Montana media are reporting on 200 residents protesting a pro-Nazi film that was shown at a public library in Kalispell, Montana by the group Pioneer Little Europe (P.L.E.) intended to recruit white supremacists to join that group.  The P.L.E. film was shown by former Nazi Aryan Nations member Karl Gharst, who court documents have described as a “white supremacist.”  Karl Gharst has served time in jail for felony threats.  Gharst plans to show a Holocaust Denial film, “The Truth Behind the Gates of Auschwitz,” on May 29.  On March 29, Karl Gharst showed a film “The Holocaust Debate.”  In addition to Karl Gharst, the P.L.E. organizers included couple April Gaede and Mark Harrington, who were arrested on charges of simple assault and criminal mischief associated with a scuffle that resulted in knocking a camera out of one of the protester’s hands and breaking it.

The pro-Nazi film event was promoted by April Gaede on the “white nationalist hate group” Stormfront’s web site.

Flathead Beacon: “Nazi Film Shown at Library Draws Hundreds of Protesters”
— “Holding signs reading ‘No Neo-Nazis,’ and ‘No Hate in My Backyard,’ hundreds of valley residents turned out Thursday evening to protest the showing at the library in Kalispell of the film, ‘Epic: The Story of the Waffen SS,’ a film that takes an admiring view of the combat arm of the Nazis during World War II.”
— “It was the second film shown at the library by Kalispell resident Karl Gharst, who on March 29 screened a movie debating whether the Jewish Holocaust really occurred. Gharst said he planned to show a film titled, ‘The Truth Behind the Gates of Auschwitz,’ on May 29, and he plans other events for the summer.”

Daily Inter Lake reports: Pair arrested during Nazi movie protest
— “Two members of a white separatist group were arrested during a protest over a pro-Nazi film shown at the Flathead County Library on Thursday night.”
— “Married couple Mark Harrington, 42, and April Gaede, 44, of Kalispell, who helped organize the film’s screening, were arrested by Kalispell Police on charges of simple assault and criminal mischief for their involvement in a scuffle that knocked the camera out of a protester’s hand and broke its flash.”

— KCFW: Tensions rise over alleged white supremacist movement
— KCFW reports: “Tensions rose Thursday evening as protesters and alleged white supremacists scuffled outside the Flathead County Library. The scene started remarkably quiet.  For the second time in a month, a group called Pioneer Little Europe reserved a room at the library for a film showing.  Protesters gathered early showing disapproval of what they see as an effort to recruit members to the group by showing an anti-semitic film.  It’s the second time in a month.  P.L.E. members tell us they believe in a white, European North America.”
— “Police say it was a fairly peaceful protest. That was until police escorted two members of P.L.E out in handcuffs. We’re told the P.L.E. members removed tonight are identified as April Gaede and Mark Harrington who are two of the P.L.E. organizers.  Police say the two were arrested when they clashed with protesters taking photos.”

Daily Inter Lake also reports:
— “An estimated 200 people had crowded around the library to protest “Epic: The Story of the Waffen SS,” which apparently takes an admiring view of the combat arm of the Nazis during World War II. The film was screened by a white separatist group called Kalispell Pioneer Little Europe.”
— “Pioneer Little Europe members Harrington and Gaede moved to Kalispell from Bakersfield, Calif., in 2006 because of what they called the area’s racial tensions and since then have been active members in the white separatist movement.”

— Missoulian reports:
— “Protesters rally as white separatists watch Nazi film in Kalispell library”

Montana residents protest showing of Nazi film
— AP reports: “Hundreds of Montana residents crowded around a library to protest a pro-Nazi film being shown by a white separatist group called Kalispell Pioneer Little Europe.”
— “It was the second film shown at the Flathead County Library by Karl Gharst, who on March 29 screened a movie debating whether the Jewish Holocaust really occurred. He says he plans to show another film, ‘The Truth Behind the Gates of Auschwitz,’ on May 29, and he plans other events for the summer.”

On April 27, 2010 The northwest Montana newspaper the Daily Inter Lake reported (by Jim Mann) reproted “Protest to greet supremacist film showing”
— The Daily Inter Lake reported “A protest is being organized Thursday against a planned showing of a film that advances ‘white-supremacy, anti-Semitism propaganda’ at the Flathead County Library in Kalispell.”
— “A similar protest happened when a film called ‘The Holocaust Debate’ was shown at the library in early April.”
— “That screening was organized by Karl Gharst, a Flathead Valley resident with former ties to a white supremacist group in Hayden Lake, Idaho.”
— “People who walked out of the screening characterized the film as a ‘Holocaust denial film.'”
— “The protest this week is being supported ‘by an alliance of faith-based ministries,’ according to a press release for the event.”
— “The alliance is urging those interested to turn out at the library at 6 p.m. with protest signs and cameras.”
— “‘If everyone brings their camera and actively takes pictures of the bad guys going in and out, it will be immensely effective in running them back under their rock,’ the release states.”
— “In 2004, Gharst was convicted in Flathead County District Court of threatening a social worker with the state Department of Health and Human Services.”
— “At the time, Gharst was from Hayden Lake, Idaho, and was described in court documents as ‘a self-admitted member of the Aryan Nations and a white supremacist,’ according to Inter Lake archives.”
— “Gharst originally was charged with a felony for threatening the state employee, calling her a ‘filthy mongrel’ and a ‘wild savage from the Flathead Indian Reservation,’ but eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.”
— “In a final exchange with District Judge Ted Lympus, Gharst called the judge foul names and acknowledged him with a Nazi salute.”
— “Gharst served five months in jail and was put on probation for two years.”