and antiMormon literature - some of it auacking task force members by name - was distributed in Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake. Rathdrum and Post Falls. In response, area leaders held Tuesday's rally. Coeur d'Alene City Councilwoman Nancy Sue Wallace

said she asked her 16-year-old son Tuesday morning what she could say to Aryan Nations followers. "He said ' Mom it's so simple,'" Wallace said. "'Tell them to crawl back into their caves and leave Kootenai County alone." " County Commissioner Dick Compton said that until recently he ignored most hate literature. " It's nonsensical and it's really not very creative.'' he said, before a crowd of two dozen onlookers. Âˇ'But it's scary to some people." In fact, Rathdrum Mayor Tawnda Bromley displayed a petition bearing 500 signatures from city residents who were angered by the propaganda. But she was saddened to hear the residents didn't want their names made public because some of them already had been threatened. ''That broke my heart,'' she said. " We shouldn't have to do that." Linda Mullin, an area representative for Republican Rep. Helen Chenoweth, read a prepared statement from the congresswoman. "Let us remember that diversity is strength," she said. " Diversity helps to stimulate new ideas and to challenge rhe status quo." Chenoweth has been accused of encouraging racism, once suggesting that Hispanics stay away because there isn't much agricultural crop harvesting. But press secretary Chad Hyslop said Chenoweth's comments and her joining with the rask force for the fi rst time to fight racism weren't inconsistent. "Helen's position has always been that this is a nation of individual liberties," he said. The Rev. Bob Hasseries, of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, said after the gathering that he hoped residents from other parts of the county joined Rathdrum's petition campaign. "One thing we've learned is that some people must be receptive to it (hate literature) or there would be total outrage, .. he said. Cresswell said Idaho residents needed to tell the world 'Âˇthis is not what our state is about."

BONNIE HUDLET/Coeur d'Alene Press

Rathdrum Mayor Tawnda Bromley speaks out against hate during a press conference in the North Idaho Library Tuesday morning.

have to combat these things with all our resources." The mayors of Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden Lake and Rathdrum said they don't want hatred in their cities. "I know what a loving and caring community Rathdrum has," said Tawnda Bromley. 'Tm proud of our community, and we will not tolerate hate." She said more than 500 residents signed petitions condemning the racist literature, even though some received threats. Coeur d'Alene Mayor Al Hassell said

the Lake City won't tolerate hate either. "Coeur d'Alene is a positive community, ancl has a quality of life that's the envy of others," he said. "It also contains the right for everyone to be treated with respect" Gus Johnson, from Post Falls, said the mayors should work together to discuss ways to combat this problem. "We have to put thjs to bed,'' he said. "It takes 100 times greater effort to squelch something like this." One of the more eloquent statements was made by State Sen. Gordon Crow,

who urged people of different backgrounds to unite. Crow said everyone has the right to free speech, but it is also important to exercise a responsibility. "I'll state unequivocally that hate will not prevail in Idaho, through legislation, lies, intimidation or violence," Crow said. "All of us won't agree on specifics, but we need to agree to continue the debate in terms of civil discourse, and affirm every individual's rights." FLIERS continued on A4

BONNIE HUOLET/Coeur d'Alene Press

While leaning on a railing, North Idaho College student Silvia Faust listens to speeches given by state officials who aren't going to put up with hate from a small minority.

FLIERS

continued from A 1

Crow also said that as a "citizen of God," he feels he must love his enemies. Other support came from Dick Compton, chairman of the Kootenai County Commission, Tony Paquin, a Coeur d'Alene businessman and a cong r essional candidate, and Nancy Sue Wallace, chair of the Coeur d'Alene City Council. Local field staff managers for U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth and U.S. Sens. Dirk Kempthorne and Larry Craig read statements. The announcement was closed by statements from Marshal Mend, a founding member of the task force and a target of some of the literature, and Skip Kuck, from the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment. "Coeur d'Alene is full of great people, and a few minute people who don't agree with thls,'' Mend said. "This literature will definitely cost me business, but what matters is I'm standing up for what r believe and what's right, and folks, racism isn 't right."

Kuck said the recent wave of harassment and activity may foretell harder times for this community. "Now we must really like we did in the 19005, and let our loud voice lead to a decline of activity," she said. Concerned people should share their thoughts, write letters, support task force members and take down licens numbers of people who may be involved in hate crimes. A good portion is combating each person's prejudices. "Racists do not bring racism to a community," she said. ''They build on attitudes that are already here." "Plant a banner, take a stand, and when hate knocks, let no one answer."

COEUR d' ALENE Vol. 91 No. 122

Cd'A i cllebrlll World AIDS Day Monday COEUR cl'ALENE-The American Red Cross and North Idaho College plan to

Coler said this year's theme is "Give Children a Hope in a World of AIDS.â&#x20AC;˘ It team up Monday to raise AIDS awareness. encourages people to think of the long-term Nelle Coler, emergency services coor- impact of the disease, she added. dinator for the Panhandle Chapter of the AIDS is the seventh leading cause of American Red Cross, said the North death for children under 7 years old. Idaho AIDS Coalition will also help coorHalf of the 20,000 cases diagnosed each year are people under the age of 25. dinate efforts for the 10th annual World AIDS Day. In Idaho, more than 42 percent of peoInformation tables will be set up in the ple who are HIV-positive are under 30 foyer of NIC's Library, and two AIDS years old. instructors will be available from 8 a.m. to 10 NIC's Student Equality Club will a.m., and noon to l p.m. help host the booths at NIC, and also One of the day's highlights will be a will arrange free AIDS testing through moment of silence at 2 p.m., when the bell the college. at Fort Sherman Chapel will be rung 17 Coler said the Red Cross plans to offer a times to symbolize the 17 years since free AIDS/lilV Education Class from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at 212 S. 11th St. AIDS has become a well-known epidemic across the world. Information: 664-5414

3 sections

Our View Nmth Idaho racistsfmal~y have a dear message ftwn the Idaho congressional delegation and other elected leaders: Bt1have orget out.

Familiarity breeds contempt for haters Tony Stewart has heen a big part of the Kootenai County human rights movement since its beginning. When white supremacists bombed Bill Wassmuth's home, the North Idaho College instructor was there to console his friend. When the Aryan Nations rallied, Stewart staged counter rallies to show the world that North Idaho "was too great for hate." Idaho wouldn't have such tough laws against malicious harassment without Stewart's lobbying efforts. Stewart knows human rights. He also knows that communities can't fight racism by ignoring it. Racism flourishes when it is not exposed lo light. That's why the gathering of politicians to denou nce racism at a press conference last week was significant. ln fact, Stewart called it "historical.'' The local human rights movement has achieved many things in the past two decades. including national renown. But it never has linked arms with the Idaho governor. all three of its congressional representatives, area legislators and the mayors of four Kootenai County towns. Until now. For the first lime. Kootenai County has gone on record, at all levels of government, as being steadfastly opposed lo racism. U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth, R-Idaho, who has been accused of encouraging racism. added an exclamation point to the event with a prepared statement that said: "Let us remember that diversity is strength. Diversity helps to stimulate new ideas and to challenge the status quo." The press conference didn't come a moment too soon. For some reason, North Idaho's racists have crawled out from under their rocks again and ate causing trouble. Recently. a goon spal on an NlC human rights leader and yelled an epithet at him. In Post Falls, neo-Nazi sympathizers harassed a Filipino family into moving and tormented a high school student into transfe rring. In Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake, Rathdrum and Post Falls, racists distributed hate literature. People who do such things, of course, aren't going to be driven off by rallies and petition drives. The politicians who denounced bigotry Tuesday now must make sure that their actions speak as loudly as their words. Kootenai County commissioners, for example, should reconsider the "English-only" resolution they approved earlier this year. Such a proclamation speaks as loudly on behalf of racism as commission Chairman Dick Comp.ton did against it at the NlC podium. Still, the impromptu rally shows North Idaho is turning its attention Lo racism again. Said Stewart: "Our community is once again showing its true heart.'' He should know. D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board

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Thursday. Dec. 11 , 1997

The NIC Sentinel

Rally speakers stand against hate Zero-tolerance message prevails at equality rally by Brandon Koontz Se111111e/ Reporter .. A message of 1ero tolerance" is what Jo!!ih Buehner, head of the Human Equality Club at NIC, called the antiracism rally in Schu ler Auditorium Nov. 24. lnterim President Ronald Bell opened the rally by saying that ..the dignity of the individual is paramount" in any disagreement. It is important to be able to , ~ leave the discussion without : - , , ,Ann feelings of hatred toward the opposing side. he said. When it comes to discrimination. Bwana Johnson. vice president o f the equality club, said that it is time 10 act, not just talk. "Change the s logan 10 ' Just did it' ," he said ... All that is neces.ary for evil to triumph is for big men to do nothing.'' Mona Klinger. speech instructo r. told of her life growing up in a divers ified setting. She aid that diver ity is a fac t of life. and co ntact wi th divers ity brings enrichment. "There i no fear wi th to le rance, " Klinger said.

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phot.o by Noppadol Paothong

Pat Johnson of the Human Task Force on Human Relations speaks at the Nov. 24 anti-racism rally in Schuler Auditorium. "We cc1n either live in fear or ... love ." sa id Mo n te T winn, N IC's cultural diversity ad viser. ''When I act out of fea r. I us ua ll y hurt ,m yself or other people." He said li fe isn' t about skin color, but what is inside a person's heart.

S h aswat i Roy, v ice president of ASN lC, spoke on the importance or a unified stand when facing racism. " It ta kes o nly o ne ( to make a differe nce). but it is as a w ho le that a dream s tays a live," Roy sai d . " Make yourself the one that makes a difference.

and the rest will follow." I n what possibly was the bestrece ived speech during the event , Pat Johnson of the Kootenai County Task Force o n Human Relations, spokeÂˇ firm ly against racism, saying that "hatred will not be tolerated on campus or in the community." She said Idaho is not unique in its pro ble m with racism, but it gets more negative press than mosL other states. Johnson said when :.he is asked why she lives in Idaho, she sayi. " I live there; I work there; thaL'!, why I'm there.'' Making a reference to an earlier incident where Buehner was spit on for his stand against raci!'>tn, she said. "We will not stand by and watch fellow stude nti. be demeaned. hated and :,pat upon." A s hort tim e for s tudent response yielded questio ns on the best way to combat hate crimes and on how to deal with North ldahoÂˇs negative image. All speakers agreed that speaking out against bigotry and educating the public are good pla ns of acLion . "North Idaho needs 10 get together more so !hey are expressing views in the community,'' Pat Johnson said. "We have created a place where rac isLs and bigots can feel comfortable here." " We don't wanl hatred in our area," Buehner said.

