PHOENIX -- On Saturday afternoon, neo-Nazi members made a stand in Arizona.
Members of the National Socialist Movement marched to the Arizona State Capitol to protest.
"It's an American first rally," said NSM member Steven Boswell. "It's a demand for our politicians to put Americans first."
The march began at 2 p.m. as the group marched down Washington Street toward the capitol buildings.
See photographs from the protest in the attached slideshowThe march focused mainly on illegal immigration.
"We've got completely wide open borders and politicians who will bend over backwards for Mexicans or anyone else who is not American," Boswell said.
"Neither political party is doing anything about illegal immigration," said NSM Commander Jeff Schoep.
About a hundred people marched down the street, many wearing swastikas and chanting racial slurs.
They were met with heated protesters across the street.
"It makes me sick," said Kevin Heade who went downtown to protest the rally. "What they are doing is anti-American."
Police created a barrier between the two groups as they shouted back and forth for about an hour Saturday afternoon. Sharp shooters were also positioned on roof tops prepared for violence.
Civil rights leaders say the group is using immigration as a front.
"(They are) injecting their vile agenda into what is a legitimate mainstream issue," said Bill Straus with the Arizona chapter of the Anti-Defamation League.
Straus says it's common for hate groups to take political issues and twist them to gain support.
"They are about their philosophy: That Caucasians are superior to other people and this country would be better without people of any color -- period," Straus said.
The NSM calls itself America's "largest white civil rights organization."
It is also holding similar protests this weekend across the country.
"We are not a hate group," Boswell said.
"We've had hundreds of rallies across the country and we've never had one person arrested," Boswell said.
No one was arrested and there were no physical fights or injuries reported.
