March 11th 2013 Independence Day:

City Mounted Wholesome Family Event on Main Boulevard, but it was Followed by a Massive Neo-Nazi March; There were Few Protesters

NATION’S PARLIAMENT HONORS THE NEO-NAZI MARCH ORGANIZERS

EYEWITNESS REPORTS: ANNA SHEPHERD AND GEOFF VASIL

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“MORAL CAPITULATION” FROM PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND THE MAYOR ON NEO-NAZIS’ ANNUAL TAKEOVER OF CAPITAL’S CENTER ON NATION’S INDEPENDENCE DAY; NO COMMENT ON LEGALIZED SWASTIKAS

President says: “You call them nationalists, I would speak of nationally conscious youth” but Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) issues statement opposing the marches (the statement)

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White Power jacket alongside skull & crossbones with swastika. Photo: V. Kopūstas / Delfi.lt

After winning in court, city informed of  fascists’  call for “unsanctioned march” starting Monday 3 PM at Vilnius Cathedral Square. Some media try to spin a win for mayor’s office; PM speaks out; Extra police promised; Police warn marchers; Poll shows most Lithuanians oppose far right’s marches; Efraim Zuroff comments in the Jerusalem Post.           

Court on 4 March had accepted the city’s arguments for shifting neo-Nazis from central boulevard (Gedimino) to across the river (in Šnipiškės / Shnípishok). Nationalist group then demanded the (once Jewish) Old Town instead but city refused. In the end, police caved in to neo-Nazis’ illegal takeover of Gedimino.    

Neo-Nazi movement dominates the capital’s center on March 11th Independence Day since 2008 when ‘Juden raus’ and anti-Russian, anti-Polish chants inaugurated the takeover. Eyewitness reports of 2011 and 2012. Protest petitions: Washington & London. One of the annual organizers, at right (with “White Power” scarf this year), was long-time “chief public relations specialist” (!) at the Genocide Research Center. . .

JEWISH COMMUNITY BOLDLY ANNOUNCED ITS OWN CELEBRATION OF LITHUANIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY AT THE CHORAL SYNAGOGUE