Thursday, Dec. 11 , 1997

.Campus N ews

The NIC Sentinel

Page 5

Campus leaders fighting hate Movement follow racist literature distributed on campus, county

''You've got to speak out. You have to recognize that hatred comes in the form of ignorance, noninformation and fear."

byBilJ Canepa Semine/ Reporter With hate literature floating around and racial slurs being uttered across campus. those leading the human rights and equality crusade now have the proverbial ball in - Ron Belltheir court. Interim President Ronald Bell, political science instructor and Human Equality Club Adviser Tony Stewart and Human Equality he was doing, and he said it was his children. He didn't want Club President Josh Buehner are struggling his children to be that way." to combat hate and promote diversity. Bell related his new and old ideas to NIC by expressing Bell. having recently attended a hate-crime seminar in the necessity for intolerance of hurtful speech and behavior. Washington, D.C .. has returned with greater insight but Stewart's views were consistent with Bell's. unchanged views "We (the Human Equality Club) have always and will "I learned that you can't be silent," Bell said. ''You've got continue to stand up for human rights." Stewart said. to speak out. You have to recognize that hatred comes in the He supports speaking out in opposition to racism and fonn of ignorance, non-information and fear." religious prejudices. Stewart said he supported actions, not Bell said that while there, he met many interesting and just words, such as the support rally held two weeks ago. inspiring people. He singled out one man, an ex-Nazi. Stewart singled out one example of what he. the This man was once hate-filled but is now part of a large Human Equality Club and the Kootenai County Task Jewish group. Force of Human Relations, work against. Stewart said "I asked him," Bell said. "what caused him to leave what that a family in Post Falls was being harassed by

skinheads. They were forced to move, and the task force helped them through the process. Stewart also made a point to speak in support of the First Amendment. "Even though, under the First Amendment. hate material can be distributed in certain places... Stewart said. "we, too. have the right to speak up and oppose it.'' This is a policy that Buehner vocally supports. Buehner's views. which 10 mirror Lhose of Bell and Stewart, were put to the test a couple months ago when a srudent shouted racial slurs in his direction. But Buehner defended NlC's students. Buehner said that most of the sludent have been supportive of cultural diversity but added that all are racist in their own way. Just not everyone acts on it. He said thac society is continually placing and supporting stereotypes on races, religions and genders. and people sometimes fall into that trap. Buehner also addressed the hate literature from a local conspiratologist and historical revisionist Richard Franklin (Masker), who calls Idaho the Great Hate State and claims the Human Equality Club prevented him from speaking on campus. Buehner's response followed Bell and Stewart' lead of intolerance for hate with a simple quote: Âˇ'Not in our state."

SECT I ON

Thursday, December 11, 1997 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash./Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

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

Fighting hate door to·door Men collect signatures, seek council's help to counteract Aryan Nations' literature

By Laura h.ireman 1a[f writer

RATHDRUM, Idaho - R ident of one of North [daho s mailer citie are tting the pac in fighting racism. Two Rathdrum re ident Duane Nightengal and another man, have gather d about 500 oft~ ir n ighbor ' ignature to make a tatem nt agamst hate material that wa di tribut d around K tenai County - including Rathdrum - la t month. Now they want the City Council to j in their cru ad .

W 'vc got a mall gr up f p opt wh u e violence a trump card and keep the rest of u h rag ·• Night ngal aid. The hate literature a di tributed by the Aryan Nation a whit upr macist group. The city alt rn i r vi wing Night ng le' ugge ti n ( ee box at right) to determine which one the city may implement legall without infringing on th Aryan Nation • right to Cree pe ch. "People need to know that Rathdrum a. a city doe n't condon that type of a tivity," City ouncilman Mark Worthen aid.

He and olh r worry the Aryan ation may be attempting to recruit m mb r in Rathdrum. •rthink the important thing with Rathdrum with recruiting i that we tak a tand o tho e group I ok I ewbere, Worthen aid. The city ha taken n fficial tep. Mayor Tawnda Bromley attended a rally at North Ldaho Coll ge la t month al ng with other lected officiaJ in Kootenai County to c ad mn raci m. They poke ut again t th barrage of raci t literature distributed in the ar a and again t Continued: Rathdrum/83

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Thursday, December 11, 1997

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~athdrum: Petition gatherer afraid to be identified Continued from 81 racially motivated harassment by white supremacists. "The people who have contacted me have said, 'We don't want hate io the community,'" Bromley said. But the hate the Aryan Nations supports already has scared many in

Rathdrum. The man who helped Nightengale gather signatures did not want to be identified publicly for fear of retaliation by white supremacists. " People are living in tremendous fear,'' the man said. " We have something to lose. We have families, we have lcids," he said, adding that he thinks the media too often identi-

fy hate-crime victims but not the perpetrators. "The problem is that we're identified and they're not." As Nightengale collected signatures door to door in Rathdrum, he encountered the same fear the other man has. "I was finding a lot of people who would not sign (the petition) be-

cause they thought their names would be released," he said. But "98 percent of the people we talked to signed and were happy to sign," Nightengale said. While he doesn't want the names of people who signed publicized, "if I had my druthers, I'd send it (the petition) right back to (Aryan Nations founder) Richard Butler and Jet him revel in the fact that R athdrum doesn't want this material in the community."

THE COEUR d'ALENE PRESS Friday, Dec. 12, 1997 A15

RACE: Churches offer love to counter message of hate The following letter was organized by members of Faith Presbyterian Church: Ecclesiastes 3:7 1'here is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak ... " Following prayerful consultation among their leadership, a number of area churches have endorsed this statement As disciples of Jesus Christ, we, the members of the following churches, reject the misguided attitudes and malicious behavior of the few people in this

area who have recently targeted others simply because they are part of some group, nationality or religion. We offer hospitality and sanctuary to all who have been - or are being persecuted on that basis. We al~ pray that the Lord of all peoples might transform the hearts and those who have so willfully disturbed the peace and ignored God's law to love one's neighbor as one's self.

Faith Presbyterian Church St. Mark's Lutheran Church St. Pius Catholic Church St. Thomas Catholic Church Calvary Lutheran Church Dalton Gardens Assembly of God FU'8t Church of Christ, Scientist, Coeur d'Alene FU'8t Presbyterian Church, Coeur d'Alene St. Luke's Episcopal Church Falls Full Gospel Assembly of God Lutheran Church of the Master Community United Methodist Church Community Presbyterian Church Unity Church of North Idaho

Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997

~ampusNews

The NIC Sentinel

Page 7

Conspiratologist seeks NIC forum Local radical says literature was distributed by students

"There are no skinheads no bone-in-the-nose idiots running around. We are talking about professionals." -Richard Franklin-

by Edward Francis Sentinel Editor he First Amendment of the Constitution protects the ri ght to free speech for all c itizens of the United States. Conspiratoligist Richard Franklin said he wants to execute his right to free speech on the debate with Stewart on his te lev ision program, but NIC campus_. sai d that he has never received an a nswer to hi s " The objective is 10 demand free speec h o n the request. He said he wants to debate about " the rights campus," Franklin said . "(I) want to s peak about of American citizens versus the Judeo/Mar xi st conspiratology and the impact of the New World Order." ·,1ntitude of college teachers." In the past few weeks conspiratology litera-ture was Franklin said \!.1!l ~ospltatoJogj~f.f ha~e'llO relation sp read around the campus c laiming chat certain to tbe> Ary,Ni Natioij c o .~ . dcd b)" Richard elements of people were " ... inundating (students) with Butler. . . ~,;·; massive propaganda regarding the subject o f 'hate ''lbe:re are no s ~ ~ idiots crimes."' running around," Franklin said. .. e are talking about Franklin said that even though the literature had his professionals. That's what scares them {Judeo/Marxists), name on it, he did not pass it around the campus. He because they know they are dealing with smart people." said it was passed around by students sympathetic to A lthough Franldin said he doesn't agree with Butler' s the cause. ideas, he has many things in common with Butler. Franklin said he has written several letters to college "I am probably one of Butler's best friends," Franklin staff and faculty, including Tony Stewart, political said. "Butler allowed me to Jive on his property when 1 science instructor, attempting to ho ld a lec ture o n first moved out here from Oregon. He and I have had conspiratology at NIC. He said his letters have repeatedly many discussions on how to do things, and we have had been ignored because the staff is conspiring against him many verbal fights. I Jove him like a father, but we see being able to bring the truth about the "Judeo/Marxist" things differently. I don' t go for the militant attitude or attitude to the students. the KKK." Franklin said he wou ld a lso like to have a live Franklin said the purpose of a conspiratolig ist is to

study the highest form of crime to society:· ge nocide and the New World Order. He said pan of the conspiracy is race. " Blacks and Asians can't be haters." Franklin said. '· Jf they s a y so me thing bad abou t so meo ne , th ey a ren't cons id ered racist. On ly whit es c a11 be considered racist." Franklin said the main purpose of th(; Intcnn tional Conspiraro logical Association is to oppose M-lJ· R-DE-R. He sai d M is media co ntro l. U is unit y destruction, R is racial annihilation. D is democracy ( the worst form of government) , E is eco nomi cs con trol a nd R is rel igion and the co ntro l of the masses. Franklin said that conspira'tology is an internauonal organization that has no members, but has oper,;nives all over the wnrln

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Celebration

â&#x20AC;˘ In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., Ponderosa Enrichment students sing at a Human Rights Celebration on Thursday at North Idaho College.

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Students celebrate MU<day A salute to all things American By JOE BUTLER St aff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Local children turned a human rights celebration Thursday into a general tribute to all things American. The 13th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration at North Idaho College had students share their views on racism and other ilJs of the world. Fifth-grade students from the Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene school districts packed Schuler Auditorium to watch their peers sing, act, dance and express their ideas of how to make the world a better place. Pam Pratt, principal at Fernan Elementary, and Josh Buehner, president of NI C's Human Equality Club, encouraged the students to listen and learn. "Sit back, watch, participate, and think how you can make a difference," Pratt said. 'The message of peace is still here." MLK DAY continued on A3

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d'Alene. Idaho

The Region

Wednesday, January 14, 1998

Page 83

King holiday brings hulllan rights events By Andrea Vogt Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations will host three human rights events in the coming week to recognize the national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The task force will join with the Norlh Idaho College Popcorn Forum, NIC Human Equality Club and the Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls school districts to sponsor the 13th annual fifth-grade children's program ar 9:30 a.m. Thursday at NIC.

This year's theme is Âˇ'. . . and Human Dignity and Justice for All." The program includes stories and music by children, the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard, and a keynote address by NJC minority adviser Monte Twin. The task force also will present the Kootenai County Human Relations Civil Rights Award to Duane and Dawn Nightingale from Rathdrum. The couple recently gathered more than 500 signatures from local residents in opposition to locally distributed hate literature. On Thursday evening, the task

force will hold a candlelight tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., in the Coeur d'Alene City Park bandstand at 5:30 p.m. The tribute will fea ture brief speeche and human rights songs. The week's events will conclude on Monday, the official King holiday, with a gala evening at The Avondale at the Hayden Golf and Tennis Club from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The evening will include special recognition of Medal of Honor recipient Vernon Baker of St. Maries, as well as music. food. a live auction and a silem auction. For more infonnation. call 765-3932.

North Idaho

AS THE COEUR d'ALENE PRESS Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1998

Local students, schools offer MLK programs COEUR d'ALENE - Three events are planned in the community in the next few days to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations has joined with other human rights groups and local schools to offer these programs. The first event is a human rights forum at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at North Idaho College. Fifth-grade students from the Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene school districts will attend the "And Human Dignity and Justice For All" event at Schuler Auditorium. Local children will share stories and perform music, and be followed by a speech by Monte Twin, NIC's cultural diversity advisor.

