Mass. white supremacist meeting canceled

[graywarrior]

BOSTON (AP) - A white supremacist conference scheduled to take place at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in South Boston this weekend has been canceled, and a city antihate group is taking credit.

Ian Curtis, a member of the Boston Anti-Racist Coalition, says in a published report that his group brought the nature of Saturday's Patriot Action event to the attention of VFW leaders, and they pulled the plug.

Curtis said his group could not reach the VFW directly, but instead launched an e-mail and phone campaign to get the word out about the meeting.

The VFW post said on its Web site that the event "conflicts with the ideals and values of the VFW Post 6536."

Billy Roper, leader of the White Revolution, says the event will go on at an undisclosed location.


"undisclosed location" *snort*

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2009/04/08/updates/doc49dc7d424690f456955794.txt

[babylonsister]

1. Good news. They need to be marginalized. nt

[polichick]

2. Great! It's going to take good citizens everywhere shutting these people out.

[fascisthunter]

3. These Nazi-Whackjobs have no business in Massachusetts

bunch scared nutcases who cling onto race of all things.

[WI_DEM]

4. "undisclosed location" perhaps Herr Cheney's former bunker?

[graywarrior]

8. My thoughts exactly

[baldguy]

5. Why would the VFW even consider allowing this in the first place?

"Hello? Is this the VFW? Hi, my name is Billy Roper with White Revolution. I'm interested in using your hall for one of our meetings ... It would be April 11 ... We hope to get 25 to 30, hopefully more ... Sure, you'd all be welcome to join us! ... OK then, I'll be seeing there! Thank you! Heil Hitler!"

[guitar man]

7. We don't know

We don't know what the initial conversation entailed, the guy that wanted to book the hall may have sold the VFW a bill of goods on who they were and the cat got out of the bag later? :shrug:

[rvablue]

19. You're taking a lot of license there with that hypothetical quote

It seems the VFW immediately cancelled the rental when they found out about the providence of this group.

There is nothing in this story that would have one believe that these racist assholes were upfront about who they are and what they stand for.

Good on the VFW for tossing these hateful bigots!

[baldguy]

22. VFW posts are generally composed of RW nutcases, but they also are generally not stupid.

Do you think that nobody there in South Boston had an idea of what a group called "White Revolution" was all about? Bullshit. The VFW was perfectly happy to host them - until they were exposed.

[AllieB]

26. The American Legion is comprised of RW nutjobs. The VFW is a mix.

My dad's VFW club has a lot of Democrats.

[jonnyblitz]

32. yup. the American Legion has quite an ugly history. nt

[rucky]

30. A VFW member probably booked it

and nobody really asked or cared what for - until the email got around.

[glinda]

6. Only reason I can think of allowing wire-tapping. I would have allowed it and

sent a spy in to take photos of the people attending. This crap has to stop. They are terrorists.

[borelord]

9. this

n/t

[MedleyMisty]

10. Funny how there aren't any posts insulting the whole state of Massachusetts yet

Imagine if the meeting had been in some certain other states.

[graywarrior]

12. OK here goes

Them mo'fo massholes. Redneck bastards.

[cali]

13. MA sucks. it's well known that it's a bastion of wingnut conservatism

and bigotry.

[graywarrior]

15. They're all socialist commies in that state.

Plus they have the abundance of "the gays" living right there in Back Bay and JP.

[-..__...]

14. Boston has had a reputation as being a racist city...

especially in Southie.

Things have improved over the last few years, but that could be attributed to the old neighborhoods breaking up as home values skyrocketed, and homeowners sold off their property to a newer influx of wealthier young professional types.

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. Maybe that's because they told them to find a different meeting place.

In some other states, the VFW would be proud sponsors.

[fascisthunter]

20. history... that's why

[mainegreen]

21. As a Mainer, I can assure you we strive to insult Mass *each and every day*

And who can blame us?

Damned Massholes.

[graywarrior]

27. May I add NH and VT to your insult list?

Listen, when you guys drive over here in North Conway, an alert goes out across the town announcing that there are Maine-ahs on the loose.

[Donnachaidh]

34. what? You don't like Folks from Mass o' Two Shits?

I used to hate dealing with Massholes on the road between Brunswick and Portland. And Florida drivers, too. :evilgrin:

[buzzycrumbhunger]

43. Hey--I resemble that remark. . .

And Florida drivers, too. :evilgrin:

FYI, "Florida" drivers are only bad because everydamnedbody sends their worst ones to us once they're no longer allowed to drive "up north." We hate dealing with them more because the majority are whacked out on two dozen prescription medicines and can hardly see over the steering wheel. Next time you get stuck behind someone going 35 down the interstate with a turn signal on for 20 miles or one of them plows their Cadillac through a plate glass window into your cash register, how about a little empathy, huh? (We get the stray Masshole drivers, too, so I won't argue on that point. :) )

As for the OP, maybe they should join forces with Beck and Norris. If they all get together, they just might have enough clout to get Lubbock to secede and then we could be done with them all.

