Aryan Nation rally uneventful

In spite of the usual looming threats that are the standard for such events and the necessary presence of five separate law enforcement agencies, by all accounts the well-planned event was thankfully uneventful. Although park officials said they do not support the views of the group, they're still obligated to accommodate those exercising their First Amendment rights. As protesters gathered, Aryan Nation Alabama State Leader Bradley Jenkins invited the opposition forward. "Okay everybody, I would like to invite them to come and speak with us," he said. This gesture from Jenkins was followed by "Hey hippies come here," "Power to the white man you pieces of s***."

Protestors from the communist group Progressive Labor Party responded with "Aryan Nations you can't hide, we charge you with genocide," "Yo Nazis, Yo Nazis what's up what's up. Come to our town, we'll f*** you up." Noel Phillips, who identified herself as one of a group of communist protesters, said she came from New York to attend the day's rally. Many of the protesters said they learned about the rally on the Internet. "We're here to take the Battle of Gettysburg one step further against these fascist scum," she said.

The true highlight of yesterday was the gathering along Route 30 in Gettysburg at the Adams Unity Coalition's Unity Vigil. With large signs reading "Hate has no home here," Janet Powers, one of the event's organizers said, "We are letting the world know this community is united against white supremacists and doing so in the action of peace.” The Aryan Nation had said previously they might stop by the vigil, but Powers said their group was advised they wouldn't show up. Unity Coalition supporters also helped to create a peace chain, composed of small slips of paper with messages of peace and love that were combined into one large chain. A coalition tent set up at the Gettysburg Festival was also collecting pieces of the chain, which will be joined and put on display as the group meets today to re-consecrate the lawn where the Aryan Nations' rally occurred Saturday.