R MacDonald
01-31-2005, 12:43 AM
Saturday evening over 400 people showed up to bid on over 150 KKK historical items.
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050130/NEWS/501300362/1002/NEWS01
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/News.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=82900&Section=Page%201&OnlineSection=Page%201&SectionPubDate=Sunday,%20January%2030,%202005&RefDate=1/30/2005
Protesters swarm streets outside auction house
By Lisa Roose-Church
Daily Press & Argus
"No Nazis, no KKK, no fascist USA," a group of about 10 protesters from Lansing chanted as their efforts to enter Ole' Gray Nash Auction in Howell were rebuffed Saturday night.
Another 120 or more people with the Livingston 2001 Diversity Council quietly protested outside the auction house at 202 S. Michigan Ave., holding signs that read: "Hate has no home here."
"Does he just get off collecting this (expletive)?" Lansing resident Andrew Field said about Gary Gray, owner of the local auction house.
"The only thing worse that a racist is a rich racist," said Field, 21. "No one should be making money off the KKK. This is particularly racist because they are trying to capitalize on racism."
Gray's decision to sell about 150 items of Ku Klux Klan paraphernalia - including 10 KKK uniforms and an assortment of items including knives, swords, books, records, shirts and more - drew hundreds of gawkers interested in those who were purchasing items, and some interested in bidding as well as a throng of media.
Field and about nine friends - some sporting spiked hair, leather clothing, and nearly all wearing red bandannas over their mouths and carrying black flags with a circle and slash mark representing "no" around a swastika - walked quietly across Michigan Avenue and into Ole' Gray Nash Auction prepared to protest the auction, which began at 7 p.m.
However, several supporters of the auction house instantly stopped Field's group from moving farther than just inside the door.
"Out," one auction house supporter told the protesters while subtly pushing the group back out the door.
Once outside, Field and his friends, who declined to identify themselves, began their chanting again, stopping long enough to shout profanity at others bidding on items and nodding in agreement with those who agreed with their stance.
"The robes are a symbol of hate," said Amanda Shaver, of Howell.
Another of Field's group, who would identify himself only as "Tek," said his group had not accomplished their goal.
"If I could I would shut this down right now," the 20-year-old said. "I wish everyone would just walk away right now. I am glad to see so many people showed up to protest."
Howell resident Nicholas Valentine, 22, called the protesters "silly."
"They are taking (the auction) the wrong way," said Valentine, who is white. "They are perpetuating the stereotype."
Valentine said the Klan history is part of Howell's "heritage" and while it may not be a bright spot, it is one that residents should acknowledge, not ignore.
"Everyone needs to know their roots," Valentine said. "I think the protesters are drawing along the stereotype that the Ku Klux Klan is nothing but hatred. That's not what it is about. It's about the history. It's a group or organization that participates in the community."
Meanwhile, across the street Valentine challenged some of the Diversity Council members demanding to know whether they truly understood the KKK history and its role in the Howell community, and whether they knew anyone involved with the KKK.
"Have any of your ancestors been a part of it?" he asked one woman who countered she had lived here all here life, which she noted "was longer than (Valentine) had been alive."
"I know people in the KKK," Valentine said.
Michelle Soli, 19, of Fowlerville, who was holding one of the Diversity Council signs, noted, "People say it's historical, but it shouldn't be something we have to remember every day."
Howell Mayor Geraldine Moen said "hate and its symbols do not belong in Howell."
"The citizens of Howell have worked to create a beautiful, welcoming community," she said in a prepared statement. "We have rebuilt our downtown, improved our neighborhoods, supported our schools and children, and built a sustainable city infrastructure to be proud of. We deserve to be proud.
"The auction taking place (Saturday) besmirches our community's reputation and re-ignites stereotypes about the residents of this community that are untrue and unfair," Moen continued. "The owner of this auction house has the right to hold this auction, but we also have the right to protest the selling of these symbols of hate. The good people of Howell and Livingston County will not sit idly by and let the profiteers of hate denigrate our community."
Samory Gwinn, a 25-year-old black man from Lansing, said he came to Howell with his business partner to shoot a documentary on the auction for their show "Time Slot." He also hoped to bid on a KKK item, although he did not care which piece.
While Gwinn prepared his camera, his partner, who did not give his name, glanced around at the protesters from the Diversity Council and asked, "Where are all the black people? Why are the white people mad about the auction?"
"This is history in the making," Gwinn said. "It's something that needs to be done."
Gwinn said he supported the auction and those bidding on items provided they had a positive plan for the item purchased.
"It depends on their purpose - if they want it to promote hatred then don't buy it," Gwinn said.
Glen Matthews, a black man from Dimondale, said he also hoped to successfully bid on an item. Specifically, he was interested in a Klan robe, he said.
"It's the history," Matthews said about why he wanted the robe. "I may put it out in my garden; there's no telling what I will do with it."
Vic Lopez, president of the Livingston 2001 Diversity Council, said the protest was a message.
"We want to send a message to people outside Livingston County that the perception of us being a racist community is untrue and unfair. We've been working to change that image. When this type of paraphernalia appears in an auction in our town, it totally negates all our progress."
"It appears to me we have over 200 people here and many are decrying this auction," said Lou Morand, vice president of the Diversity Council. "But it is a peaceful assembly and we don't have any problem with that."