The assembly also includes music from the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard, the creation of a World Quilt designed by students from 12 schools, and a presentation of the task force's Civil Rights Award to Duane and Dawn Nightingale. The Rathdrum residents collected more than 500 signatures condemning hate literature distributed through the city. Later that evening, there will be a candlelight tribute to King in the City Park. Task force members will converge at 5:30 p.m. at the bandstand and hand out fr ee candles. There will be speeches and songs. The final event is a gala event from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Avondale on

Hayden Golf and Tennis Club. The event will include an auction, music, food and a tribute to St. Maries war hero Vernon Baker Many public schools will be offering other human rights programs within the classroom. Becky Ford, curriculum director for the Post Falls School District, said some classes will be doing extra work in civil rights issues. For irlstance, she said Post Falls Middle School students have chosen "acceptance" as their word of the month. Other middle school students will be doing research into Jane Pitman. New Visions students will be working on various cultural heritages.

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Ponderosa Elementary student David Mills, 6, sings "At the Beginning" during the Annual Human Rights Celebration at North Idaho College Thursday. The Ponderosa students told of their dreams for themselves and for the world. Mills dream for himself is to be a singer and a magician. His dream for the world is to have no more garbage. BONNIE HUDLET/Coeur d'Alene Press

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Students also affirmed their opinions on the privileges and freedom of thought available in the U.S. And instead of ending with the traditional civil-rights song, "We Shall Overcome," the capacity crowd sang "God Bless the USA" Leaders of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations used the opportunity to present the annual Civil Rights Award to a Rathdrum couple who took a stand on a recent distribution of hate materials. Duane and Dawn Nightingale collected more than 500 names condemning white supremacist literature. "It took an awful lot of time and commitment for denouncing hate and promoting human rights," said Doug Cresswell, task force president. The Nightingales and their two children were also presented a letter from Gov. Phil Batt thanking them for their stand and saying the state is proud of them. Nestled between the speeches, songs and skits was a short speech by Monte Twin, NIC's cultural diversity advisor. Twin described coping with society's attitudes about Native Americans. "We have to look within ourselves to find respect and dignity," he said. Today, he said every effort should be made to welcome people from every race and nation. "Martin Luther King continues to reinforce my beliefs about walking in peace and beauty, and walking a spiritual path," Twin said. 'The strongest thing I can _po is love my enemies."

Some of the presentations included the enrichmen t stupents at Ponderosa Elementary singing and describing dreams for themselves and dreams for the world. Many students aspired to be star athletes or movie stars, and most of them had concerns about the environment · Local exchange students from China, Russia and Uzbekistan gave brief statements about how much they enjoy America. One of the highlights of Thursday's celebration was "Why Christmas Trees are Not Perfect," a skit by first- and fifthgraders at Se.ltice Elementary. In a nutshell, the Christmas tree which was declared the most perfect was the one that was physically ugly but opened its heart in order to shelter and feed animals. The better-looking trees refused to help. One student from each of the 12 participating schoo ls submitted a square representing a continent or nationality for a World Quilt.

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Local Martin Luther King Day celebrations in the community continued Thursday evening with a candlelight vigil in the City Park. Task force members gave speeches and handed out candles. The celebrations wrap up Monday with a gala, auction and wine tasting at Avondale on Hayden Golf and Tennis Club. The gala runs from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and includes speeches, food, music and a tribute to Medal of Honor awardee Vernon Baker, St. Maries.

BONNIE HUDLET/Coeur d'Alene Press

Josh Buehner, president of NIC's Human Equality Club, speaks to grade-school students Thursday at the college.

Monday January 19, 1998 50 cents

No place for hatred â&#x20AC;˘

Rathdrum couple honored for fighting raclSm

By Andrea Vogl Staff writer

OEURd'ALENE- ln the Nightingale family, racism is like robbery. But instead of taking something material, you are stealing someone's human rights. Âˇ'That's one of our values," explafoed Dawn Nightingale, 36, of Rathdrum, ldaho. The values of Dawn and her husband Duane Nightingale earned them this year's Kootenai County human rights award for rallying their small community against the distribution of hate

Inside Is Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream putting anew generation to sleep?/A9

literature. The award, given by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, was presented last Thursday. The couple also received a letter of thanks from Idaho Gov. Phil Batt, who denounced hate groups

io Idaho last week as ''malcontents and screwballs who have chosen to make their home here." "ln time, the work of people like you will make a difference- not just in the perception ofldaho by outsiders but in how the people ofldaho view themselves," Batt wrote in his letter. "I commend you for collecting the signatures that make it abundantly clear that Idahoans will not tolerate hare crimes or racist literature." Dawn and Duane were raised in small, mostly Continued: Human rights/A&

Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Doug Cresswell presents Dawn and Duane Nightingale with the human rights award.

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Human rights: A 'colorless, hateless world' Continued from A1

white towns. he in Oregon and she in Minnesota. But both eventually lived in diverse cities and witnessed bigotry against minorities. For Dawn, it was a move to Salt Lake City that heightened her awareness of discrimination. " I had two strikes against me when I inoved there," Dawn recalled. ''One, I was not of the Mormon religion, and two, I was a woman.,. She was often treated as an outsider. Sometimes, she said, people talked through her as if she wasn't there. It wasn't pleasant, she said, "but J feel the Lord put me there to learn so that J may bring my children up in colorless and hateless world." The couple moved to Rathdrum last April when Duane was hired at the Acoustic Research Detachment of the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Bayview lo test new noise-quieting technologies for use on U.S. submarines. Rathdrum ·s friendly residents exuded kindness and warmth almost

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immediately, said Dawn. So they were upset lo find that the small town where they would raise their three children had been targeted by the Aryan Nations white supremacy group. Duane began going door to door to get signatures protesting the literature's bigoted messages. Rathdrum residents rallied behind them. They are viewed as champions,·· said Josh Buchner, the president of North Idaho College's human rights club, who lives in Rathdrum. "People were happy to see an average citizen take this on themselves." Eventually, the couple collected more than 500 signatures and enlisted the support of both the City Council and the town mayor. For Dawn, petitioning against hate is the stewardship of God. But the hundreds of Rathdrum residents who simply signed their names in protest are just as deserving of the award, she insists. "Sometimes it does take somebody new to initiate something. But supporting a cause and signing a petition is just as much of an act of courage as being the one petitioning," she said. "Everybody does their part in their own way and that's what our communiry has shown us." "This act taken against hate has brought our communiry closer together as a whole."

DI/ f r f>>'.r 12. - .io -j?

Story idea? Call 664,8 176

Groups offer alternative to Aryan parade'. By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer

T hree Northwest human rights groups want to turn a proposed spring parade by the Aryan Nations into a fund-raiser for civil rights. The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment and North Idaho College's Human Equality Club announced Thursday intentions to offer a pro-diversity message to the community in mid-April. This will combat the proposed message

offered by the white supr'emacist organization and its leader Richard Butler. Butler recently applied for a permit to hold a parade April 18 in Coeur d'Alene, near the anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birth. Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy is now studying all the city's legal option s, and plans to announce a decision on the permit sometime in mid-March. The thrust of the human rights prograin is ''Making Lemonade," which will ask people to pledge money to human rights groups for each minute the Aryans actually march.

Tony Stewart, a task force board member and a political science instructor at NIC, said the program will hopefully give the Aryans three options. "They can cancel the parade, they can march really fast or march really slow," he said. '1f they do tl1e third choice, we'll make lots of money." Coalition members estimate the proposed parade route tllrough downtown Coeur d'Alene will take 45 minutes at a brisk pace. If 1,000 people pledge 50 cents per minute, this will bring $500 per minute and more than $22,000. ALTERNATIVE continued on A11

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People will also be asked to. sign yellow-colored petitions protesting the whi te supremacist message but affirmt ing the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, plus agree" ing that millions were killed by Nazis in World War II. These1 petitions will be presented to, Judy and Gov. Phil Batt at an ethnic divers ity · banquet in Coeur d'Alene April 13. During the weekend of ther proposed march, local human, rights groups have other activi, ties planned. r That Saturday, task forc e members will lead a car caravan from North Idaho to Spokan e:, Th ere, Id aho human rights, g roups fro m across th d> Northwest will hold an "old fash ioned civil rights rally,71 Stewart said. ti The next day, Washington ancV Idaho groups will come to Coeutl d'Alene for an interfaith religious, service at St. Piu s X Catholi a; Church. Then, many will return, . to Spokane for a meeting with the r Jewish community to remember the Holocaust. I, "We anticipate a great pro•r gram," Stewart said. "Once again!; we arise with great passion on behalf of those who are harassed J for their differences." w Doug Cresswell, task for ce , president and former superintemI dent for the Coeur d'Alene School District, said the various humaa1 rights groups now want to work,, with city governments and area l businesses to establish a unified front against the Aryans. d People who sign the petition~ can s pecify which group canri receive .money from the ,parade;:> or let it go to the task force or i coalition. ,h

Cresswell said setting up a human rights rally in Spokane<! minimizes the risk of clashes between both groups. ,, "The best approach is to pro· mote human rights, not created conflict," he said. n And holding some sort of demonstration will show t,hatP. many in Idaho are for tolerance and diversity. ,q "We can't remain silent, andiJ th e best action is lo promote,, human rights activities," Cresswell'said. "We believe ignor~a ing things has been tried else,11 where and doesn't work." 11 This also hopefully can cull down the amount of media atten,rt tion the Aryans receive, he said. Stewart said the pledge and, petition idea came from a com•" munity in Pennsylvania which"' banded together to oppose thq Ku Klux Klan. More than $4,300 J was raised. Cresswell said he asRumesd Judy will approve the parade plan:, "We felt we needed to move: ahead with our plans," he said,<:! ''Whatever plans the mayor organizes, we're ready and willing td cooperate." 1 Judy was o ut of town and•t unavailable for comment. Nanc}\q Sue Wallace, president of th e Coeur d'Alene City Council, said·• city staff is still looking hard at • the options, including possible parade routes, times and intemi action between marchers and d the public. '{<' She said the city's main co11trn cern is the public safety of all itsh citizens. Petitions are available from n any member of the three humann rights organizations. w 0

Lil Klsh1moto/The SPOl<l' :ir ir -RP.Vi, ,.

Doug Cresswell, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, discusses the panel's response to the Aryan Nations' request for a parade permit

Nazis to march for civil rights in CdA parade City wants to tum hate fest into fund-raiser By Ken Olsen Slaff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Nazis raising money for human rights? That may happen if the Aryan Nations holds a parade in Coeur d'Alene in April celebrating Adolf Hitler's birthday. Taking an idea from a town in Pennsylvania, area human rights advocates are asking for pledges based on the duration of the Aryan parade. For example, donors would give a dollar for every minute the Aryans march. Proceeds collected locally would be split between the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment. Human rights groups across the country will be encouraged to use the Coeur d'Alene parade to raise money for their local groups. That leaves the Aryan Nations with three options, said Tony Stewart of the human relations task force. "They can cancel the parade. They can march really fast to save money. Or they can walk really slow, which we recommend," Stewart said.

