German town tricks neo-Nazis into raising money for opposing group

WUNSIEDEL, Germany, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- After decades of watching neo-Nazis march through their town on an annual parade, the citizens of Wunsiedel turned the tables on their unwelcome visitors in a big way this year.

The southeastern German town was the burial site of Rudolph Hess, Adolph Hitler's deputy, until 2011. This year, rather than giving a cold shoulder to the march they can't stop, they welcomed them with cheers, confetti and a conundrum.

Rights versus Rights (Rechts gegen Rechts) got local businesses and residents to agree to donate $12.50 for each meter the neo-Nazis marched. The money would go to the EXIT-Germany initiative, which helps Germans who want to leave behind the right-wing movement.

Calling it "Germany's most involuntary walkathon," Rights versus Rights greeted the marchers with festive signs and markings on the road indicating how much money they had raised: 10,000 euros ($12,470).

Right- and left-wing groups frequently clash over their respective marches, and demonstrations can turn violent. Instead, EXIT-Germany and Rights versus Rights turned their opponent's own event against them, turning the march into a celebration of tolerance.

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