NAZI SURVIVOR LASHES OUT OVER OBAMA HITLER POSTER

KING5.com
stories/NW_091709WABTIMES-obama-hitler-poster-TP.1 8d1ac22a.html
Sept 17 2009

EDMONDS, Wash. – An Edmonds man faces assault charges for defending
Pres. Obama. It was a conflict sparked by a poster depicting the
president as Adolf Hitler.

Henry Gasparian is a 70-year-old Armenian immigrant. His family fought
the Nazis in World War II. He says his emotions got the best of him
a couple of weeks ago.

"I said, ‘Never come up to me with that kind of stupid things,’"
said Gasparian.

He was walking through downtown Edmonds in an area where two people
had signs and literature depicting Pres. Obama as Hitler.

That struck a nerve in Henry and he lashed out.

"I don’t want to see picture of killer, a demon, to be used for
someone’s political career," said Gasparian.

During World War II, Gasparian was a boy living in Armenia as Hitler
began his campaign of extermination.

Henry Gasparian said his reaction to the Obama-as-Hitler signs was
"personal and emotional."

"I have some relatives who were killed. My other uncle came home
without a leg," said Gasparian.

Gasparian says he tried grabbing some of the people’s pamphlets. He
says they shoved, he shoved and then he walked away.

A couple hours later, he returned and stopped to ask a police officer
if what they were doing was legal. Next thing he knew, he was sitting
on a bench in handcuffs.

The people with the signs accused Gasparian of attacking them. He’s
now charged with fourth degree assault in Edmonds municipal court.

But several people have applauded Gasparian for what he did.

"People can voice opinions how they want, but I still think the whole
thing is wrong," said Tasha Fitzsimmons.

"I think that was excellent for him, especially for what his family
has gone through and what he’s gone through," said Larry Weeks.

For his part, Gasparian hopes others will stand up against what he
calls stupidity.

"We can argue about that’s freedom of speech, but what does that have
to do with Hitler and swastika?" said Gasparian.

The people with the signs and pamphlets were supporters of Lyndon
LaRouche, a perennial presidential candidate and strong opponent of
Pres. Obama. KING 5 News was unable to reach those people for comment.