"They can cancel the parade. They can march realty fast to sa·ve money. Or they can walk real~y slow, which ·we ·ecommend. " Tony Stewart, Kootenai Co11111y Task Force on Hunta11 Relat,onf

The Hayden Lake-based Aryan Nations applied for a permit recenLI) to hold a paraLlc April 18 celebrating Hitler's birthday. Aryan leader Ri-. chard Buller has called for at least 100 people to attend his "100-man flag parade." Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Jud} has lhe final say on a permit. Judy says he still is exploring Jesal options for dealing with the ~erm1t request. Continued

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Parade: Butler says mayor won't see him Continued from A1

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Butler said he attempted to talk with the Coeur d'Alene mayor about the Aryan Nations parade permit application. "He won't talk to me," Butler said Thursday at his Church of Jesus Christ Christian. "His secretary said, 'He won't see you.' " Task force members assume Judy will have to approve the permit, said Doug Cresswell, the group's president. The task force ·'acknowledges lhe constitutional right of all groups to free speech even when that assembly and speech is abhorrent to the basic principles of human dignity, respect and justice for all." Rather than confront the Aryan marchers, "we believe the best approach is to promote human rights," Cresswell said. The plan to combat the Aryan parade is not deterring threats of a counterprotest fro m the Los Angeles-based Jewish Defense League. The group will still organize its own march in the Lake City on April L8, promised Irv Rubin, national chairman of the Jewish Defense League. "There are times for love and times for hate," Rubin said. " l think it's a shame people up there can't show hate to the Aryans. Rubin's vision is a crowd so large and threatening that police have to rescue the Nazis from an outraged crowd of anti-Nazi protesters, he said. "What happened today (Thursday) in Nevada is indicative of one fact: symbolic protest is not adequate," Rubin said. He referred to the arrest of two suspected terrorists - one of them a former Aryan Nations member - who were charged in Nevada of possessing suspected biological weapons. Butler says the fund-raising proposal won't stop the parade. "That's fine, let them do it ... that's their god - the do!Jar bill," Butler said. "We're going ahead with it." Butler estimated the parade will take an hour followed by an hourlong rally in City Park. The human relations task force is asking people to sign donation petitions, including a pledge that reads: ·'Yes, J believe that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust and that millions of others were killed as well

by Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Yes, I believe in the right of free speech, but r abhor the message of whjte supremacy and hatred that the Aryan Nations are proclaiming as they exercise their right of free speech by marching through Coeur d·AJene." Turning a white supremacist event into a human rights fund-raiser has been done in several towns, including Boyertown, Pa. About a year ago, the Boyertown Area Unity Coalition started collecting donations for every minute the Ku Klux Klan stood on a street corner and handed out racist pamphlets. The move provides "a productive, non-violent channel for everybody to get involved," according to a similar group in North Carolina using the fund-raising tactic. The Pennsylvania coalition has raised more than $4,000 from five Klan events. The National Penn Bank, the business nearest the comer where the Klan passes out its literature, matches employee contributions. The Unity CoaJition recently gave $500 to the local library for books and videos promoting racial harmony. It also has donated some of the proceeds to national groups, such as the Southern Poverty Law Center - a Klan-watchdog group. The Kootenai County task force's fund-raiser is one of several in a series of events slated for the week of April 13-19. Instead of joining a counter march ApriJ 18, the task force is organizing a car caravan to Spokane for a civil rights march. h won't stop the media from gjving the Aryan parade any coverage, but "we hope to focus the attention on the car caravan," Cresswell said. As the task force prepares its human rights campaign, Butler's preparing to fight City Hall. " If he (the mayor) comes out and says he's not going to sign it, then we'll file suit," Butler said. He said he, has had preliminary discussions with the American Civil Liberties Union about legal representation if the permit is denied. Several years ago, the ACLU represented a Ku Klux Klan organization that wanted to march through a predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Skokie, Ill. That KKK march was permitted under freedom of assembly guarantees in the U.S. Constitution. • Staff writer Bill Mortin contributed to this report.

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Pagel& Sunday, February 22, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Wash./Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Our View Coeur d'Alene should heed the advice ofexperien~ed human rights leaders andgrant tho Aryan Nations a permitfor its April 18 parade.

Let freedom ring up some ironic change Not only houJd Richard Bu\Jer and hi o-called 100 ~an Flag Parade be allowed to march down Sherman ".'--venue Apnl 1 _ but the neo- azi hould be encouraged to tak~ 1t low. Each minute. the tired old racist and his gang spend walking the parade rou_te will rai e hundred and possibly thou and of dollar for human nghts. In a brilliant countermove, the Northwe t Coalition Again t Maliciou Harassment and the Kootenai County Ta k Force on Human Relation announced plan Thursday to u e the parade to rai e money. As part of a Making Le~onade (Out of Lemon ) project, human righ_t activi t are a king upp rters t pledge o much per parade rrunute. More importantly the two organization haver i ted th~ urge to a k Coeur d AJene officials to try to muzzle the uprema~1 t . Mayor teve Judy i being pressured to deny the Aryan ations req ue t for a permit to parade April 18 in ob ervance of Adolph . Hitler' birthday. That, of cour e would trigger a court battle, which the ity would lose.

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

Our Constitution guarantee right of free peech and a embly, without regard fo r the popularity of idea expr sect and individual involved. If freedom can be denied for unpopularity, any minority group i in danger. Local hurpan right leader know that. o did the late Jame Cha e, Spokane only black mayor. In May 1983, under heavy pre ur from ethnic group to reject a reque t from Buller for a rally at Riverfront Park Cha e modeled the proper re pan e. He aid freedom of peech i a corner tone of democracy ' that applies to everybody - even raci t . And b remi nded hi detractor that at one time, black citizen were barred from meeting freely. Finally he denounced racism and aid: ' I'm not a fearful of thi group a you are.' The Aryan Nation and oth r area hate group ar n t harmJe of cour e. A ca t ofrogue that read Iilc a Wh ' Who of U.S. white upremaci m ha pa s d through Butler' Hayden Lake compound- from Terry Mathe found r of The Order to the infamou Randy Weaver. AJumni have b en inv lved in among ther things as a ination robberie counterfeiting and mbing . One of the two men charged Thur day with po e ing anthrax for u ea a weapon had Aryan ation tie . Unfortunately, Butler ha n't been linked directly to any of the violence or crime hi rhetoric ba in pir d. So he ba remained free to pout hi raci t creed invite hateful riffraff to move to the Inland Northwe t and parade down herman Avenu a he ha threatened to do for year .

If Butler finally follow through on hi threat this year at lea the and hi minion will be goo e tepping for a worthy cau e, thanks to clever human right leader . It about time Butler did omething g od for his communjty. D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board

North Idaho College

Buehner standing strong against hatred Student stays busy lighting for civil, children's rights by We Wood Feawres Editor

unning for Idaho Legi lative p ition , trying to change tale law, having a chair on Kootenai County ta k force. the pre idem of the Human Equality Club - it' easy to forget Jo h Buehner i only 20 ye old. Thi political cience major ha already done more thaa mo t people have done in a lifetime. Buehner joined with the human equality club after Tony Stewart mentioned it in during hi political cience cla . He wa elected pre ident of the club shonly thereafter. In addition to ho ting NIC Marti n Luther King kid' day program, Buehner helped organize NIC' diver ity rally. ··A lot of time people think there's not a diversity

problem if no one talk about it " Buehner aid. "(After addre ing the i sue) we can move on and addre other i ue out there." Being pre ident of the Human E.quaJ ity Cl ub paved his path into the task force. Much ha been ajd about the infamou incident on O t. when an unidentified man pit on him . Buehner ·aid he ju t want to mo e on. ' It wa a terrible incident, we addre ed iL and now it' . over" he aid. "And now we ' re moving on to our next Josh Buehner project." Human Equality A taunch Dem rat ince Club P res ident the '92 election , he aid h ha been an active memb r of che Kootenai County Democratic Party for nearly the ame time. He ha held the pre inct chair for a year and a hair and i the younge t p~ cinct hair of

the c unt . He doe · political work u ha going tote tify bef re a Senate commi ttee about the Child Pr tection cc of 1998. With an empha i on civil right . Buehner aid he al o work on chi ldren i sues. Buehner will be returning n xt fall. After that, he will tran fer to a college in Idaho or Gonzaga. He want LO ·tay in Nonh Idaho and tart hi career. When the tirrung is right, he said he will run for Idaho Legi lature. "lt depend on the i ue . the need of the people and how I feel J can make an impact," h aid. Of cour e, hi main goal i to be pre ident. .. My feeling i, that I m going to hoot for the top," he aid. •· nd I'm going to try like crazy to get there." With all of hi work, catching up on leep i hi main hobby right now. Buehner aid. While being ineligible to run for Idaho office a a high hoot ·enior wa hi bigge t etback it could tum out t b hi bigge l achievemen1. he aid. The :ecretary f tate wrongly told him he wa eligible

Aryans begin raising money for human rights

to run so he has written a bill to c hange the law. Introduced by Rep. Larry Watson. it will make it possible for people who are 18 to ru n for state representative positions. " I felt for other people; this is a violation of their rig hts," Buehner said. Once a person turns 18, he shou ld have the voice o f their government, he said. Buehner speaks as though he should have the voice of the government. 'Tm not willing to sacrifice my principles and philosophies for any issue - regardless o f how important people say it is," he said. " If I have to sacrifice a principle or philosophy , then it's not that important." Stewart, who is the adviser to the Human Equality Club, said he hasn ' t seen any other NIC student who has the natural leadership skills that Buehner has. " He ' s committed to justice and equality with aJI people," said Stewart. " He has a great sense of humor and stands up for his convictions. He ' ll do great things in life."

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As of Friday, the Kootenai County T ask Force on H uman R elations had received pledges that totaled $40 per minute for the proposed Aryan Nations march April 18. ln case you've been out of the country, the human rights group is soliciting pledges of so much per minute that the neo-Nazis march. The task force hopes to raise between $500 and $1,000 per parade minute. The Making Lemonade (Out of Lemo ns) program has started, although Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy hasn't decided yet if he will grant Aryans leader Richard BuUer's req uest for a parade permit. Local human rights leaders believe the supremacists have a constitutional right to march. (They're right.) In the days ahead, the task force will announce a series of events to counter any demonstration the racists may stage. lf you want to contribute or gather pledges to the task force's Making Lemonade p rogram, write to the Kootenai County Task Force o n Human R elations, P.O. Box 2725, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816.

â&#x20AC;˘ 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.

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

A4 THE COEUR d 'ALENE PRESS Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1998

Nor

Idaho

Task lorce plans to counter Arvan parade in Cd'A By MATT BROADH URST Staff writer

COEUR d' ALENE - If the Aryan Nations' application for a parade permit h e re is granted, membe rs of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations will be prepared. uwe hope it would not occur, but if it does, we have some proactive things planned for that weekend ," said Doug

Cresswell, task force president. Mayor Steve Judy will decide whether to approve a special-event permit applied fo r F e b. 2 by Richard Bu tl er, Aryan Nations' founder. Butler has asked fellow supremacists to march in the planned April 18 parade. Judy said he has no time frame to deny or grant the permit application. but he is not in favor of the latter. ~r don't want them here." the mayor

said T uesday. ''They hurt ou r image. Because of (Aryans), our community has been portrayed as a racist community. "I don't want to approve this, but the constitutional reality is that I may have to." If there is a parade, the task force has some positive programs scheduled for that weekend also. said Tony Stewart, a North Idaho College political scientist. The "Celebration of Idaho's Diverse Ethnic and Religious Heritage" will take

place on the same day as the parade. but will be located away from where the Aryans plan to hold their parad e, Stewart said. 'The programs will speak out against messages of prejudice and bigotry," he said. Preliminary plans call for the Aryan parade to start at City Park, travel east up Front Street to Seventh Avenue, continue no r t h o n Seven th to Sh e rman Ave nue and return down She rman to City Park. The parade is planned for the same weekend as the annual "Aryan Youth Assembly" that attracts fewer than 100 neo-Nazi skinheads to the Aryan Nations compound near Hayden Lake. The assembly marks Adolf Hitler's birthday. While the task fo rce is against the Aryan parade, Stewart said they always recognize First Amendment rights.

