Well, I ended up going to the NAACP counter-demonstration at the courthouse and then walked by the park where the town was having the alternative gathering, and avoided the Nazis. The reason I did this was that, as a new resident (Columbia MO), I deferred to what the mayor was asking us do, the head of the university, and some part of the public opinion in letters to the editor. There was a bit of a strange disconnect at the NAACP rally in the speeches: one law student said the mayor could have and should have denied the parade permit (I'm almost thinking it is better to have these people out in the open). Others said we should confront them, but turn our backs to them...but then I talked to 2 of the speakers, and they tended to say we should avoid the march. So, I deferred to the NAACP and the Rabbi, because they have the most at stake(although I suppose I would be deported along with blacks and jews as a scientist and atheist).

It was a little disappointing that in a city of 100,000+ there were only about 100 at the NAACP rally.

Chris