TRENTON, N.J. — Roughly 50 members of a neo-Nazi group took to the streets of New Jersey’s capital city today, marching to the Statehouse and calling on residents to join them in their fight against illegal immigration, high taxes, crime and corruption.
But the National Socialist Movement members received little support from protesters and others who braved intermittent rain showers and chilly temperatures to oppose the group, saying it promotes anti-Semitic and racist ideologies.
The opposing camps were kept separated during the 90-minute rally by dozens of state police troopers — some who shepherded police dogs — and Trenton officers.
Several streets near the Statehouse were blocked off to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for most of Saturday, and both NSM members and protesters were screened by authorities before they were allowed in the event.
“You may not agree with what we say and what we stand for, but don’t be afraid to open your mind and listen to what we have to say,” Jason Hiecke, the NSM’s chief of staff, said during his opening remarks. Standing not far from New Jersey’s World War II Memorial, he compared the NSM to the American colonists who “bravely fought and won” the Revolutionary War.
“We are patriots just like George Washington, fighting for our freedom, fighting for America,” Hiecke said. “If George Washington were alive, he would be here with us today.”
Speaking on the Statehouse steps, Hiecke was joined by the NSM members — mostly men, many of whom were dressed in black clothing — who responded to the protesters’ derisive and obscene remarks with repeated Nazi salutes and chants of “Sieg Heil.” They were kept in an area cordoned off by metal gates and police tape, not far from the area where protesters who were similarly blocked in.
“They’re pigs, plain and simple,” said a protester who would only identify himself as Antoine. “They don’t belong in Trenton, they don’t belong in New Jersey, they don’t belong in this country, and they don’t belong on this planet. How can they preach such a horrible message of hate in this day and age?”
Despite concerns of confrontations at the event, no major problems were reported. But it was not immediately known if any arrests were made, and NSM members vowed to remain in the Trenton area during the afternoon. They also encouraged the protesters to join them so they could all “do some shopping” together” at city stores.
“We put a lot of meticulous planning into this event, to do what we could to keep everyone safe,” acting state police Lt. Stephen Jones said the rally unfolded. “We want to let people exercise their First Amendment rights as long as it’s done in a peaceful manner. We will have a zero-tolerance policy regarding any type of violent or inappropriate behavior.”
Jones said four NSM members were treated at a hospital for injuries sustained in a fight with a rival group near a Pemberton church on Friday night. Two members of the rival group were arrested and remained in the Burlington County Jail on Saturday, but further information was not disclosed,
The NSM rally had drawn sharp criticism in recent days from many elected officials in New Jersey, who urged residents to reject the group and its beliefs.