(Kingston, NY) A rally in Kingston, NY that was initiated by white supremacist podcaster Hal Turner drew approximately 50 supporters, according to wire service reports and my contacts on the ground at the rally. The police, however, had the largest presence, numbering between 175 and 200 officers, outnumbering both pro-white and anti-racist forces.

The small turnout is a credit to community leaders in Kingston, who effectively campaigned for residents to boycott the rally. At least a half-dozen community events were scheduled away from the rally; this is in marked contrast to the October 15 neo-Nazi rally in Toledo, in which the only alternative event occurred less than a mile from the rally site.

Hal Turner went into spin mode even before the rally, with a post on his website at midnight last night that his rally “separates the wheat from the chaff in the movement.” Turner also preemptively complained that potential supporters “had three weeks notice but they didn’t show up.”

It should be noted that Turner himself is something of a paraiah in the white power movement, and that a number of white supremacist groups boycotted this rally. Will Williams, who has bounced around the white power movement for decades, has reportedly placed a $1,000 bounty for anyone who would break the skull of Turner.

Left: Internet racist broadcaster Hal Turner

Turner’s show has repeatedly advertised an imaginary product called the “Portable Nigger Lyncher.” Here is the text of the parody ad that Turner ran:

“Does the community where you live tend to be getting darker and darker. Are you looking for an evening of entertainment with your friends and family? Well, folks, this is the answer to your prayers. The one and only PNL — Portable Nigger Lyncher. Complete with two ropes and custom hand-tied nooses.”

Turner, who has had threats against him phoned in during his podcast, attempted to taunt members of the crowd into violent action against him.

“Here I am! Now’s your chance!” Turner shouted. “You talk all tough on the phone, but you are too chicken to carry it out!”

No one in the crowd took the bait, unlike the October 15 riot in Toledo.

Epilogue: NSM’s Bill White decided to sit this one out, although he did take the opportunity to claim that “that there were more white activists than anti-racists” based on wire service reports. As of this writing, there has been no official word on Hal Turner’s website.

Text by Michael Brooks

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 19th, 2005 at 5:44 pm by Michael Brooks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.