They're there for the same reason that any protester is there for - attention. All last night did was escalate it from being a couple of nutcases to a rallying cry for bigots outside of the immediate area.

Attention, especially attention like last night, encourages them. They're doing the same thing you are, running around the internet getting supporters for their cause.

So what was just a couple of racists standing on a sidewalk is now turning into a full out gang war in the middle of downtown Olympia. A racist is going to be a racist, regardless of if they see a racist with a sign. Running them off does not solve the actual, real problem. In fact it makes things worse by giving them justification for labeling themselves a victim.

I'd like to see your sources that the specific neo-nazis that have been downtown this week also "target, with violence". I'm seeing these specific individuals being blamed for a lot things without evidence in order to justify outrage. Stereotyping an individual is wrong regardless if they are a white supremacist or black.

They had weapons with them, mag lights, bats, these aren't your internet Nazis. They hurt our community.

The exact same thing can be applied to the counter protesters last night. Counter protesters also had weapons with them and they harmed the community by blocking streets and forcing OPD to pay officers overtime that wasn't in the budget. What programs do you think are going to be cut because of the need for more police presence?

Side Note: It's really pissing me off that I'm having to defend neo-nazis because an extreme element in Olympia isn't taking a second to fucking think, but instead running rampant with feelings and hyperbole. Some of you need to fucking grow up and look at the negative effect you are having on this town with your recent, irrational activism.