Pledge money; turn the tables on racism • Cooler heads' response to Aryran parade is brilliant

olerant types in Kootenai County - and we suspect that label applies to most northern Idahoans - have discovered a poetic response to an Aryan Nations parade planned for April 18. Human-rights advocates are seeking pledges of money based on the duration of the "100 Man Flag Parade" through Coeur d'Alene marking Adolf Hitler's birthday. The longer white supremacists rail against human dignity, the more money will go to promote it. It's a can't-win scenario for smallminded people so insecure in their personal worth that the nicest thing they can say about themselves has to do with genetics - something over which they have no control. Out.smarting them is almost too easy. 'They can cancel the parade," said 'lbny Stewart of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. 'They can march really fast to save money. Or they can walk really slow, which we recommend." Money raised would go to the task force and the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, groups founded to counter the influence of hate groups in northern Idaho. The idea comes from Boyertown, Pa, where a human right.s group began collecting donations for every minute the Ku Klux Klan distributed leaflet.s on a street corner. The Boyertown Area Unity Coalition raised more than $4,000 from five Klan event.s, and part of the money was given to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a Klan watchdog group. It makes sense. The more that hate mongers spew their venom, the more that good people must do to counter it. It's a strategy people on the Palouse might want to consider in response to the swastikas that have been appearing on the Washington State University campus. The ugly symbol of hatred has been posted orl the doors of a Jewish professor and a Chicano/Latino student group. And just last week a dis-

play erected for Black History Month was defaced. One of the symbols was scrawled over a photo of civil-rights icon Rosa Parks. Also last week, a racial slur was written on a public message board near the display. The swastikas started appearing on the WSU campus in midDecember, and the following month the university launched a yearlong series of events aimed at raising awareness of prejudice. Judging from the continued posting of swastikas, the efforts at promoting tolerance must be riling someone. Good. Let's add insult to injury and start soliciting pledges for human-rights causes based on the number of times these hurtful symbols appear among us. There's a you-can't-get-us-down message that accompanies such a strategy. Part of the motivation for such spectacles is the distress they cause. If those who do not share racist.s' views can turn their displays of hatred into something positive, the thrill of agitating others is diminished. Our mothers were right when they told us in grade school that the best way to deflate a bully is not to appear ruffled by his aggression. Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy is trying a different tactic in response to the ~lanned Aryan parade, exploring legal options for denying the request. Unless the parade poses a threat to public safety, Judy should abandon plans to deny the request. A society founded on freedom of expression cannot try to squelch ideas it dislikes. Rather, the proper response to offensive speech is more speech of the nonoffensive variety. But there's more to it than the First.Amendme-q.t. Denying a permit for the parade will elevate white supremacists to martyr status, if only in their own minds. Let Richard Butler and his white-supremacist followers make fools of themselves if they wish. Let them hurt their own misguided cause. Promoting equality and other desirable human values is hardly a fitting tribute to Hitler's legacy of hate.

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Jewish activists denied parade permit

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Mayor says they can't march when Aryans are in town By Ken Olsen Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - The Jewish Defense League cannot stage a countermarch during a proposed Aryan Nations parade next month, city officials said Tuesday. The league says it will fight that ruling and is asking the American Civil Liberties Union

for help. Mayor Steve Judy denied the league's application to hold a parade oa Sherman Avenue on April 18 between JO a.m. and 2 p.m. because it's the same time aod place requested by the Aryan Nations. "We don't have to grant two parade permits for the same time and same location," Judy said. "We don't have the man-

power and we don't have the resources." The city believes a U.S. Supreme Court ruling supports that position. Judy said. In a brief letter, the mayor told the league it can apply to march oo another weekend. He still is considering whether to grant the Aryan Nations' request to hold a parade in honor of Adolf Hitler's birthday. Aryan leader Richard Butler did oot return telephone calls seeking comment on Tuesday. The dueling permits raise more than

scheduling conflicts. ~uesday m~~gd ~:; fore be knew the pernut had bee~ eme r' national director of the Jev.:1sh J?e ense League promised a confrontat~on a1~~d at stopping the Aryan parade wtth a ever Agam" march. " I want to show there's a different. kind of Jew in town,'' Irv Rubio said from his <?~ce in Los Angeles. " lt's not the weak, subm1ss1v_e Jew that runs and hides and pulls down bis continued:

Parade/Al

Parade protest The North Idaho Colle~~ Hu~an Equality Club is sponsoring a petition dnve today from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. in the NIC library foyer. Residents are being asked to pledge money based on the duration of the proposed ~ryan Nations parade in Coeur d'Alene on Apnl 18.

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, meanwhile, is glad to see the Defense League permit denied. "We would like for them to stay in Los Angeles," said Tony Stewart, of the task force. "We don't need them to come to Coeur d'Alene to participate in a confrontation that may lead to violence. "The good people of North Idaho, through the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, have never remained silent and have always found ways to promote human rights and reject bate without confrontation or violence." The task force is asking people to pledge money for every minute the Aryans are marching as a means of raising money for human rights. The ' group has distributed 2,500 petitions and is having 1,000 more printed. The task force also bas several activities scheduled for the week of April 13-19, including a banquet featuring Gov. Phil Batt, a civil rights rally in Spokane, an interfaith church service in Coeur d'Alene and a memorial to the Holocaust in Spokane.

Parade: Mayor concerned about potential violence Continued from A1

blinds." Rubin's aim is to recruit thousands of people to block the Aryan Nations parade. That could lead to violence, he conceded, but it would probably be started "by Nazis marching into a crowd of hostile people. "One could say violence is always wrong,'' Rubin added. " It's always sad and always tragic, but it's not always wrong. We don't want to sit and play with constitutional principles." While the scheduling conflict is the basis for denying the permit, Rubin's rhetoric clearly concerned Mayor Judy. " Mr. Rubin has a history that isn't rosy and certainly th'at is a concern as well as his stated objective for coming to town,'' Judy said. A Jewish Defense League lntemet Web page, for example, brags of Rubin's numerous arrests for physical confrontations. On Thursday, the ACLU's legal committee will consider the Defense League's request for help, as well as what action to take if C.oeur d'Alene denies the Aryan Nations permit. But that doesn't mean the ACLU is taking up the fight for the Defense League. "We think the government needs to accommodate all kinds of expression," said Jack Van Valkenburgh, ACLU of Idaho director. "They don't necessarily need to be at the same time if it creates logistical problems."

Huckleberries

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State Superintendent of Schools Anne Fox didn't inspire confidence when she defended phonics instruction. Her own reading skills, said she, "are proof of a flawed education system." ... At 2:33 p.m. Wednesday, the Kootenai County Rood Mitigation Committee notified us of two workshops-scheduled for that afternoon and evening. Let's hope the panel is more on top of things when the water starts nsing. ... Bob Abbott swears he heard this on the radio: A hospital in southern Idaho has decided to honor Picabo Street's Olympic golden feat by naming a wing after her. It's going to be called Picabo ICU.... Last week, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations fielded two pledges, among others, for $5 per minute that the neo-Nazis march on April 18. About 1,500 petitions are out for the Making Lemonade fund-raiser.. .. After six unanswered phone calls and two office visits, Don Lightfoot cornered Kootenai County Commissioner Dick Panabaker at the Sandtrap on Friday. Don says he doesn't mind if Panabaker can't do anything to help him with a Hayden do$ problem. But he'd at least like a return call. Good pomt.

A4 THE PRESS Thursday, M arch 12, 1998

Human rights groups organize against proposed Aryan parade By JOE BUTLER

Staff writer COEUR d'ALENE - Local human rights organizations are using unlimited qua11tities of lemonade to help them take a stand against a proposed spring march by the Aryan Nations. Students, staff and faculty from North Idaho College Wednesday offered people free glasses of the sweetened citrus beverage to pledge money for each minute the Aryans actually march. 'This is a very positive thing in the community.'' said Mona Klinger. a NIC instructor. Within two hours of Wednesday's six-hour fund-raising effort, four sheets were about half full of signatures BONNIE HUOLET/Press photo either pledging money or just indicating the signers sup- North Idaho College student Ali Gabica signs a port the Aryan's right to free speech but oppose the pledge to donate a certain amount of money for message. each minute that the Aryan Nations march-if The "Make Lemons" drive began last month , and their parade permit should be granted. Human has already raised thousa nd s of dollars. The pro- Equality Club members Tara Mussulman, left, and ject is sponsored by the Kootenai County Task Sally Brownlee provide information and lemonade. Force on Human Relations, Northwest Coalition Wednesday in the NIC library lobby. Against Malicious Harassment and NIC's Student Equality Club. task force. said there has been interest across the counAlong with raising pledges for the proposed parade, try in the petition. these groups are planning a rally in Spokane the day the "This is a good thing for the community. and many parade is to take place. Two religious celebrations in people are supporting this."' she said. this area the planned for the following day. Tara Mussulman. a student aocl an intern with the LEMONS continued on A7

LEMONS

it. Klinger said many people now have become aware of the march continued from A4 due to the announced move of the Spring Dash. Businesses, students and indiBuehner said he was in Boise viduals have sent in pledges, earlier this week and filled out some as much as $5 or $10 per everal of the petition forms. minute. The parade is anticipated "Everyone I approached knew to last about 45 minutes. about this and wanted to sign," he Mussulman said she hasn't said. heard exact numbers, but said Klinger said her daughter took between $100,000 and $200,000 forms toÂˇ her school, and quickly has been raised so far. Using a sim- ran out. ilar pledge drive, a Pennsylvania "It's easy and positive," she community raised more than said. "It's creative but not con$4 000 a few years ago when the frontational." Ku Klux Klan wanted to march. She said many at NIC like the The exact amount of money petition's approach, which lets the raised and number of signatures Aryans decide whether to take gathered may be disclosed later their time or speed themselves this week, said Josh Buehner, up. It also respects freedom of president of the equality club. speech and peaceful assembly. Numbers may grow in the next The city has not made a decifew weeks because of growing sion regarding granting the perpublicity of the proposed march mit to march, but may do so later and the controversy surrounding th is month.

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Thursday, March 12, 1998 The Spokesman-Review Spokane. Wash./Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

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

-Wouldn't you just know it? Hot Potato

Butler has evilJewish twin D.F. Oliveria Opinion writer

In a way, it's too bad racist Richard Butler and Jewish blowhard lrv Rubin couldn't meet at Fourth and Sherman at high noon - and settle their hatred for each other. They wouldn't need guns, knives, or tire irons, either. Both are so venomous, they could kill with a bite. Butler, of course, is our cross to bear, a nasty old man who believes the white trash he surrounds himself with is supenor to people of other races and religions. He has asked for a permit to goosestep down Sherman Avenue, now on July 25, rather than the original date, April 18. Rubin, who has yet to enter the local scene, is a Jewish Defense League militant with a chip on his shoulder the size of a ponderosa. From Los Angeles, he's fuming because the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations hasn't tried to stop Butler from marching- which shows he has as much respect for our Constitution as neo-Nutsies do. Rubin's also trying to rally his disciples to combat Butler & Co. in Coeur d'Alene. Said Rubin via telephone: 'ÂˇI want to show there's a different kind of Jew in town. It's not the weak, submissive Jew that runs and hides and pulls down his blinds." Ironically, the same First Amendment freedoms that permit the Aryan Nations to assemble also allow knuckleheads like Rubin to counterdemonstrate, which increases the chance of violence in town in July. Sometimes, freedom boils down to putting up with the Butlers and Rubins of the world.

