Butler Won’T Back Down Despite Public Discontent, Aryan March Will Go On As Scheduled In Coeur D’Alene

Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler told a small audience at North Idaho College on Tuesday that he won’t cancel a July 18 parade in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

“A lot of people don’t want us to do the march,” Butler said. “That would be surrendering.”

Butler’s comment came after he was asked about a human rights group that intends to “turn lemons into lemonade” and raise money for each minute the Aryans march.

“I’m not worried about the money they’ll raise,” Butler said. “Their God is the dollar.”

The 80-year-old Aryan leader said those who participate in his “100-man march” will be equipped with small shields to deflect objects that might be hurled at them.

“We’re not going to have any guns,” Butler said. “We’re going to have flags.

“I really don’t think there’s going to be any violence,” he said.

His intention, Butler explained, is to have flags depicting the 12 northern European countries who he contends represent the true Israelites.

The Aryan Nations spread fliers about the public meeting and said it was intended to counter-balance media reports about the forthcoming parade.

There were about three dozen people in the audience, including a few of Butler’s followers wearing blue Aryan uniforms, accompanied by a half dozen neo-Nazi skinheads.

A man in the audience, who said he is a retired California police officer but wouldn’t give his name, told the audience he came to listen to Butler first-hand.

He blamed North Idaho’s racist image on the news media and sided with Butler. “Where is all the hate?” the man asked Butler. “Is there any hate here in Idaho? I don’t see it.”