On Saturday night, several bands with members who are openly Nazi / Fascist were to play a show at the Empty Bottle. After over 200 people called to express their opposition to the show, it was canceled.

The show was rescheduled at Deja Vu, a bar in Lincoln Park. People who oppose fascism and racism showed up to face off against the Nazis and their supporters and the second show was canceled as well.

In the last post, a person I can only describe as a Nazi sympathizer wrote a comment decrying our tactics in shutting the shows down. He accused us of being fascists ourselves and asked what we will do when our "pet causes" are targeted for repression.

My reply:

Our causes ARE targeted for repression. Last month in Miami, the full power of the state was deployed to prevent activists who oppose with Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) from protesting.

After the 2000 election, our country was the victim of a coup. Radical right-wingers took power. Since then, the have used the Patriot Act and the Department of Homeland security to criminalize dissent and protest. This new government has strong racist and fascist elements and will use any means available to stay in power.

When a music scene is built up around Neo-Nazi or fascist themes, it helps condition the population to accept repression and discrimination. These scenes are not about freedom of speech and artistic expression - they are about spreading a fascist and racist message.

THAT is why I will continue to fight against any fascist forces, whether they are in top positions of government or clerks at the Alley shopping complex.

DON'T DELETE MY POST!!!!!!!