[Donnachaidh]

44. most of the Florida drivers I see in Georgia ain't over the hill

Sorry -- but I don't see much difference between the younger ones who drive into my area now, and the ones that were driving on the Maine Highways. Atlanta is a hellhole to drive through, and the out of staters make it that much worse on their way *through* to other places. :shrug:

[buzzycrumbhunger]

45. Hm.

For some reason, I found myself motoring up to Atlanta recently and I was shocked at how courteous the drivers were there. Maybe they were just cutting us some slack because of the FL tags.

Of course, if you're talking about actual FL drivers, of course it's not going to be the retirees--it's going to be the rest of us, looking to escape!

[KamaAina]

24. Well, it was in *South* Boston

:sarcasm:

[Fla Dem]

25. Are you serious?

Massachusetts certainly has had its issues over its 400 years of history starting with the Puritans in 1620. To name a few.. the treatment of native Americans, the Salem witch trials, the persecution of Sacco and Vanzetti and the Boston school desegregation busing riots of the 1970's. Yes, they have their crazies all states do, but on the plus side you will not find a more progressive/liberal state in the US. Compared to some states, whose names will not be mentioned here, Massachusetts is a paragon of virtue.

Massachusetts joined the Union in February 1788, and has participated in all 55 presidential elections. The state has been reliably Democratic since 1928, but has voted Republican four times since then – twice each for Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. Massachusetts was the only state to vote for George McGovern in 1972.

Last 10 Presidential Elections
1976 Democratic
1980 Democratic
1984 Republican
1988 Republican
1992 Democratic
1996 Democratic
2000 Democratic
2004 Democratic
2008 Democratic

Both of Massachusetts Senatorial seats have been held by Democrats since 1979.
Ted Kennedy 1962 – current
Paul Tsongas 1979 – 1985
John Kerry 1985 - current

All twelve members of the current congressional delegation are Democrats – no Republican has been elected to Congress from Massachusetts since 1994.

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is Democrat Deval Patrick. On November 7, 2006, Patrick became the second elected African American state governor in United States history. Patrick received 56 percent of the vote in the four-way gubernatorial race. He finished 20 percentage points ahead of the second-place finisher. And this with 86% white population.

Other Notable and Interesting Massachusetts Facts
>Same-sex marriage is currently legal in four states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont.
>Massachusetts is not a “Right-to-Work” state.
>Massachusetts ranks 11th in the US with 121 institutions of higher learning.
>The Fig Newton was named after Newton, Massachusetts.
>The Basketball Hall Of Fame is located in Springfield, Massachusetts.
>The first U.S.Postal zip code is in Massachusetts..... 01001 at Agawam.
>Massachusetts boasts the first Dunkin Donuts and the first Howard Johnson's.
>The USS Constitution 'Old Ironsides', the oldest fully commissioned vessel in the US Navy is permanently berthed at Charlestown Navy Yard.
>Revere Beach was the first public beach in the United States.
>Massachusetts is home to the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
>The best Ipswich fried clams in the US.

[graywarrior]

28. Best fried clams--Woodman's in Essex

[Fla Dem]

29. Couldn't agree more. Just the place I was thinking of. Fried clams..ummmm n/t

[graywarrior]

31. Even with my gallstones screaming at me, I want to go to Woodman's right now!

[cadmium]

37. Clam box is pretty good too. My favorite

is The Choate Bridge bar in Ipswich-- they get the freshest Ipswich clams straight from the clammers. If there are no local clams they dont serve clams at all.

[paulsby]

35. massachusetts, the beach, and elitism

is one of the few states that has a completely elitist law regarding access to the shore.

in MA, people "own" beaches down to the extreme low tide line.

this effectively makes it one of the few states where people can and are effectively banished from long stretches of private beaches.

try, for example, visiting martha's vineyard and try to access any # of private beaches.

impossible.


contrast with, for example, california, where one can legally walk along the shoreline, on any # of private beaches.

i used to do this all the time to access choice surfing spots in "the ranch".

[auburnblu]

48. You don't like Key Beaches?

Hmmmm. You mean segregated beaches are bad? Sadly bigger issues faces those with beach property in coastal Mass. Stopping Cape Wind. The NIMBY crowd there seems to have pull.

[paulsby]

49. i don't think

people should be able to prevent access to beaches. period.

MA is very elitist in this regard

[cadmium]

41. Boston Celtics. First African American head coach

in NBA. First all black starting five.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

46. I think the implication is......

....that if this was a story about Alabama or Kentucky, people would all be replying "Are you shocked, it's Kentucky, they are all racists down there" etc. etc. Which of course, they are not ALL racist down there......

Massachusetts has a few pockets of very bigoted people, especially in parts of Boston. Of course, if you listened to talk radio around here, you'd think everyone was a Rethug. They worshiped David Brudnoy, who was little more than a elitist bigot.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

11. They'll meet on WEEI's "Dennis and Callahan" show

They have been for years.

[cadmium]

39. no kidding -- they seem to love the

Michael Graham show too.

