A white supremacist group is planning to host a march in Princeton’s Palmer Square at noon this Saturday (January 12). However, local officials say they are aware of the march, and they have planned to beef up security.

The group planning on the march is known as the New Jersey European Heritage Association.

Additionally, we’ve heard about some planned counter protests as well that could take place on Saturday.

“A group of white supremacists is apparently planning a march in Palmer Square this Saturday,” Princeton’s Mayor Liz Lempert wrote in a statement issued on Wednesday. “Our police are aware and are taking all the necessary precautions to ensure everyone’s safety.”

“These individuals have a right to free speech however despicable their message of hate, bigotry, and ignorance. We stand in opposition to this twisted attempt to spew hate,” the mayor said in Wednesday's statement.

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Counter-Protestors Are Encouraged To Remain Peaceful

Central Jersey DSA, along with a local rapid response group, the IWW GDC, and SPUS are organizing a counter-protest.

The counter-protestors are planning to gather around 11:30 am at Tiger Park.

“The idea is to get there before noon. If they see a large crowd, the hope is they will just leave,” organizers of the counter-protest wrote on their Not In Our Town - Princeton Facebook page. “We will be counter-protesting with non-violence in solidarity with those who have been targeted by the fascists."

Officials are encouraging counter-protestors to keep a safe distance and avoid direct confrontation, according to the mayor.

“We believe that the best way to avoid a violent confrontation will be to overwhelm them with numbers and deny them the space to spread their genocidal ideology,” organizers for the counter-protest wrote on Facebook.

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Earlier this week Patch.com reported that the Princeton Police Department had not received any requests for a permit from any of the groups planning marches on Saturday.

The police department wrote on Facebook that “small gatherings and peaceful protests that occur on public property may do as long as they do not break any laws and the protest doesn’t threaten public safety.”

Over the years many popular and unpopular causes have exercised these rights peacefully,” the police department said.

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