Running a Counterdemonstration Against a Hate Group

Last year MSU had two major counter demonstrations that made national news. The first was in December 2006 when Tom Tancredo came to campus. The protest resulted in slashed tires, protesters spitting on College Republicans and YAF members, and an accusation of an attack on a pregnant woman. Protesters also tried to disrupt the event by pulling the fire alarm several times.

The second protest raised controversy when protesters attempted to shout down Chris Simcox during a speech. After the MC Jason van Dyke told protesters “I’ve got two words for you: Work and Soap”, which many protesters believed had racial overtones, the MSU police cleared out the auditorium, telling protesters and observers in the back rows that they had to leave and the event was being shut down. After the protesters were cleared out, Simcox was allowed to speak to the remaining people, mostly College Republicans and Young Americans for Freedom members.

Two speakers on the Demonstrations panel talked about the role of the protesters in events. Sheri Wander from the Michigan Peace Team talked about nonviolent protests she had been involved in. She had attended Klan and Nazi rallies where their job was to keep the peace.

“Our job is to keep the peace between the Klan, the counterdemonstrators, and the police,” she said,

The peace team puts itself between parties to keep the peace. She said in a rally in Ann Arbor they surrounded a man with Nazi tattoos that had been hit by protestors. One of the peace team told them man “A black woman, an Asian woman and a gay Jewboy just saved your life”.

Wander said the peace team had stopped violence by both demonstrators and counter demonstrators, but had failed to stop another form of violence.

“When we militarize our cities for the event, that is violence… we have not been successful in preventing that,” Wander said.

The group is available to provide peaceful protection in events. It also provides training for activists to engage in nonviolent protests.

Valerie Neuman, President of the National Lawyers Guild and Michigan Chapter, spoke about legal protection during a protest. Neuman said like the Peace Team they come only when requested, but that unlike the team or the ACLU they pick and choose the events they come to, and focus on politically progressive events.

“We don’t lead the charge, but we support grassroots groups,” Neuman said.