Recently, Omaha has become a target for known extremists and fringe groups to gather and spread their message of hate and intolerance. Imagine seeing our city on national news engulfed in a riot, instead of being celebrated on newscasts for the College World Series or the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.
Thankfully, neither of two recent protests by such groups resulted in violence. This was due in part to the seriousness with which these protests were addressed by the Omaha Police Department, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Omaha Hate Crimes Coordinating Council (HCCC), a community collaboration consisting of educational and community organizations, civil and human rights agencies, law enforcement agencies and city and county officials.
We refer specifically to protests held last Labor Day weekend and this past Fourth of July weekend by a neo-Nazi group, ostensibly to protest illegal immigration. Prior to those protests, the HCCC took steps to educate the community and the local press on the extremist groups and their missions and messages. The council also has provided alternative events — last September, in conjunction with Septemberfest, as well as last week — to work with the local neighborhood to minimize the likelihood of confrontation.
The HCCC encouraged business owners to close down their businesses during the time of the protest. It sought to limit the number of people exposed to the protest. And it urged those exposed to the hateful messages to ignore the event, thus reducing the potential for violence.
These groups thrive on publicity. Fortunately, Omaha television and radio stations and the print media have, for the most part, not played into the hands of these extremists.
The potential for violence is real, as the city of Toledo, Ohio, discovered in 2005 when significant violence occurred as a result of such a hate-group rally.
When hatred is spewed from the mouths and banners of these groups, it is easy for emotions to get out of control. By keeping the hate groups physically isolated from the counter protesters, the potential for conflict is greatly reduced.
This past weekend, nearby businesses were asked to close during the scheduled protest, limiting foot traffic near the event.
It is never easy for a business to close its doors during peak times, but the business owners realized it was in the community's best interest not to be open. We applaud them for taking these steps and hope Omaha residents will consider shopping at these stores to support their actions.
Unfortunately, some people get the impression that the hate groups get a free ride from the community. Balancing free speech and community respect can sometimes be challenging. The First Amendment affords groups and individuals the right to assemble and to protest.
As a community, we want to respect the Constitution while ensuring the community's safety. What is not clear is what to do when the protesting group threatens and incites violence through their hate speech. Does a city have a legal responsibility to protect the safety of its residents?
The HCCC wants to engage and empower the residents of Omaha in a comprehensive discussion on hate crimes, extremist and hate groups, hate-filled protests and other hate incidents impacting our community.
We hope to solicit legal solutions that can lessen the negative impact of such groups so that Omaha does not build an image that might convey something very different than the positive one that has resulted from the College World Series, the Olympic Trials and other community events.
We will work with the Justice Department's Community Relations Services to conduct these discussions. Please join us in this dialogue to make Omaha a model for inclusiveness, tolerance and community engagement.
Balancing free speech and community respect can sometimes be challenging.
Potash is ADL's Plains States Regional Director. Reed is Dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Monaghan is coordinator of the Hate Crimes Coordinating Council.
