Two neo-Nazis were beaten and others were pelted with eggs, rocks and bottles during an April 17 rally in front of Los Angeles City Hall.
The attacks came as African-American, Latino, Jewish and immigrant-rights groups joined in countering a rally by some 40 members of the National Socialist Movement.
The Detroit-based neo-Nazi group had received a permit for the demonstration and was protected by police, which called a tactical alert as the confrontation heated up.
Wearing swastikas and shouting “Sieg heil,” the demonstrators aimed their slogans and placards mainly against illegal immigrants, though the rally was interspersed with racist and anti-Semitic outbursts.
One of the beaten demonstrators carried a sign reading “Christianity=Paganism= Heathen$” with an arrow pointing to a swastika. He and the other beaten man were treated and released.
An estimated 500 people took part in the counterdemonstration. Some pursued the neo-Nazis as they retreated toward the parking lot where they had parked their cars.
One neo-Nazi demonstrator couldn’t start his car and was unable to fend off flying bottles and rocks. He and his cohorts held swastika-emblazoned placards over their heads for protection.
Police arrested, and later released, five of the counterdemonstrators. — jta