http://www.kitsapsun.com/bsun/local/article/0,2403,BSUN_19088_4717440,00.html

Three Nazi Party Members Make Brief Appearance at Viking Fest

By Brynn Grimley, Brynn.Grimley@kitsapSun.com
May 22, 2006

National Socialist Movement members Gary Namit, behind
the officer, and another man who refused to give his name,
are escorted from the carnival area of Viking Fest on Poulsbo's
waterfront Sunday by Poulsbo police.

Tensions rose late Sunday afternoon in Poulsbo as three members of the National
Socialist Movement made their way through the Viking Fest crowd.

Wearing tan shirts with red, white and black swastika armbands, the three men
drew stares as they strolled down to the waterfront. They exchanged comments
— some more friendly than others — with other festival visitors.

The members of America’s Nazi party attended Viking Fest to support Poulsbo’s
Norwegian roots, said member Gary Namit. He was accompanied by two other Nazi
party members, Justin Boyer and a man who declined to give his name. The men
would not say where they came from, other than Washington. The business cards
they handed out listed a Tacoma address.

Viking Fest organizers received several critical messages a few weeks ago, after
participants on a white supremacist Web site learned this year’s festival featured
a Miss Viking Fest of black and Hispanic heritage. North Kitsap High School junior
Jasmine Campbell, 17, won the crown during competition in late April.

Namit said he and his companions learned of the festival via the Internet.

"What brought us out here today was our concern for our European heritage,"
he said. "We believe, even though this might be a marketing gimmick, to use a girl
who is not of European decent as a queen for a European heritage festival is offensive."

The members left after an hour and a half, asking Poulsbo police to escort them
to their cars to assure their safety.

As the festival drew to a close Sunday, Campbell’s classmates voiced opposition
to the Nazi party’s presence.

"That they would even come to Poulsbo is ridiculous," said Sarah Kurley. "
They were walking around giving (business) cards out to little kids trying to tell them
to be like them."

In an attempt to prevent a confrontation, event organizers escorted Campbell
and the court into an RV until the three men left the area, Viking Fest President
Gary Jones said.

Mayor Kathryn Quade, who was not at the festival during the incident, received
a call from Poulsbo Police Chief Jeff Doran informing her the men were in attendance.
Doran told her there were no problems.

"My main concern was for Jasmine and the other girls — I didn’t want this to leave
a sour taste in their mouths," Quade said. "But we had a wonderful weekend and
the community really came out and rallied around each other."