John Day is a very remote town in Grant County in east-central Oregon. I've been there many times.
Like a lot of places in the rural West, folks in John Day are gritty working-class types. Pickup trucks, guns and Republicans are the norm here.
In 2008, Grant County voted 71.25% for McCain for President.
In 2004, Bush got 78.9%.
But something remarkable is happening there.
The Aryan Nations plans to move their headquarters from Northern Idaho to John Day.
John Day says NO.
Denied:1up! Software ()...
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Aryan Nations plan sparks protests in JD
JOHN DAY - Community reaction was immediate and vocal last week as an Aryan Nations leader announced a plan to move the headquarters of their white supremacist movement from northern Idaho to Grant County.
About 80 people picketed last Saturday in downtown John Day to raise awareness of the group's activities, with another 60 taking to the streets on Monday.
Protest organizer Delilah Michael of Prairie City said she couldn't sit quietly when she heard the news that a hate group might come here. She noted that she worries about her mixed-race grandchildren.
"I said immediately, it ain't going to happen here, with my grandkids."
The demonstrations were just part of the reaction to the Aryan Nations plans published Feb. 17 in an online Blue Mountain Eagle article. The news also spurred a torrent of online comments, most laced with frustration, anger and worry. By week's end at least two Facebook pages had popped up to oppose the group's intent to bring its racist agenda to Grant County; together they had more than 1,600 members
This is the area that is home to me. And the whole population of the county is less than 7000 people.
This would be a very dangerous move for the Neo-nazis. Dangerous for them, the people of Grant county can and will take care of themselves.
Like a lot of places in the rural West, folks in John Day are gritty working-class types. Pickup trucks, guns and Republicans are the norm here.
In 2008, Grant County voted 71.25% for McCain for President.
In 2004, Bush got 78.9%.
But something remarkable is happening there.
The Aryan Nations plans to move their headquarters from Northern Idaho to John Day.
John Day says NO.
Denied:1up! Software ()...
<snip>
Aryan Nations plan sparks protests in JD
JOHN DAY - Community reaction was immediate and vocal last week as an Aryan Nations leader announced a plan to move the headquarters of their white supremacist movement from northern Idaho to Grant County.
About 80 people picketed last Saturday in downtown John Day to raise awareness of the group's activities, with another 60 taking to the streets on Monday.
Protest organizer Delilah Michael of Prairie City said she couldn't sit quietly when she heard the news that a hate group might come here. She noted that she worries about her mixed-race grandchildren.
"I said immediately, it ain't going to happen here, with my grandkids."
The demonstrations were just part of the reaction to the Aryan Nations plans published Feb. 17 in an online Blue Mountain Eagle article. The news also spurred a torrent of online comments, most laced with frustration, anger and worry. By week's end at least two Facebook pages had popped up to oppose the group's intent to bring its racist agenda to Grant County; together they had more than 1,600 members
This is the area that is home to me. And the whole population of the county is less than 7000 people.
This would be a very dangerous move for the Neo-nazis. Dangerous for them, the people of Grant county can and will take care of themselves.