The following editorial appeared Friday in The Olympian of Olympia.

Things can get pretty hot under the Capitol Dome this time of year as lawmakers put the finishing touches on their bills and rush to adopt supplemental budgets before adjourning for the remainder of the year.

But the fireworks among lawmakers likely will pale in comparison with what might await this community if neo-Nazis live up to their pledge to stage a rally at the Capitol the first week of July.

The National Socialist Movement believes that acceptance of non-European racial groups or Jews is a threat to the white race. Justin Boyer, leader of the Seattle chapter, said in an earlier Olympia rally that his group is nonviolent and hopes to use media attention to attract more followers.

As vile as the messages from the movement are, it’s incumbent upon this community not to overreact. Counter-rallies must be peaceful and send the message that bigotry and racial hatred are not values embraced by the South Sound community.

In January, South Sound residents got a glimpse of what might lie ahead if the neo-Nazis do bring 100 people to the steps of the Legislative Building at 2 p.m. on July 3. On Jan. 22, eight members of the Seattle-based National Socialist Movement marched from Martin Way to The Olympian’s parking lot on Fourth Avenue.

The neo-Nazis quickly drew a counter-protest of 150 to 200 people who circled the neo-Nazis. It was a sizeable counter-protest, given the short amount of time that community residents had to react to the neo-Nazi march.

Now, with months of advance notice, it’s not unrealistic to expect thousands of counter-protesters to greet the neo-Nazis in July. …

There are some in this community who believe state officials should simply reject the neo-Nazis’ application for their “Patriots Against White Genocide” rally/campout in July. The state cannot be in the censorship business. … Everyone in this state and nation has a First Amendment right to free speech, even if the message is vile. It would be better to let the neo-Nazis hold their rally in isolation. Simply ignore them.

What propels their marches onto the evening news and the front pages of newspapers is the inevitable clash between those flying Confederate flags and wearing swastikas and the counter-protesters shouting them down. Drew Hendricks, a member of the Olympia Movement for Justice, said local peace groups are working on a plan to counter the neo-Nazi group. “There’s been a lot of discussions among the progressive community in town on how to have a response that is not a reaction against the National Socialist Movement, but to educate people about diversity and tolerance.”

That’s a solid approach. Let the message of hate be drowned out by an education campaign on diversity and tolerance.