By Jerald Jimenez
03 Sep 2023, 23:47 PM EDT
The city of Orlando, Florida, witnessed a series of neo-Nazi protests that caused outrage and rejection among the local population and the authorities this Saturday, according to reports.
The protesters, who belong to hate groups including the Goyim Defense League, the Blood Tribe and the Order of the Black Sun, marched through the north of the city carrying swastika flags and chanting slogans such as: “Heil Hitler” and “We are in everywhere”.
Some of the protesters also gave the Nazi salute and began vandalizing LGBTQ pride flags they found in their path.
“White power” chants from members of the ‘Blood Tribe’ and ‘Goyim Defense League’, out holding flags with swastikas in Altamonte Springs, Florida this afternoon pic.twitter.com/hYAkuNMXMH
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 2, 2023
Neo-Nazi groups expressed their support for Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who recently pushed through a controversial bill that would ban talking about sexual diversity and gender identity in public schools, known as “Don’t Say Gay.”
One of the targets of the protests was the Disney World theme park, which has become a symbol of inclusion and tolerance towards the LGBTQ community.
Protesters gathered in front of the park entrance and burned rainbow flags, while hurling insults at visitors. Among the neo-Nazi leaders who participated in the protests were Jon Minadeo and Christopher Pohlhaus.
The neo-Nazi protests quickly went viral on social networks, where shocking videos and images of the events were shared. Some of the videos were uploaded by Florida Democratic Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, who denounced the rise of right-wing extremism in the state.
Nazis in Altamonte Springs at Cranes Roost Park screaming “we are everywhere”—absolutely disgusting stuff and another example of the far right extremism growing in FL. pic.twitter.com/ixgKWcsJk6
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) September 2, 2023
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined the condemnation, declaring that the city would not tolerate any form of violence or discrimination against any group.
For his part, Disney World spokesman Jim McPhee expressed his rejection of the acts of vandalism and assured that the park would continue to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone.
The neo-Nazi protests in Orlando come a week after Ryan Palmerer, a 21-year-old white man, murdered three black people at a Jacksonville Dollar General store in a racially motivated hate crime. Palmerer had weapons emblazoned with swastikas and left several racist manifestos at the site of the attack.
This has not been the first time that Disney World has been attacked by neo-Nazi groups. This past June, similar incidents took place during a DeSantis campaign rally.
With information from the New York Post