Supremacist Parade to Go Ahead : Protest: Simi Valley officials deny permit for march but will not stop it. Group supports verdicts in King beating trial.

The city will not issue a parade permit to the white supremacist group National Movement but will not stop its march Saturday in support of the Rodney G. King beating trial verdicts, officials said Tuesday.

By issuing a permit, the city might be seen as supporting the views of the Mississippi-based group, Simi Valley officials said. According to the National Movement’s permit application, the group promotes white supremacy, city officials said.

“Acting on behalf of the City Council and the citizens of this community, I cannot in good conscience issue this permit, which in the eyes of many could be inferred as official endorsement of their message,” City Manager Lin Koester said in a statement.

Organizers of a parade generally must obtain insurance and agree to pay for police and cleanup services.

Assistant City Manager Mike Sedell said National Movement members have said they are unable to pay for those services.

But he added: “At the same time, we recognize they have certain 1st Amendment rights and intend to act accordingly in that regard.”

He said police will be present to protect marchers and spectators at Saturday’s parade near the East County Courthouse, where a jury returned not guilty verdicts against four Los Angeles police officers accused of beating King.

The proposed march is a setback to Simi Valley leaders’ efforts to distance the city’s image from the trial and its aftermath. Officials have noted that King was arrested in Los Angeles and that only two jurors were from Simi Valley.

Sedell said several callers to city offices have said they will come Saturday to protest the march.

Richard Barrett, National Movement attorney, said officials have assured him that although his group has no parade permit, “there will be adequate police protection for those who attend and that the people’s right to speak, assemble, parade and petition will not be abridged in any way.”

His application said about 150 people will take part, but Barrett said he is uncertain how many will attend. He said the march’s purpose is to support the King trial jurors, the four officers and “law, order and justice.”

Regarding the lack of a permit, Barrett said: “The piece of paper we have is the Constitution and the 1st Amendment.”

Asked if the organization advocates white supremacy, Barrett said its members are “American, pro-majority and nationalist.”