Let me tell you something, I used to live in Philly. Let me tell you something else, I learned more in my time in Philly (where I had a job working on the streets of North Philly and speaking in drug treatment programs all over town) then in decades elsewhere. Tough town, not an easy town by any means, a no nonsense sort of place. Philly is a city full of neighborhoods, with different ethnic groups, different racial groupings, good guys and bad, racists and anti-racists. I'll tell you what though, if I were the damn Ku Klux Klan, I would keep my skinny (or fat) white ass out of town. I know some folks who live there and they are not the sort to sit idly by when Kluxers gather on their turf.
And so it came to pass, that one day a pack of white supremacist yahoos got it in their heads that they could stroll into my friends town and preach their garbage. They thought they could slink in secretly. They thought wrong.
The following is from my pals at One People's Project. After that is a piece from ANTIFA PHILADELPHIA.
As we used to say, "dig it."
KLAN, KSS KLOCKED IN PHILLY! (VIDEO)
Or, how the longest day of the year became the longest day of the lives of any hatemonger in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. A few Klan groups thought they could hold a clandestine rally in Philly today, and unfortunately for them, we found out, and not only a Klan group operating in Philly was exposed, Keystone State "Skinheads" got the treatment as well since they are in this neighborhood too! Hey Fascist scumbags! We know how to do this! Don't test us! Links to more pics and other reports are being added as they are published.
One People's Project
PHILADELPHIA, PA – A rally held today by a number of Klan organizations was meant to go under the radar. Instead not only did residents come out once they learned of their presence, a second impromptu rally took place at the home and reputed headquarters of another hate group nearby once the Klan members retreated. The event in effect alerted residents to a rather quiet Klan presence being run by a possible city worker.
According to some reports, the threat of a Klan rally was brewing for just over a month in the Tacony section of Philadelphia after a local Grand Dragon was kicked out of a town watch organization. According to Joe Nicoletti of the Tacony/Holmesburg Town Watch, The East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire have been trying to start their own town watches, and have been trying to recruit within established committees such as his. When he discovered this among his own ranks, his town watch removed the person. In response, the Klan groups wanted to come out to the neighborhood in a “show of force” to support him. There was no public call or any messages on the internet announcing the event, but a permit was filed with the city. Police officials said they could not release the name of the person who filed the permit.
The Klansmen boasted upwards to about 80 Klansmen were to participate with a number of high profile speakers on hand, but in the end only seven stood on the steps of the Tacony Library on the corner of Torresdale and Knorr. Among them were Richard Preston, Imperial Wizard of the Confederate White Knights of Rosedale, Md., which as only been in existance for three years, The Knights of the Nordic Order, which was founded by former Aryan Brotherhood members, and other Klansmen from Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. The East Coast Knights banner was unfurled during the rally.
Community members noticed the buildup of police and some antifa outside the library prior to the arrival of the Klan and were unaware of the type of event that was to take placein their neighborhood. Once they were informed dozens poured out to shout the Klansmen down. Some in the community joined hands across the street from the library as a show of unity. The rally, which was supposed to start at 1 PM and go on until 3PM, started a half hour late and was completed an hour early with the Klansmen abandoning the library as the crowd followed them and driving off.
The multiracial Tacony neighborhood is ironically also where many members of the white supremacist Keystone State “Skinheads” (KSS, a/k/a Keystone United) reside, and after the Klan departed, antifa and some community members walked to the home of KSS members Bryan and Patricia Vanagatis, which has been a reputed meeting and headquarters for the group just blocks away from the library on Dittman St. A peaceful protest was held at the home that went on for another half hour and protesters also took the time to talk with the neighbors, many of whom were Black and Hispanic. Although there were people in the home, no one engaged protesters or even came near the windows until police knock on the door and an older woman answered. No KSS members noticibly participated in the rally at the library.
