Often, the most amazing examples of American values emerge in the midst of the ugliest political situations.
An anti-immigration rally in Arizona, yesterday, yielded one such moment: An African-American police officer, intervening to defend the right of a Neo-Nazi to display a Hitler flag at an anti-immigration rally.
3TV Arizona caught this on tape, but you can watch it after the fold.
Talk about every cloud having a silver lining--my goodness.
The story, here, is a teabagger organizatoin called American Citizens United that held a rally in Phoenix, yesterday, to protest the possibility of immigration reform. According to the group's home page, their purpose is (written in block caps by them, just in case you are hard of hearing):
SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING THE U.S.A. CONSTITUTION. IN GOD WE TRUST: AND MAY HE BLESS AMERICA!
Sure--whatever. Apparently, though, "protecting the "U.S.A. CONSTITUTION" does not include allowing people with opposing viewpoints to express their point of view.
So, when a group of neo-nazis showed up to join the protest--as they would, given that the premise of the protest was to vent anger at immigrants--the whole "U.S.A. CONSTITUTION" thingie went out the window.
As luck would have it, the neo-nazis brought Confederate Flags and a Hitler flag to the protest, which resulted in a little teabagger on neo-nazi shove match.
The teabagger walks up to the neo-nazi, shouts an obscenity, and then knocks the Hitler flag to the ground. Last time I checked, assaulting other protesters embodies neither the letter nor the spirit of the First Amendment of the "U.S.A. CONSTITUTION." Anywho...
As luck would have it, an African-American Phoenix police officer who actually did understand and embody the "U.S.A. CONSTITUTION" quickly intervened to protect the First Amendment rights of the neo-nazis.
The action comes after about a minute of introduction:
Now, if that is not a scene that embodies the core values of America, I do not know what is. You say you believe in the First Amendment? Show it by stepping up to defend the right of those with political views you abhor with every bone in your body--then you will understand the meaning of the First Amendment. Amazing!
Pass this video around--a worthwhile reminder of what our soldiers fight for each and every day.