The hate-group rally announced for Sept. 25 at the Valley Forge National Historical Park might be more hype than substance. The National Socialist Movement, which is staging the event, has consistently engaged in making claims that far exceed its abilities. As such, it does not merit the credibility that some would accord it.

Based in Minneapolis and tracing its roots to George Lincoln Rockwell and the American Nazi Party of the 1960s, the National Socialist Movement openly worships Adolf Hitler and is one of the more explicitly neo-Nazi groups. Its platform calls for an all-white "greater America" that would deny citizenship to non-whites, Jews and homosexuals. The group reserves most of its vitriol for Jews and immigrants; it is crudely racist and anti-Semitic. Although it has experienced some growth in the Midwest, its units are quite small, and many tend to be short-lived. It is estimated that the movement now has 100 to 200 members and hangers-on in 38 chapters nationwide.

The group will hold rallies and boast that hundreds of its members and followers will show up. In fact, its numbers will be disproportionately exceeded by police and counter-demonstrators. Its presence locally has been very limited to nonexistent. Statewide, it has perhaps a handful of followers. Most of the activity of these few people has been confined to leafleting in Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley. We have no reason to believe that the Sept. 25 event will improve the circumstances of the group in any substantial way.

The movement is less ideologically driven than other contemporary hate groups. Its rallies typically have not involved violence by its members. Despite its penchant for style over substance, the group cannot be dismissed and should be carefully monitored. Members engage in armed paramilitary training. In issues of its various publications over the years, the group has advocated weapons training for whites and has published the recipes for explosives such as fertilizer bombs.

In addition to monitoring the group locally and nationally, the Anti-Defamation League has been in contact with area law enforcement and officials at Valley Forge Park and area institutions to respond to the challenges of this development. While the natural tendency of many is to react in a combative way and to confront them head-on, it is important to not play into the hands of these hatemongers by according them undue publicity and giving credibility to their exaggerated and false claims. Confronting these bigots would offer them encouragement and give them more dignity and respect than they deserve.

As much as we detest the message of these and other hatemongers, just as The Inquirer did in its Aug. 28 editorial "Let them have their say," we acknowledge their right to say their piece; also, we recognize that distinctions cannot be made as to who or what group deserves to speak. We respectfully disagree, however, with The Inquirer that readers should express dissent with the National Socialist Movement by going to the group's rally. Plans are being made for an alternative event, which deserves the public's support and presence. Attending the hatemongers' rally would increase the chances of violence and confrontation. It would give the haters a sense of gratification, knowing that people are reacting to them on their terms.

Furthermore, to debate their demagoguery is a nonstarter. It is not these individuals whom we have to impress, after all, but others who are more open-minded and willing to listen. It is also important to note that there are equally radical counter-demonstrators, anarchists and others who seize on rallies of right-wing extremists to interfere with their speech and foster violence and destruction. We, therefore, urge those who wish to counter hate speech to do so in a different place, where they can be as free, open and vociferous as possible.

It is important to drown out the words and sentiments of the hatemongers in a way that respects everyone's rights and to give full expression to our freedom to say what we believe on our own terms and not to be manipulated by peddlers of hate.

We are confident in the ability of law enforcement and park officials to appropriately handle this rally and any potential counter-demonstration, with protection of individuals' safety and public property as the first priority. If others do their part in finding constructive ways to respond to this reminder of the existence of anti-Semitism and bigotry in our society, rather than unintentionally abetting the aims of this small group of misguided individuals, we will all be better served.