Daily Press & Argus News Editor Mike Malott contributed to this story.
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050130/NEWS/501300362/1002/NEWS01
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/News.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=82900&Section=Page%201&OnlineSection=Page%201&SectionPubDate=Sunday,%20January%2030,%202005&RefDate=1/30/2005
Protesters swarm streets outside auction house
By Lisa Roose-Church
Daily Press & Argus
"No Nazis, no KKK, no fascist USA," a group of about 10 protesters from Lansing chanted as their efforts to enter Ole' Gray Nash Auction in Howell were rebuffed Saturday night.
Another 120 or more people with the Livingston 2001 Diversity Council quietly protested outside the auction house at 202 S. Michigan Ave., holding signs that read: "Hate has no home here."
"Does he just get off collecting this (expletive)?" Lansing resident Andrew Field said about Gary Gray, owner of the local auction house.
"The only thing worse that a racist is a rich racist," said Field, 21. "No one should be making money off the KKK. This is particularly racist because they are trying to capitalize on racism."
Gray's decision to sell about 150 items of Ku Klux Klan paraphernalia - including 10 KKK uniforms and an assortment of items including knives, swords, books, records, shirts and more - drew hundreds of gawkers interested in those who were purchasing items, and some interested in bidding as well as a throng of media.
Field and about nine friends - some sporting spiked hair, leather clothing, and nearly all wearing red bandannas over their mouths and carrying black flags with a circle and slash mark representing "no" around a swastika - walked quietly across Michigan Avenue and into Ole' Gray Nash Auction prepared to protest the auction, which began at 7 p.m.
However, several supporters of the auction house instantly stopped Field's group from moving farther than just inside the door.
"Out," one auction house supporter told the protesters while subtly pushing the group back out the door.
Once outside, Field and his friends, who declined to identify themselves, began their chanting again, stopping long enough to shout profanity at others bidding on items and nodding in agreement with those who agreed with their stance.
"The robes are a symbol of hate," said Amanda Shaver, of Howell.
Another of Field's group, who would identify himself only as "Tek," said his group had not accomplished their goal.
"If I could I would shut this down right now," the 20-year-old said. "I wish everyone would just walk away right now. I am glad to see so many people showed up to protest."
Howell resident Nicholas Valentine, 22, called the protesters "silly."
"They are taking (the auction) the wrong way," said Valentine, who is white. "They are perpetuating the stereotype."
Valentine said the Klan history is part of Howell's "heritage" and while it may not be a bright spot, it is one that residents should acknowledge, not ignore.
"Everyone needs to know their roots," Valentine said. "I think the protesters are drawing along the stereotype that the Ku Klux Klan is nothing but hatred. That's not what it is about. It's about the history. It's a group or organization that participates in the community."
Meanwhile, across the street Valentine challenged some of the Diversity Council members demanding to know whether they truly understood the KKK history and its role in the Howell community, and whether they knew anyone involved with the KKK.
"Have any of your ancestors been a part of it?" he asked one woman who countered she had lived here all here life, which she noted "was longer than (Valentine) had been alive."
"I know people in the KKK," Valentine said.
Michelle Soli, 19, of Fowlerville, who was holding one of the Diversity Council signs, noted, "People say it's historical, but it shouldn't be something we have to remember every day."
Howell Mayor Geraldine Moen said "hate and its symbols do not belong in Howell."
"The citizens of Howell have worked to create a beautiful, welcoming community," she said in a prepared statement. "We have rebuilt our downtown, improved our neighborhoods, supported our schools and children, and built a sustainable city infrastructure to be proud of. We deserve to be proud.
"The auction taking place (Saturday) besmirches our community's reputation and re-ignites stereotypes about the residents of this community that are untrue and unfair," Moen continued. "The owner of this auction house has the right to hold this auction, but we also have the right to protest the selling of these symbols of hate. The good people of Howell and Livingston County will not sit idly by and let the profiteers of hate denigrate our community."
Samory Gwinn, a 25-year-old black man from Lansing, said he came to Howell with his business partner to shoot a documentary on the auction for their show "Time Slot." He also hoped to bid on a KKK item, although he did not care which piece.
While Gwinn prepared his camera, his partner, who did not give his name, glanced around at the protesters from the Diversity Council and asked, "Where are all the black people? Why are the white people mad about the auction?"
"This is history in the making," Gwinn said. "It's something that needs to be done."
Gwinn said he supported the auction and those bidding on items provided they had a positive plan for the item purchased.
"It depends on their purpose - if they want it to promote hatred then don't buy it," Gwinn said.
Glen Matthews, a black man from Dimondale, said he also hoped to successfully bid on an item. Specifically, he was interested in a Klan robe, he said.
"It's the history," Matthews said about why he wanted the robe. "I may put it out in my garden; there's no telling what I will do with it."
Vic Lopez, president of the Livingston 2001 Diversity Council, said the protest was a message.
"We want to send a message to people outside Livingston County that the perception of us being a racist community is untrue and unfair. We've been working to change that image. When this type of paraphernalia appears in an auction in our town, it totally negates all our progress."
"It appears to me we have over 200 people here and many are decrying this auction," said Lou Morand, vice president of the Diversity Council. "But it is a peaceful assembly and we don't have any problem with that."
Daily Press & Argus News Editor Mike Malott contributed to this story.