Nazis Attempt to March and Rally in Phoenix Met with Fierce Resistance : AZ IMC

Starting at noon, more than 150 Anarchists, Anti-authoritarians, Queer, Youth, Immigrants, Wobblies and Indigenous peoples started gathering at the Sandra Day O'connor courthouse to confront the NSM.

Banners were dropped from a nearby parking garage including one that read, "Fight Back Against Racism" it had a large swastika crossed out with SB1070 written on it. The bottom read, "Smash the Fascist State."
It was ultimately taken down by cops who appeared very confused and uncoordinated.

Not waiting for the Nazis, a contingent of black and pink clad black bloc folks marched around the courthouse in an attempt to locate and confront the NSM march.
At around 1:30PM the small group successfully located about 20 NSM Nazis near 8th Ave and Jefferson and immediately blocked the street with their banners and by linking arms.

Reportedly the NSM were delayed due to getting lost trying to find their rallying point.

For nearly 30 minutes the small but fierce black and pink contingent blocked the street.
When the group was about to be encircled by cops a large wave of folks from the courthouse decided to join in stopping the Nazis from getting to their state sanctioned rallying point.
The group quickly swelled to more than 250 people. It was clear that there were less NSM and more folks standing against them than last year.

No doubt this change surprised the cops/fascists who appeared completely unprepared except for their riot gear which was quickly donned. The cops seemed very determined to move the NSM to the square. The cops worked with the NSM to shift them into the streets and protect them on all sides.
Corporate media swarmed the scene and was caught in the crossfire. There was an unconfirmed report of a camera being smashed.

The ensuing street battle held the NSM up for more than 2 hours. Numerous projectiles were thrown, arms were tightly linked, folks not only held their ground but pushed back very hard.
Reportedly nails and screws were placed across the street as well.
Multiple unarrests were made, including an O'odham elder, and after some very tense moments the cops equipped gas masks and deployed pepper spray indiscriminately in an attempt to clear the crowd.
The bloc was prepared and quickly regrouped to hold the line and slow the NSM/cops from advancing. Urban Health Collective and other street medics responded to support those hit by the spray.
Cops also fired pepper bullets into the unyielding crowd.

As the cops slowly moved the NSM towards the courthouse a quick barricade of news stands was created blocking the entire street. The bloc formed a line behind it and waited for the cops.
A tear gas canister was shot but quickly deflected and returned to the cops.

The cops and Nazis were ultimately able to force their way to the courthouse.
Protesters moved to rally and demonstrate outside the walls surrounding the courthouse square. The area was closed off by steel barricades, riot cops and federal marshals.
At one point the front barricade was removed and pulled back by the crowd.

Known Arizona racist JT Ready walked through the protestors and was met by spit, rocks, and other objects. He was quickly flanked and protected by an undercover cop of african descent.

Two arrests were made during the NSM rally. Reportedly a snatch squad of cops pulled up in a van and grabbed one person. Another was pulled off a bus that was getting ready to head back to Tucson. Both people face charges for allegedly throwing rocks at cops. As of this report one person faces 5 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and 1 count of rioting.
(Visit http://www.arizona.indymedia.org for updates on how you can support those arrested.)

The NSM's hateful support of SB1070, Jan Brewer, Joe Arpiao, and Russell Pierce, echoed off of the glass courthouse and nearby buildings to no one else but their protector cops, corporate media, and the fierce folks from throughout Arizona who continued to stand against their hate.

The NSM held their rally while people still shouted at them, and then were followed, still surrounded by dozens of riot cops, back to their cars by the remaining protesters who wanted to make sure the Nazis knew they weren't welcome.

The NSM threatened to return in December 2010.

For more updates visit: http://www.arizona.indymedia.org
You can also find additional info at:
http://www.firesneverextinguished.blogspot.com
http://www.phoenixanarchist.org