Stay away from Downtown on Saturday...
Orlando Prayer March To 'Shower Love' On Neo-Nazis
POSTED: 12:19 pm EST February 23, 2006
UPDATED: 12:56 am EST February 24, 2006
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Despite pleas from police to stay home during a neo-Nazi march planned for downtown Orlando this weekend, state Sen. Gary Siplin said he is going to stage a counter demonstration that will shower the neo-Nazis with love.
MAP: March Route
The same neo-Nazi group that instigated violence in Toledo, Ohio, last year will march along Hughey and Church streets and then head north on Terry Avenue to Washington Street before ending at the Federal Courthouse. However, an hour before the planned neo-Nazi rally, Siplin, other area ministers and city leaders will engage in what he calls a "prayer march."
Sen. Gary Siplin.
"We need to be cool," Sen. Siplin said. "We are going to love them. We are going to shower them with love because we know love conquers all. Love never fails and love conquers hate."
"State Sen. Siplin said this march right through the middle of one of downtown Orlando's traditionally black neighborhoods is not going to go unanswered," Local 6 reporter Chris Trenkmann said. "Police are concerned about the presence of counter-demonstrators, saying that may be pawing into the hands of the Nazis, who may be trying to incite some type of violence," Trenkmann said.
Authorities are still encouraging people not to attend the rally and stay at home. "I'm nervous about it, I'm very nervous about it," resident Beverly Grant said. "My apartment is on the Church Street side so I don't know whether I should leave. I don't know whether I should stay."
Several roads will be closed for the march and cars will not be allowed to park on Church Street or Terry Avenue from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday. The city parking lot on Hughey will also be closed. Osceola and Orange County sheriff's deputies will be helping Orlando police over the weekend.
POSTED: 12:19 pm EST February 23, 2006
UPDATED: 12:56 am EST February 24, 2006
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Despite pleas from police to stay home during a neo-Nazi march planned for downtown Orlando this weekend, state Sen. Gary Siplin said he is going to stage a counter demonstration that will shower the neo-Nazis with love.
MAP: March Route
The same neo-Nazi group that instigated violence in Toledo, Ohio, last year will march along Hughey and Church streets and then head north on Terry Avenue to Washington Street before ending at the Federal Courthouse. However, an hour before the planned neo-Nazi rally, Siplin, other area ministers and city leaders will engage in what he calls a "prayer march."
Sen. Gary Siplin.
"We need to be cool," Sen. Siplin said. "We are going to love them. We are going to shower them with love because we know love conquers all. Love never fails and love conquers hate."
"State Sen. Siplin said this march right through the middle of one of downtown Orlando's traditionally black neighborhoods is not going to go unanswered," Local 6 reporter Chris Trenkmann said. "Police are concerned about the presence of counter-demonstrators, saying that may be pawing into the hands of the Nazis, who may be trying to incite some type of violence," Trenkmann said.
Authorities are still encouraging people not to attend the rally and stay at home. "I'm nervous about it, I'm very nervous about it," resident Beverly Grant said. "My apartment is on the Church Street side so I don't know whether I should leave. I don't know whether I should stay."
Several roads will be closed for the march and cars will not be allowed to park on Church Street or Terry Avenue from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday. The city parking lot on Hughey will also be closed. Osceola and Orange County sheriff's deputies will be helping Orlando police over the weekend.
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