Aryans may face new parade rules before July event Coeur d'Alene council studies ordinances with greater controls

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By Ken Olsen

Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - New parade rules may be in place by the time the Aryan Nations resurrects its 100 Man Flag March in July. The Coeur d'Alene City Council will consider new ordinances giving the city the ability to control the time. place and manner of gatherings, Mayor Steve Judy said. That's allowed under the ConMitution as long as the controls have nothing to do with free speech issues. he said. "We need to have reasonable controls," Judy said. ··Lf you are going to march, you can go here at this time, on this day, in this place. " If you are going to hold a parade, you can go here." The community will be asked to give its input on the proposed rules, Judy said. Judy issued a press release Thursday announcing the Aryan Nations parade will be al lowed. " First Amendment rights dictate that the march must be allowed," Judy said. The Aryan Nations originally applied to hold a march in Coeur d'Alene April 18, commemorating Hitler's birthday. Late Wednesday, leader Richard Butler said the event is being delayed until July during the Aryan World Congress. The Aryans' cancellation oeened the door for the city to reconsider a parade permit request from the Jewish Defense League. The Los Angeles-based group wanted to march at the same time as the Aryans

Bail jumper rains on April parade

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By Bill Mortin Staff writer

Hitler isn't going to get a birthday party parade next month in Coeur d'Alene thanks to an Aryan who was caught by police with his muffler dragging. Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler is out $2,200 after posting a jail bond for Thomas Barklett Elliott, who was arrested Sept. 13 in Hayden Lake for " driving without privileges." Elliott has since disappeared. Now Butler must repay a Coeur d'Alene bonding company. Butler said he was counting on using the $2,200 for food, transportation and a bond required for an April 18 parade in Coeur d'Alene celebrating Adolf Hitler's birthday. Continued:

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in an attempt co stop the Aryan event. That permit was initially denietl on the grounds that the city could not allow sinmltaneous parades. Continued: Ordlnances/A12

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Ordinances: Human rights banquet still to be held Continued from A1 hv Rubin, Jewish Defense League national director promised to come to Coeur d'Alene regardless of whether he r.eceived a permit. He could not be reached for comment Thursday. The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relatio~s, meanwhile, said it will go forward with at least part o~ It~ program scheduled for the week of April 13-19. That will mclude a human rights banquet featuring Gov. Phil Batt on April 13. The task force also will continue to solicit pledges for

cash donations based on the amount of time the Aryans march - whatever month it takes place - said Tony Stewart of the task force. The Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment says that fund-raising idea is part of the reason the Aryan Nations delayed its parade. The Aryan Nations were making every effort to thwart the pledge drive, said Bill Wassmuth, "so it did catch their attention." The coalition was told the Aryans believed st~te law gave them the 1ight to a part of the proceeds, he said. In Bo_ise, human rights organizers are pushing forward today with a rally on the steps of the state capitol.

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SundaJ, March 15, 1998

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

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

Jews .see lesson in Opportunity to learn how to deal with hatred By Heather Lalley Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE- Members of North ldaho's small Jewish community say the Aryan Nations march through Coeur d'Alene should not be ignored, but should be used to teach Jews and others how to deal with hatred. "Any incident Like this offers the opportunity to reaffirm one's support for human rights," said Alan Wasserman, a member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and lawyer with Idaho Legal Aid. "In the normal course of daily activity, people don't have the

Public discussion Tonight, Norm Gissel of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations will discuss the community's response to the Aryan Nations march. His presentation begins at 5 p.m. at the North Idaho Unitarian Universalist Church, 610 N. Fourth, Coeur d'Alene.

opportunity to speak out on human rights." Helen Stoddard, an Israeli citizen and Jew who Lives in Hayden, said the Aryan Nations plan to march through downtown Coeur d'Alene shows that "there is no place in America that is isolated from evil." Stoddard called for shopkeepers to close their

an march businesses and fly flags at half staff if and when the Aryan Nations march. "I don't think they should feel this is just a Jewish problem," she said. "Their Literature spells it out. It isn't against only the Jewish people." The Aryan Nations, a white supremacist group with a compound north of Hayden Lake, originaJiy applied for a request to march through Coeur d Alene on April 18 to commemorate Adolf Hitler's birthday. Financial troubles forced the group to postpone its event until late July in conjunction with the annual Aryan World Congress. The planned march has attracted attention throughout the West. Irv Rubin, ao activist with a long history of arrests who represents the Los Continued: March/82

Craig Buck/Tlle Spokesman-Review

Helen Sto~dard, an Israeli citizen who now lives in Hayden, believes the planned Aryan Nations parade provesthat hatred exists everywhere in America.

:.March: Task force Âˇstill gathering pledges Continued from B1 Angeles-based Jewish Defense League, has promlSed a countermarch. But many in the Jewish community say Rubin's tactics are too aggressive. ''I.rv Rubin does not speak for anyone other than Irv Rubin," said Rabbi Jacob lzakson of Spokane's Temple Beth Shalom. "The march is definitely not

going to be ignored. It is a teaching opportunity. It is not a time for violence." Izakson said his congregation plans to decide by the end of the month how best to deal with the proposed march. Meanwhile, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations is continuing to gather pledges for cash donations based on the duration of the Aryan Nations march. Stoddard said parents should find out from their children how much they understand about the march and explain, at their level, the differences between good and evil. " Hatred has to be taught," she said. " It's not something you're born with." It's that hatred, Stoddard said, that inflicts more

abuse on an already wounded community. She says she had friends in Coeur d'Alene who had survived the Holocaust but were afraid to speak about their experiences. While violent confrontation may not be the right answer, Myron Schreck, a University of Idaho and board member of the Jewish Community of the Palouse, said it is an understandable response. ''To hear anyone speak honorably about Adolf Hitler sends chills through the bones of any person who is Jewish and any person who cares about the results of hatred and intolerance," Schreck said. " I would not suspect that any Jewish person feels at ease knowing that there were a number of people who wanted to use the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of this person."

human rights effort continues

Aryan One is reminded of a rabbit by the on-again-off-again actions of the Aryan Nations. The Aryan march for April 18 to celebrate Adolph Hitler's birthday through downtown Coeur d'Alene has been postponed by its leader Richard Butler. The group may hold it this summer. But the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations is proceeding ahead with its scheduled activities. Members launched a human rights fund-raising petition coined the "Making Lemonade Project" and will continue to host a banquet on April 13 with Gov. Phil Batt as the keynote speaker. "We operate under the turtle theory.'' local human rights advocate Tony Stewart said. "The Kootenai County Task Force moves slowly and constantly with determination in our work." The "Making Lemonade Project,' a brilliant idea borrowed from Boy-

ertown, Penn.,willraise money for human rights groups when the Aryans march. Donors are asked to pledge money to a human rights group for each minute of the parade. "They can cancel the parade. They can march really fast to save money," Stewart said earlier. "Or they can walk really slow, which we recommend." Stewart said that the pledge continues. ''We'll be ready in this city if they march in July or October," he said. "These pledges of funds will be on every minute they march." The task force approach is a delightful, snappy and sensible way to address the racist tactics of the Aryan Nations. The shock value of the usual Aryan World Congress meetings

held in the summer has worn off. The parade was certainly a new idea. But the parade organizers never could have imagined that their Aryan parade could generate money for human rights all over the country. Could every step Butler takes raise money for KlanWatch, the NW Coalition Against Malicious Harassment and the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations? The bright, yellow petitions for the "Making Lemonade Project'' are a common sight around Coeur d'Alene. The petition has captured nationwide attention, as well. Fundraising pledge petitions are circulating on college campuses including the University of Arizona, Princeton University and Harvard University. According to Stewart, the phones

are ringing off the hook. The task force receives donations and letters of congratulations daily, including one from attorney and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz. Beyond the tortoise and hare similarities, the project shows us human rights can be fun and move the spirit. The Aryan march served as a catalyst for a new set of considerations. One consideration is gratitude. The threat of an Aryan march shifted local human 1ights activists into organizing on a different level. The broad-based collection of data of supporters is needed for any organization to grow and prosper. For this we have the Aryan Nations to thank. Ordinary local citizens picked up the human rights banner, leading the way for elected leaders to safely negotiate the issue. For this we have the Aryan Nations to thank. The pledge states support for human rights for all, a belief that 6 mil-

lion Jews were killed in the Holocaust and a support for free speech. This message clearly separates Idahoans by belief and commitment and allows them to put their names on the line for human rights. For this we have the Aryan Nations to thank. We live in a criti~ but opportune time. Others will judge and conclude who we are by how we rise to this occasion. As this entire episode plays itself out, it could be that Idahoans will come down on the side of reason. acceptance and tolerance. And for this we would have ourselves to thank.

Jeanne Givens is a board member of Americans for Indian Opportunity and serves as an adviser to the lndian Ambassador Program She is a member of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and a former member of the Idaho Legislature. Write her at Box 969, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

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IIltler birthday bash will raise funds for human rights By MARILYN HENRY

NEW YORK - A march by white supremacists celebrating the 109th birthday or Adolf Hiller could tum into the single largest grass-roots fund -raiser for human rights in the US. When the Aryan Nati ons, a white supremacist group, planned 10 celebrate Hiller's birthday with a parade in Coeur d'Alene, a northem Idaho town, the Jewish Defense League de111andcd the right to its own parade. l l1e townspeople, meanwhile, planned to spend the day at a hu111an-rights rally across the state line in Washington. Dut, in a move to exploit the Aryan Nations' parade, a coalition of civil-rights groups has co111e up with .a savvy plan 10 turn the march into a fund -raiser that could generate up to $1 million for human rights. · Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy still is considering a request by 1.he Aryan Nations for a permit for n parade on Saturday, April 18, two days before Hitler's birthday. Judy denied a request for a permit, for the same day and at the sa111e place, fro111 the JDL. "We don't have to have two connicting para4es on the same day," he said. I le is expected to grant the Aryan Nations a permit next week. Judy has said he doesn·1 want '10 allow the parade by the supre macist group, which has its headquarters in nearby Hayden Lake, but he may not have the legal grounds to deny it. The towni:pcoplc plan to show their disdain for the Aryan Nntions

by shunning them, 111aking the city of 24,000 a ghost town on April 18. l11ey hope that shopkeepers will post signs in their windows saying: "Closed 10 hate," while local residents go to a humanrights rally in S pokane, Washington. The intent is 10 ensure 1ha1 the only people on the parade route would be police. "We feel !hey have the right 10 march," said Marshall Mend, a local rcallor, human-rights activist and one or an estimated I00 Jews in Coeur d'Alene. "But such an even! cannot go by wilhoul a response." Mend and other activists have started the 1"Making Lemonade" pledge. , "We arc taking something biller and turning it to , something sweet,". he said. "In essence, by marching in Coeur d'Alene, the Aryan Nations will be raising money for human rights and Jewish human-rights organizations." Enlisting the support of 1he Anti -Defamation League and human-righls groups on campuses across the US, a 'coalition in 1he nonh wcstcm US is ci rculating petitions in which people state: "I agree with the right of free speech, but I abhor the message of white supremacy." They also pledge an amount of money for the human-rights agency of !heir choice for each moment the Aryan Nations' parade lasts. 11,e estimated time is 45 minu les, Mend said. "Locall y, we could raise $30,000," Mend said, adding that na1ionwide, the amount could top $ I 111illion.

