Aug. 24, 1964 - A squad of Atlantic City police today rescued and then arrested members of the American Nazi Party following a brief but wild brawl on the Boardwalk in front of Convention Hall.
“If we had come a minute later, they would have been stretched out,” said city police Captain Mario Floriani.
The Nazis arrived at the Boardwalk Plaza shortly after noon. They wore khakis, storm trooper hats, swastika armbands, and carried signs saying “Lyndon Johnson is a traitor.”
Within moments, fists were flying, and the Nazis had their backs to the wall of the huge auditorium.
“Just the sight of them triggered it,” Floriani said.
Police, who had been tipped to their coming, were 30 seconds behind. Officers broke up the melee, or at least brought about a pause in the fighting. As the troopers were being lined up, a young Democratic party convention volunteer surged through police lines and threw a punch at one of the Nazis.
The Democratic party workers was identified as Harry Michalski, 19, of San Francisco. A student, the youth was in Atlantic City working with the Young Citizens for Johnson group.
Police charged Michalski with assault and battery. Judge George Naame in municipal court gave him a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty.
The eight Nazis were charged with molesting and interfering, failure to give a good account of themselves, and unlawful assembly. They asked for counsel and were jailed pending a hearing tomorrow at which time bail will be set.
Floriani said the Nazis drove up from Arlington, Va., in a rented panel truck.
All eight gave as their address the Arlington headquarters of the American Nazi Party.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comments