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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Competing Event May Rain On Aryan Nations Parade

A business group wants to hold a street festival on Sherman Avenue, potentially blocking a parade planned by the Aryan Nations for the same day.

Merlin Berger, president of the Downtown Merchants Association, confirmed the group submitted its request about two weeks ago to use a 10-block stretch along the downtown arterial on July 25 and 26.

If approved, the festival would prevent white supremacists from marching down Sherman that weekend.

Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler is planning a 100 Man Flag March for July 25 through downtown Coeur d’Alene. The event, originally set for April 18, was changed to coincide with the Aryan World Congress.

City and police officials said they have received permit requests from both groups. They have not made a decision on either request.

Exactly when they were received wasn’t immediately available.

Mayor Steve Judy said he has seen only the merchants association request. Butler’s application arrived during the middle of last week, police Capt. Carl Bergh said.

That would put Butler’s request behind the merchants group. Judy said he will consider the applications in the order they were received.

“These things are first-come, first-serve,” he said. “That’s the way it’s always been.”

Earlier this month, Judy denied a request from the Jewish Defense League to hold a counter parade on April 18 because the Aryan Nations applied first.

Details of the merchants’ event are still being worked out, Berger said. Several organizations have expressed interest in the festival.

The event’s theme is “Celebrate Coeur d’Alene.”

Berger denied the festival was being planned in order to block the Aryan parade. He said the event is part of an attempt to promote downtown activities.

“We have been talking for some time,” Berger said. “If we could get the bodies, we’d be doing something every weekend.”

He cited August’s annual street fair and the Fourth of July parade as examples of other popular downtown events.

“We’re trying to be as active as we can down here to do retail and community things,” Berger said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CHANGING DATES The Aryan Nations parade had been set for April 18 but was changed to July 25 to coincide with the Aryan World Congress.

This sidebar appeared with the story: CHANGING DATES The Aryan Nations parade had been set for April 18 but was changed to July 25 to coincide with the Aryan World Congress.