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North Idaho to celebrate diversity

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Kootenai task force chooses date near time when Aryan Nations had planned to march By Heather Lalley Staff writer

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations will sponsor a banquet next week to celebrate the diverse groups that helped build Idaho. The banquet is scheduled Monday and would have coincided with the Aryan Nations march through Coeur d'Alene originally scheduled for April 18. That march now is planned for July 18. Financial troubles stopped the Aryan Nations, a white supremacist group with a compound at Hayden Hate, harassment Lake, from holding the April and human rights In march commemorating Idaho will be the Adolf Hitler's bi rthday. topic of a free lecture Coeur d'Alene officials have at 7:30 p.m. Friday not granted the group a InNIC'sTodd Hall. parade permit for a July Northwest Nazarene march but say the Aryan Nations is the only organizaCollege professor tion requesting such a perDr. Stephen K. Shaw mit for that day. will examine the ''It's always a good time to messages of Idaho's talk about human rights. esextremist groups. pecially with the things we have going on," task force member Judy Whatley said. "When people start talking and you start raising the consciousness level, they remember racism ·is not just burning crosses in people's yards. It's the words you use. It's the jokes you tell." Gov. Phil Batt will give the banquet's keynote address. A group of young people will parade through the banquet hall, represeotmg the ethnic and religious groups that helped develop the state. The Rev. Happy Watkins, a Spokane pastor, will reenact Dr. Martrn Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The opening prayer will be given by Jeanne Givens, a member of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, and the closing prayer will be delivered by Keath Blatt, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith in Seattle. "Unfortunately, because of some negative and hateful messages the extremists have produced, a lot of people have lost sight of what a wonderfully diverse ethnic community Idaho is," task force member Tony Stewart said. ''H's a wonderful way for everybody to come together." The banquet is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Coeur d'Alene Inn. 'For ticket information, call 765-3932.

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â&#x20AC;˘ A4 THE PRESS Tuesday, April 7, 1998

Kootenai Coun Batt speaking at task force event COEUR d' ALENE - Gov. Phil Batt will join local human rights leaders next Monday for a special banquet. The annual banquet sponsored by the Kootenai Task Force on Human Relations begins at 6:30 p.rn. at the Coeur d'Alene Inn. Though some of the details are still being worked out, the evening will include a presentation by Batt. a welcome from Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy and Ernie Slt!nsgar, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council, a presentation of the task force's minority scholarship award and an opening prayer by Jeanne Givens, from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and a former task force vice president. This banquet will celebrate the diverse nature of Idaho's cultural and religious roots. Part of the celebration will include a parade of youth representing the various ethnic groups which settled the state. Doug Cresswell, current task force president, will give a short introduction to the governor, and Rev. Âˇ Happy Watkins will give Martin Luther King Jr. 's "I Have A Dream" speech. The evening wilJ end with a prayer by Keath Blatt, Seattle interim regional director of the AntiDefamation League of B'nai B'rith.

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Editorial

Batt to celebrate Idaho's diversity Wewelcome the presence of Gov. Phil Batt at tomorrow evening's

dinner at the Coeur d'Alene Inn celebrating the diversity of Idaho's cultural and religious roots. ~ The governor has taken an aggressive, positive stance against those who would paint Idaho, especially its northern regions, as a haven for racists. Batt has consistently challenged that characterization of Idaho as a distortion of the facts. He has offered Idaho's record in integration of races and cultures in comparison to other areas of the country in countering claims, particularly in the media, that our state is below the curve in promoting tolerance. Batt has challenged many of the critics to look to their own states and communities and compare conditions there to the progress which has been made and continues in Idaho. The governor is aggressive in identifying isolated hate groups in the state as insignificant in size and outside the mainstream of Idaho thought and practice. He is correct in characterizing these groups as without credibility and influence among Idahoans. Sponsor of the dinner is Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and although that group hasn't announced a specific theme for the evening, we think the governor's remarks will carry the message, loud and clear, that Idaho is an open society which abhors racism and intolerance of any type. The fact that a few aging stragglers are trying to keep alive a movement that has shriveled into an ineffective, meaningless, underfinanced, disorganized and disintegrating group is proof that Idahoans won't tolerate bigotry of any sort. Idaho has set progressive human landmarks. It elected the first Jewish governor in the nation's history, worked to keep Idaho's JapaneseAmerican out of WWil relocation camps and picked the first American Indian to ever serve as an attorney general. Idaho has built on that legacy of merging cultures and religions, regardless of how media may like to distort the picture.

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It's time to move on, Batt tells supremacists COEUR d'ALENE - Calling the Aryan Nations an "eyesore," Idaho Gov. Phil Batt is urging the white supremacist group to get out of town.

repugnant and is not what Idaho stands for," Batt told several hundred guests at a human rights banquet here Monday. Âˇ'We want to know how we can convince that small group of malcontents to move on and leave us alone.'' Batt joined other state and community leaders at the Coeur d'Alene Inn for the banquet sponsored by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. The banquet originally was scheduled to

"The idea of a march celebrating evil is

Continued: Rights banquet/A7

Human rights banquet was scheduled to coincide with postponed Nazi parade By Heather Lalley Staff writer

-REVIEW 4/- -I'-,'- - CJ'!?

"The idea of a march celebrating evilis repugnant and is not what Idaho standsfor. " Phil Batt, Jdnhogovemor

Rights banquet: March delayed untilJuly 18 Continued from A1 offset the Aryan Nations march through Coeur d'Alene on April 18, commemorating Adolf Hitler's birthday. But financial troubles forced the group, which has a compound in Hayden Lake, to postpone the march until July 18. "Instead of marching, why don't they give us some answers?" asked Batt, who received three standing ovations during the banquet. "We invite the practitioners of this intolerance ro come forward and explain lheir behavior.''

The audience of area politicians, business leaders, human rights activists and students applauded when Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy said the city would not ignore the actions of the Aryan Nations. "While I may personally disagree with those who support hate, I can't muzzle those opinions," Judy said. ''lf it happens in my community and they break the law, they will be punished." Ernie Stensgar, chairman of the Coeu r d.Alene Tribal Cou ncil, thanked Batt for making the state's relations with Native Americans a priority.

"He has put us in equal stature with Idaho leaders and that's where we should be:Âˇ Stensgar said. "What's good for the Indian tribes are good for Idaho and vice versa." A group of young people paraded through the banquet hall, paying

tribute to the diverse religious and ethnic groups tbar helped build the stare. Spokane pastor Happy Watkins re-enacted Dr. Martin Luther KingJr.'s, "I Have a Dream Speech." Task force member Tony Stewart announced the creation of two minority scholarships at North Idaho College. The scholarships, which will be awarded next fall, will be named after Batt and former Sen. Mary Lou Reed because of their support of human rights, Stewart said. "At least tonight, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, is the capitol of the state in human rights," he said. But Stensgar said there is little time to rest in the fight against bigotry. '' As long as we have neo-Nazis, as long as we have laws that say the only language we have in Idaho is English, as long as we have hatred and racism. we can't stop," he said.

BILL BULEY/Press photo

Gov. Phil Batt shares a light moment with Ernie Stensgar, chairman of the Coeur d' Alene Tribal Council, at the human relations banquet, "Celebrating Idaho's Diverse Ethnic and Religious Heritage" at the Coeur d' Alene Inn on M onday.

Stand Against Hate Governor, mayor, others urge action against intolerence By JOE BUTLER Staff writer

COEUR d ' ALENE - Gov. Phil Batt wants 1elp from local human rights leaders and supporters to take a stand against r ac ism and intolerance. "The city of Coeur d'Alene has unequaled natural beauty, and when an eyesore occurs, there are plenty of volunteers to clean it up," Batt said

NIC workshops take another look at crime/ A5 Monday evening. "We have one eyesore which is resistant to improvement - the presence of irrational hatred and bigotry in our midst. "We invite and we challenge the practitioners of this intolerance to come forward and explain their behavior." HATE continued on A5

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continued from A 1 As the keynote speaker for the annual banquet for the Kootenai Task Force on Human Relations, Batt had even harsher words for the Aryan Nations, which ha s reques ted a summer march down Sherman Avenue. "Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho and indeed the entire s tate are on a campaign for self-improvement," Batt said. "We want to know how we to convince this small group of malcontents to move on." He said the Aryans are marching in honor of something which caused the death of 6 million Jews

and 15 of his Wilder High classmates. 'Toe idea of a march celebrating evil is repugnant and it is not what Idaho stands for," Batt said. His longtime firm commitment against hate earned him more than one standing ovation from the more than 300 people attending Monday's banquet To commend him for his lifetime of support, the task force announced the Phil Batt scholarship to North Idaho College for a minority student A second scholarship will be named after Mary Lou Reed, a former state lawmaker from Coeur d'Alene and a longtime supporter of human rights. The NIC Foundation will also fund two minority scholarships this fall. The governor' s message was backed up by Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Judy and Ernest

Stensgar. chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. Judy said that while he opposes messages of hatre d, he is obligated to respec t freedo m o f expression. "While I disagree with those who s upport hate, I can't muzzle that," he said. ''I can try to discourage this, and if they break the law, these people wilJ be punished." Judy said Coeur d'Alene reside nts s hould be proud of who they are and the city's past stance against hatred and racism. "We regularly find ourselves on the defensive and we forget who we are," he said. "In this room is an amazing diverse group of people." Stensgar said the area's tradition of reaching out

to others goes back even further than the city's efforts for tolerance in the 1980s. . "One of our greatest traditions was our generosity, which we share tonight," he said. "We are grateful for the divers ity we have." Stensgar credited Batt, the task force, !'SIC ~d the city of Pos t Falls for improved relati0nsh1ps over the last few years. "What's good for the tribe is good for Idaho and vice versa." he said. "We owe (Batt) because he's put us on an equal stature with Idaho leaders." "I wish I can say that since we have made great strides, our work is done - it isn't as long as we have Aryan s, EngHs h language-only laws and hatred and racism."

CELEBRATING IDAHO'S DIVERSE ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS HERITAGE APRIL 13, 1998

The Coeur d'Alene Inn

Welcome from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe - Ernie Stensgar, Chairman of Tribal Council Introductions - Doug Cresswell, Master of Ceremonies and President, Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations National Anthem - April Dawn Vogue Opening Prayer - Jeanne Givens, Member of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and former VicePresident of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Welcome from the City of Coeur d'Alene

- Steve Judy, Mayor

Introduction of Keynote Speaker, Governor Phil Batt - Doug Cresswell Governor Phil Batt Minority Scholarship Award - Tony Stewart, Judy Whatley and Judy Hyatt Task Force Board Members Parade of Youth - Robyn Palmer, Coordinator Josh Buehner, Announcer, Task Force Board Member and President of the NJC Human Equality Club Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech - Rev. Happy Watkins We Shall Overcome - Led by April Dawn Vogue and Rev. Happy Watkins Closing Prayer - Keath Blatt, Seattle Interim Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith

Banquet Sponsored by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Head Table Centerpieces Donated by Evergreen Floral - Sherman Ave.

