The neo-Nazis are coming back to Potter County.
The National Socialist Movement of Pennsylvania, a whites-only political organization, is planning to meet in Potter County next week, prompting many local residents to rally against the cause.
“Our goal is to turn Pennsylvania into a stronghold of white supremacy,” National Socialist Movement of Pennsylvania leader Steve Bowers told The Era on Monday afternoon.
The event is slated for Aug. 13 somewhere in or around Ulysses. That’s the same community that in 2002 had been the site of the Aryan World Congress, which included skinheads, Klansmen, neo-Nazis and white power bands. For several years, the white supremacist group Aryan Nations had a presence in the county.
For the upcoming event, the National Socialist Movement said in a flyer that it is inviting “all White Patriots” to attend the meeting along Route 49 near Coudersport, and for people to “bring the kids.”
Gates open at 4 p.m.; the exact address for the meeting has not been disclosed. A Swastika lighting is planned at dusk, and, according to the movement’s website, the Swastika represents the white race.
At the same time of the event, area residents are planning to counteract the meeting with a peaceful protest, one of individuals saying that, “we cannot allow this element into our county.”
The National Socialist Movement meeting’s purpose is to meet, talk and organize, Bowers said. The event will cover a myriad of topics, including the fact that police officers have been shot at in recent months. Bowers also said the meeting will include talk of people who have been violently protesting events held by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
“We don’t advocate any kind of violence because it’s just self-defeating and stupid,” said Bowers, whose real name is Steve Nastasi.
But with the upcoming general election, Bowers said some members aren’t sure of Trump, while others believe the businessman and television personality would get some business completed. One thing is for certain is the group doesn’t favor Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
The National Socialist Party’s core beliefs include defending the rights of white people everywhere, preservation of our European culture and heritage, strengthening family values, economic self-sufficiency, reform of illegal immigration policies, immediate withdrawal of our national military from an illegal Middle Eastern occupation, and promotion of white separation, according to its website.
“Pennsylvania’s always been a stronghold of white resistance,” Bowers said.
And the group is hoping to change that, Bowers said, and said he feels the event would be a “good start.”
But state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, who represents most of Potter County, said he adamantly disagrees with the group’s viewpoints.
“Our country needs people to unite it, not divide it. It needs more cooperation and understanding, not hate and anger,” he said.
What’s more, area resident Joe Leschner, who is organizing the peaceful protest, dubbed the Potter County Anti-Racism Rally, called the upcoming event hate-filled.
“This particular group is associated with the Aryan Nation. I believe next to the KKK, it's the second biggest white supremacist group in the country,” he said.
Leschner said he has always stood against racism, and he has friends of many different races.
“Although born and raised in the Twin Tiers, my wife (a Jamaican national) just moved up from New Orleans to be near my family. I was discouraged to hear of this event,” he said. “For my wife, for me, for my family and friends, and for our future children, I wanted to do something that would ultimately convince them to have the meeting elsewhere. Or to cancel it altogether.”
In the meantime, Leschner is staging a protest that could include 20 to 40 people, but he is hoping to increase that number. He is using Facebook as a medium to organize the protest.
Leschner wants to “show these misguided Americans that Potter County and North Central Pennsylvania does not share their views. And more personally to show my wife and all immigrants that the majority of white America support them and stand with them against racism.”
But Anti-Defamation League official Mark Pitcavage people should not attempt to protest or disrupt the meeting.
“That can get people hurt and only serves to give the white supremacists free publicity. If the local community wants to demonstrate its opposition to the sentiments of a neo-Nazi group like the NSM, it can always organize a unity rally or celebration somewhere else, to give a positive message,” he said.
Bowers said the meeting will be held on private property, adding he would be surprised to see people disrupting within 20 miles.
“If you don't agree don't come. We plan on having a peaceful meet and greet. All derogatory comments or actions will result in criminal charges,” reads a statement on a website promoting the event.
Those who try to protest at the event would be arrested, but Bowers said he doesn’t believe people would be that stupid.
“It (Potter County) was chosen because there are members there with a nice place to meet,” Bowers said.
However, Southern Potter United Methodist Church Charge Pastor Steven D. Small Jr. said he is concerned about the event being hosted in Potter County, also known as “God’s Country.”
“First of all, when they advertise a rally and then do not share the time and place, I get nervous,” he said. “This means that they know they are attempting to stir up trouble so they are keeping the location and time secretive.”
All in all, Pitcavage said the region doesn’t have many National Socialist Movement members; therefore, he doesn’t see many people coming to the event. But Pitcavage said others may travel from farther away for the meeting.
“They will probably let other white supremacists in as well, but the event is not likely to be large,” he said in an email. “An event like this occurring in an area does *not* (sic) imply that the area is chock-full of white supremacists, so people do not need to do any great soul-searching on that part. Such events are always reminders, however, that hate and white supremacy has not gone away, and if offers an opportunity for communities to be vocal in their opposition to hate.”
The United States needs to be united and not carry onward to what seems to be a path of division, Small said.
“As we look back through history, we see nothing but hurt and pain that is caused by division. In the book of Colossians, Paul talks about being renewed in the image of our Creator where there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. These were some of the lines of division in Paul's time,” he said.
For more information on the National Socialist Movement, see http://www.nsm88.org and the Potter County Anti-Racism Rally page can be found on Facebook.