[hwmnbn]

17. "undisclosed location" = his mom's basement....

bring your own cheetos and AK47

what maroons!!

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Wow, Cheney's hosting a white supremacist conference at his undisclosed location?

[LibertyLover]

23. "Undisclosed location"

I take it that's code for 'the basement of my mom's house'?

[SalmonChantedEvening]

33. Baby, you're the Greatest. Page.

Cheyney's renting the bunker out?

I'm gonna have my birthday party there!

Bunker 51! :woohoo:

[chollybocker]

36. "undisclosed location." Pffft!

You know they're going to P-Town for the week-end.

[cadmium]

38. There is a white nationalist group that meets

in Haverhill Mass with a sister group in Concord New Hampshire.

[Runcible Spoon]

40. Too bad. I might have made the drive over there to beat the fucking shit out of them.

[cadmium]

42. Knock them back on their heels a little. These hate groups

are ubiquitous and growing all over the USA.

http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=366

[rateyes]

47. The meeting place is so "undisclosed"

that even the members won't know where it is.

[RiverStone]

50. If there was ever an argument suggesting that we are not evolving...

As a species, these white supremest fucks make the case.

Really sad they are still around to crawl out from what ever rocks the live under (more likely they live in their parents basement).

Either way, thanks for sharing the good news! :)

[Vidar]

51. Wow, not bad for the VFW, even if they only cancelled under pressure.

[TheBigotBasher]

52. K & R

The only way to go is to out these bigots and that shuts these self hating fools up.

[TheBigotBasher]

53. Can not R

but can K again.

[426HemiGuy]

54. Great news

That is great news, we need to remain diligent in our efforts to combat these hate groups.

[HamdenRice]

55. Not surprising. I've lived in pre civil rights Virginia, apartheid Johannesburg- Boston was worse

I lived in Boston in the late 1970s, and frankly this story does not surprise me at all. Before that I had lived in pre-civil rights Virginia, and afterward I would live in Johannesburg and even crazy ass Rustenburg and Zeerust, South Africa during the apartheid years and traveled through the deep south in the 1980s.

But Boston in the late 1970s was the most racist, dangerous city I've ever lived in.

It's interesting that someone upthread cited the number of Black basketball players and coaches that Boston has hired. But one thing they black athletes in Boston complained about in the media in the late 1970s was that they could not go to baseball games for fear of random mob violence against them.

I think it's fair to say that Boston in the late 1970s, during their desegregation battles, may have been one of the most dangerously racist cities in American history. What made Boston unique compared to say Johannesburg, Rustenburg or Zeerust during apartheid, or Richmond and Farmville, Virginia pre civil rights era, or Shreveport, Louisiana or Meridian, Mississippi in the 1980s (other shady cities I have been in) was this: Boston was the only place where much of the city was simply off limits to people of color. The moment you stepped into the wrong place, bricks, bottles, insults, fists, and whatever else was available to white citizens would begin flying. As a result, I never met a Black community anywhere in the world that was as demoralized internally and loathed externally as that of Boston in the 1970s.

Most of us African Americans from other places knew and were warned by our colleges that you simply could not show your face in South Boston, the North End, a Red Sox game or a hockey game, while going downtown was always a serious risk as well. I worked as a security guard with several African immigrants who did not understand that and they would travel the city not understanding why the moment they emerged from the subway in the wrong place they were met with a rain of bottles, bricks, and stones.

One night, I took the bus from my apartment in Roxbury to campus (of course, Boston was almost completely residentially segregated, so those of us who moved off campus lived in Roxbury). My bus was mislabeled as going to Cambridge. I was buried in some book when the bus came to a stop and the bus driver said, "last stop." I looked around and was not in the part of Boston I expected to be. The bus driver, who was black, said I had gotten on the bus to South Boston. I begged him to drive me somewhere else, but he said he couldn't. He pointed out that the red line was a few blocks away and added, "If you run, you might make it." Even though it was late at night and I was running, people screamed racial slurs at me during the whole run to the red line.

The emblematic image of Boston in the mid to late 1970s was the photograph of African American lawyer and businessman, Theodore Landsmark, in the downtown civic center, being attacked by a white "civic leader" and anti-busing advocate, Jim Kelly, who held Landsmark while Boston teen Joseph Rakes tried to "run him through" with an American flag on a flag pole, the image being caught by Boston Herald American photographer, Stanley Forman.

Despite the image, Kelly ran for and was elected to the Boston City Council a few years later. The victim in the picture, Ted Landsmark, went on to become Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education at the Massachusetts College of Art, and later, president of the Boston Architectural College.

There are a few versions of the photograph, entitled, "The Soiling of Old Glory," but the more widespread seems to be the more closely cropped version, while the less cropped version has the added poignancy of capturing the colonial era "Old State House" in the background:





When I was finally able to leave Boston in 1980, I vowed never to return, no matter what. Unfortunately, I've had to travel there for business three times in the last 29 years -- in my opinion an excessive rate of once per decade -- but hopefully this can be avoided in the future.