Guest column

Why are neo-Nazis here, where their ugly _credo is reviled ?

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Celebratlon

Idaho Gov. Phil Batt delivered thesecomments Monday, at the Human Rights Celebrationof the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations in Coeur d'Alene.

here is Sid Dunagan's grandson'? HeÂˇsnot here. Sid Dunagan was piloting a bomber over Germany when Nazi gunfire hit him from below. He landed back in England, but he was dead when they removed him from the cockpit. He was 21 years old. He never had a wife and so his grandson is not here. Where's Jack McGoldrick? He died in the Battle of the Bulge. So he didn ' 1 make it here tonight. Where are the families of 15 of the finest of tiny Wilder. fdaho's high school graduates? None are here because all of those young men gave their live in the Big War. Why did thi happen? Because an evil maniac named Adolf Hitler hypnotized his country into a doomed baule for world conquest that eventually embroiled most countries and cost 40 million Jives in ba1tle and civilian ca ualties. Where arc the grandchildren of Dresden? There are few indeed because that city was consumed in a

firebombing raid by our forces retaliating against the Nazi war machine. Where are the 6 million Jews? They were savagely removed from this Earth in a thousand ways. The gold was pried from their teeth. Their skin was used to make lamp shades. They were shot at random by guards who were afforded the pleasure of target practice. They were stripped of their dignity and stripped of their clothing in the most disgusting fashion. Their children. grandmothers and friends were wrenched from their grasp, after which all parties were subjected to torture and mass extinction. And now. here in Idaho, we count among our residents the Aryan Nations - and those who make up this

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wretched group wanted to celebrate Adolf.Hitler's birthday with a public display of support. What motivates these people? Do they think Sid Dunagan deserved to have his buttocks blown off'? Do they think Der Fuhrer was correct in subjecting Dresden to its fiery destruction? Do they think millions should have undergone the Holocaust because they made the mistake of being born Jewish? Instead of marching, why doesn·t the Aryan Nations give us the answers to my questions? This city of Coeur d'Alene has unequalled natural beauty. When an eyesore occurs. there are plenty of volunteers to clean it up. We have one eyesore that is resistant to improvement. That is the presence of irrational hatred and bigotry in our midst. We invite and we challenge the practitioners of this intolerance to come forward and explain their behavior. Idaho and America have much in their history that cause some shame. Each one of us knows about incidents involving the native tribes, the Chinese workers, the interned Japanese. the African Americans, and more

recently, the Hispanics. The history itself is not as important as what we choose to learn from it. and those are the lessons we draw on.every day in thousands of ways. Maybe the Aryan Nations i just another lcs:.on. But it feels different, somehow. Perhaps that i because it forces u to weigh our fundamental commitment to freedom of expression, however unpalatable that expression seems, against an equally fundamental belief that what Adolf HiJter stood for, and what he did, was evil. The idea of a march celebrating eviJ is repugnant and it is 110 1 what Idaho stands for. Coeur d'AJene, North Idaho and, indeed, the entire state are on a campaign fo r self-improvement. We want to know how we can convince this mall group of malcontents to move on. Maybe they could give us some answers. I think Sid Dunagan and Jack McGotdrick and all those other guy from Wilder would want some answers, too. • Phil Batt is governor of the state of Idaho.

•

April 16, 1998

Pll'IIY cloudy Scattered showers/ A3 Vol. 91 No. 259

3sections

Human rights pledges mounting More than 280 support anti-Aryan effort COEUR d'ALENE - If the Aryan Nations goes ahead with a summer parade down Sherman Avenue, local human rights efforts can potentially earn at least $14,000. More than 260 people have pledged money for human rights for each minute of the proposed march, which is estimated to last between 45 and 60 minutes. The Aryans have requested a parade permil fo r J uly 18. Mayor Steve J udy hasn't mad e a decision on the permit. As a way to oppose the parade while stiJJ respecting the hate group's right to expression and peaceful assembly, the Koote na i County Task Force on Human Relations bas launched a "Lemonade Pledge" program. The lemon concept came from the adage "turn le mons into lemonade." Ta s k force board member Tony Stewart sa id $323.17 per mi nute has already been pledged as of

Wednesday afternoon. Thi s means $19,390.20 if the propose d parade lasts an ho ur or $ 14,542.65 if the parade lasts 45 minutes. The task force has r eceiv e d 71 pledges and the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment has received 190 pledges. Pledges and contributions h ave come in from students, faculty and other human rights supporters across the country. Stewart said one of the more notable gifts !:as been from Alan Dershowitz, a Har vard Law School professor and a member of OJ. Simpson's "Dream Team." "The good people of this region and across the United States, through the Lemonade Pledge, are sending a loud message of 'no' to prejudice and hatred," Stewart said. "The pledge is a great way to stand up for the principle of equality as well as a peaceful means to combat the parade's message of hate." There are more than 2,400 petitions still in circulation, he said.

Handcuffed suspect slips out of deputy's car/83

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

SECTION

Frtday, Aprtl 17, 1998

Page B8

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

law professor praises CdA

The Region

Friday, April 17, 1998

March: Harvard

Continued from 81

Human rights pledges total $323 per minute By Heather Lalley Staff wriicr

"People should stay

COEUR d'ALENE - The Kooaway. ... There's tenai County Task Force on Human Relations bas made a whole lot of nothing to begained by lemonade. ,{, . them. " conJronting The human rights group has collected l,017 signatures and 828 pledges since it began its " lemons Tony Stewart, hwnm, relations into lemonade" petition drive about task force spokesman six weeks ago. The drive, created to counter a proposed Aryan Nations march "lt's a way of not violating the through Coeur d'Alene, asks par- First but also respondticipants to pledge money for each ing inAmendment a loud voice, 'No to prejuminute of the white supremacist dice.' 路, task force spokesman Tony group's parade. Stewart said. Supporters have pledged a total Stewart said his group has reof $323.17 for each minute of the ceived telephone messages from Aryan Nations march. with the Continued路 March/88 highest pledge being $5 per minute.

Aryan Nations members, who have a compound at Hayden Lake, saying the task force cannot hold the pledge drive without giving the white supremacist group a chunk of the money. The money will be used to support tbe task force and the 路 Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, Stewart said. Residents should stay home on July 18, the day the march is planned, he said. " People should stay away and attend other events happening at that time," Stewart said. "For 17 years, the task force has taken the position that one should never remain silent, but we have never believed in having a confrontation. There's nothing to be gained by confronting them." Support for the pledge drive has come from as far away as staff and students at the University of Arizona and from Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz, who recently wrote the article ''What if Nazis March and No One Shows?" applauded the city路s handling of the proposed march. "Three cheers for the good people of Coeur d'Alene," Dershowitz, who also contributed $100 to the campaign, wrote in a syndicated commentary. "They have taught the world how to deal with the growing phenomenon of neo-Nazi speech. Do not ignore it. Do not censor it. Answer it. Defeat it in the marketplace of ideas."

Editorials

Batt' stand against hate loud and clear I n the old western movies the sheriff stood in the middle of Main Street, faced the bad guys, set his jaw and said, "Get outta town." Monday night Gov; Phil Batt was wearing a business suit and standing at a podium at the Coeur d'Alene Inn, but his The governor's blunt talk is message to the bad guys, something that the Aryan Nations and all the other hate groups, was has been misssimple, "Get outta the state." ing when highBatt has never been one to level officials mince words when he is conhave addressed vinced of his cause. He called the idea of a parade in the problem in the past His Coeur d'Alene to mark the birthday of Adolf Hitler direct approach "repugnant" and knowing and call for the the governor he probably Aryans to shape was swallowing some even up or ship out tougher language. was the type of Batt The governor's blunt talk language even the supremacists is something that has been missing when high-level offi- can understand. cials have addressed the problem in the past His direct approach and call for the Aryans to shape up or ship out was the type of language even the supremacists can understand. The governor's direct challenge to the hate groups to leave Idaho drew standing rounds of applause from an appreciative North Idaho audience. His keynote address was a shot in the arm for local groups which have longed for state leadership in their efforts to rid North Idaho of what Batt described as an "eyesore" fo r Coeur d'Alene's "unmatched beauty." He characterized the "eyesore" as "the presence of irrational hatred and bigotry." Batt deplored the plan to salute Hitler, a man responsible for the death of six million Jews and "15 of my Wilder High School classmates." In commenting on Batt's remarks, one man in the audience said afterwards that "Hitler robbed me of the chance to be a grandfather when his troops killed my son in World War II". The governor energized the local citizens to keep the pressure on the small and dwindling group of malcontents whose talent for suckering media into overblown accounts of their activities has been a major factor in developing the eyesore the governor deplored. We join the governor in his no-nonsense approach to the problem and endorse his call for the bad guys to leave North Idaho before sundown. Well done, governor.

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Saturday, April 18, 1998 Page 87

Open our eyes to enjoy Roundtable the world you created By Jeanne Givens Special to Roundtablc

his was the openi11g prayer in the Celebration of Idaho's Ethnic Dil'ersity 011 April 13 in Coeur d'Alene

Oh, Great Spirit, tonight, we honor your work in the creation of many people, of many colors and many beliefs. We reach into our heart and soul for renewal of our spirit - a spirit often tattered and withered under the times where hatred, mean-spiritedness and indifference heighten our challenges and naturally give way to feelings of despair. We know when you - through coyote- created humans. you generously gave us land, water and sky to use and enjoy. You gave us the company of other humans so we wouldn't be lonely, so could know the joy of loving relationships. Through community we work together and rely on each other. You gave us long lives for the purpose of learning and passing on our wisdom to younger people.

We pray for a world where our differences will be a natural, everyday, ordinary, accepted part oflife, so our children will never 'know any shame in who they are. We thank you for making the Indian people. For our culture steeped in tradition honoring the animal world that taught us about life's difficult lessons. We thank you for all the people we honor tonight in their many different cultures, languages and traditions. We are grateful for giving all people of color a powerful sense of pride and allowing us to majestically sing, dance and pray in our own ways. We know our differences adds to the richness and joyful intensity oflife. We ask for continuing patience as we work for a better world. Let us pray for those whose hearts have gone cold

Spokane. Wash. / Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Guest column

and angry from isoh1tion, envy and fear. Give us patience and humility when dealing with those who have made bate a way of life. We know how easily the disenchanted can find a home in hatred, bigotry and violence. Help us overcome the desire to judge. We know harsh judgment leads to blaming and blaming leads to hate. Call on our hearts of understanding to welcome those confused by hate's seductive power back into the fold of our community. We pray for our leaders lO use their voice to speak out loud, strong and clear for the rights of all people to live in peace and freedom. We ask our leaders to speak out not only for ourselves but for the children needing reassurance that they live in a safe world and the assurance they have the freedom to be themselves. We pray for a world where our differences will be a natural, everyday, ordinary, accepted part of life, so our children will never know any shame in who they are. It is for our children that we pray for our leaders to set a tone and climate of acceptance and inclusion. Spirit greater than us-we welcome a deeper sense of spirit in ourselves. Open our eyes to enjoy the world you created as you speak to us through the mist swirling through the forest, the raindrops glistening in the pines

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