Nazis in Toledo

Nazis in Toledo

MPT and the newly-formed Toledo local peace team placed a team of about 35 people in Toledo where a neo-Nazi group was rallying. The team, mostly made up of those who have not been on a peace team before, was there on the invitation of local residents from Pilgrim Church. Many expressed feelings of stress, cynicism and discouragement. The structural violence in the form of first amendment violations, and over use of force was so intense that it was hard to see any impact the peace team could have. Yet, on the micro-level, in the midst of the violence there were successes. Human life and safety was protected:

1) We talked and had some good conversations, an affinity team was able to interposition protecting a young woman who was there to support the Nazi's from the angry crowd around her that was threatening her etc.

2) We were also able (at this point) to deescalate some of the police use of horses, by turning it into a joke and reminding people to move out of the way. The police were riding the horses (who were badly spooked) back and forth in front of the crowd in a way that reminded me of the way the Israeli forces will drive their jeeps back and forth on the streets in a Palestinian town or refugee camp after declaring curfew - something that not only is provocative, but seems to be done with the sole intent of provoking. "Horse Line" team members would call out, or "Here comes the Calvary" laughing as they ushered the crowd back a few steps out of the way of the hoofs. At one point Amy pointed out to a increasing agitated group "hey, don't forget the horses are in chains too." and things like that - again provoking laughter and getting in the way of the cops escalating tactics.

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