The Vanagatis House. Photo Credit: Michael Albany
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While no one has yet to name the person that was kicked out of the town watch and sparked this rally, The East Coast Knights' Grand Dragon is William Walters. According to his Facebook Page Walters is from Tacony and works for the City of Philadelphia. Among his pictures is the logo for the Tacony Town Watch. His posts call for the end of same sex marriages, interracial relationships, illegal immigration, and what he calls white discrimination. “(F)or every non white right our government passes they take away rights of the White Americans!!” he writes. “Equal opportunity means the minorities get the jobs first, qualified or not !!! Stop affirmation Action Now!!!”
There was no incidents, injuries or arrests during either the rally at the Library or at the Vanagatis house.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Our Community Against the KKK and All Hate Groups (Facebook Page)
Tacony Ku Klux Klan Rally Shouted-Down By Community Protesters The Declaration
'Aw Hell Naw!' Michael Albany Photography
Reportback: Philly Send KKK Packing, Pays KSS a Visit Philly Antifa
Reportback: Philly Sends KKK Packing, Pays KSS a Visit
Saturday was a bad day to be a Fascist in Philly.
Thanks to One People’s Project, Philly Antifa was alerted, less than 48 hours before, to a planned rally by several sects of the Ku Klux Klan in the city.
Masturbator Race
The KKK is extremely fragmented these days, so for an explanation of those involved we turn to DLJ over at One People’s Project:
“According to some reports, the threat of a Klan rally was brewing for just over a month in the Tacony section of Philadelphia after a local Grand Dragon was kicked out of a town watch organization. According to Joe Nicoletti of the Tacony/Holmesburg Town Watch, The East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire have been trying to start their own town watches, and have been trying to recruit within established committees such as his. When he discovered this among his own ranks, his town watch removed the person. In response, the Klan groups wanted to come out to the neighborhood in a “show of force” to support him. There was no public call or any messages on the internet announcing the event, but a permit was filed with the city. Police officials said they could not release the name of the person who filed the permit.
The Klansmen boasted upwards (of) 80 Klansmen were to participate with a number of high profile speakers on hand, but in the end only seven stood on the steps of the Tacony Library on the corner of Torresdale and Knorr. Among them were Richard Preston, Imperial Wizard of the Confederate White Knights of Rosedale, Md., which as only been in existance for three years, The Knights of the Nordic Order, which was founded by former Aryan Brotherhood members, and other Klansmen from Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. The East Coast Knights banner was unfurled during the rally.”
Thanks, DLJ
Despite almost no notice, over 60 people turned out to protest against the Klan. That number started as a handful but continued to grow as word spread throughout the neighborhood and people came out to join Philly Antifa, One People’s Project and their fellow Anti-Racists.
The rally was typical Klan fare these days: they had 7 people, a permit and police escort. They were slated to rally for 2 hours but were there for about 45 minutes. No one heard a word they said over the boos and jeers. Someone had also written a sign that said “honk if you hate the KKK” which elicited plenty of honks. The Klan left hurriedly. They didn’t even bother to talk shit except once inside their cars speeding away. But that wasn’t the end of the day for Antifa.
Instead, about 2 dozen people from the crowd got to talking about something: the fact that local Neo-Nazi organizers Bryan and Patricia Vanagaitis lived only a few blocks away. Together we walked over there to 6611 Ditman st. and said hello.
Gross. Uh, we mean…hello?
The crowd chanted “DEATH DEATH DEATH TO THE NAZIS” and “THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY NAZIS OUT NAZIS OUT” out front and spoke with the Vanagaitis’ neighbors, informing those who were unaware of their affiliations. Eventually it became clear that no one was coming out even though they answered the door when the cops knocked.
The Vanagaitis’ house. Hung above the porch was an Italian flag with aFasces on it, a Fascist symbol associated with Mussolini.
Despite claims by KSS that they “prefer to be in the streets” in 2012 Greek Nazi Zine, the Vanagaitis’ passed on our invitations to come outside. In the same interview, the KSS member says that “The reds (meaning anyone who opposed fascism) in America are often times young, spoiled, suburban kids with no real desire to be face to face with us, or people of other groups…” (Omerta Terror Machine #28)
Well, guess 2012 WAS a long time ago…
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