More Council comments on controversial march

Six Cincinnati City Council members on Tuesday met to endorse a motion that directs the city administration to review the city's ordinances on parades and marches. The motion also directs the city to proscribe marches by any groups that use "fighting words" to incite and says the groups should be required to pay for any city costs incurred during any marches.

The motion doesn't mention the American National Socialist Workers Party, the neo-Nazi group that wants to march April 20 in Over-the-Rhine. The group had a permit, but it was revoked last week. A new one will be issued only if the group agrees to march along three blocks of Central Parkway, not in the predominantly black neighborhood.

The group says it'll sue. City officials say fine, bring it on.

Here's more of what council members said Tuesday in their news conference about the motion:

Laketa Cole: "We wanted to just let the citizens know that we certainly understand their concerns...I hope that we do not take it negatively to the streets. It's best to ignore it. We do support free speech," but not when its purpose is to incite violence.

Chris Bortz: "They're looking for a fight. They're looking for a legal fight. They're looking to create media attention...We're going to take the fight back to them. We know no matter what we do, they'll pull us into court."

"They weren't honest about what they wanted to come and say. That doesn't deserve protection."

Each community makes its own definition of what's a clear and present danger, he said. With the 2001 riots and efforts since to heal, he said the racially charged comments being made by the group reach the mark of being considered "fighting words." That phrase refers to decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court that have held that not all speech is protected under the Constitution's First Amendment.

"No matter what we do, we know we're going to end up in court. What's wrong with taking the fight to them?"

David Crowley: "It's an important thing for us to do, as political leaders, to make this statement." He compared the group's epithet-filled e-mails to radio host Don Imus' suspension for calling members of a girls basketball team "nappy-headed hos." Imus' bosses, he said, "realize there's a limit. And that's what we're saying here - there's a limit."

Leslie Ghiz: "We are not here as taxpayers to pay for nonsense like this...And it's going to be a pricey ticket...They made it more than what it had been. They stepped over the bounds of the original permit. Their intent was to incite African-Americans particularly to get upset over this. Ignore them. No one wants to look at this garbage or hear this garbage."

Cole and others said if the march happens, they will organize a peace rally the same day on Fountain Square.

John Cranley also supported the motion, but had to leave the news conference before speaking because he had a committee meeting to go to.