David Duke as a young kid.
Neo-nazi leader David Duke, recently released from prison, has announced he will hold a 3 day “homecoming” with his supporters at an unnamed hotel in New Orleans Memorial Day weekend, Friday-Sunday, May 28-30. He will also be joined by other leading fascists from around the country and world such, as Don Black, John Tyndall (BNP, Britain), Dr. Edward Fields (The Truth At Last, NA, Georgia), Paul Fromm (CAFE, Canada), and Erich Gliebe, (Chairman, National Alliance), among others.
Duke and his fascist gang have chosen New Orleans as their rally site exactly to test their strength in a city which is majority Black, and overwhelmingly working class, but which is under intense attack. With the massive ethnic cleansing that the mainstream racist politicians and capitalists have carried out along the riverfront and other parts of the city, with the city, DDD and HANO openly planning the demolition of the black working class community of Iberville adjacent to the French Quarter, with the near-elimination of Charity hospital, and the placing of surveillance cameras by the Nagin administration in black working class neighborhoods the Nazi’s feel emboldened that they can “take back New Orleans”. If they can pull off a rally-conference here in New Orleans, this will only embolden them more. Furthermore, the ability to hold a conference here, without any opposition, will only strengthen the ability of the “respectable racists” that run this city to deepen their anti-black, anti-working class agenda.
We have to draw a line. We have to tell Duke and his scum that New Orleans—or anywhere else—is not their home!! Combating Duke and the other Nazi leaders, and preventing them from spreading their message, and thereby also demoralizing their current members is possible -- but only through direct action.
So far, Duke and his followers have not yet named the hotel where they will hold their leader’s “homecoming”. Announcing plans that we will organize a militant protest anywhere he decides to hold this event is the best way to keep him out. If he does dare to enter into New Orleans, or anywhere else in the metro area, we will announce the location and mobilize to shut it down. Duke, and his European -American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO) has announced that on Sunday morning, May 30th, they will all join “in an outdoor European-American historical commemoration at a famous New Orleans White heritage site.” This means the white supremacist monument behind the Canal Place shopping complex. The last time Duke reared his head at this monument the late Rev Avery Alexander confronted the fascists. The cops responded by protecting Duke and placing Rev Alexander in a chokehold. In honor of the late freedom fighter, the Reverend Avery Alexander, who is lionized by the local political leadership, but never follow his example, we will mobilize to shut down Duke’s event and drive him out of town.