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 to destroy LGBTQ pride flags that they found in their path.
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.
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 with swastikas on them 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 New York Post
Keep reading:
– DeSantis Administration does not react to the mobilization of neo-Nazis outside Disney World in support of his measures
– Former Florida neo-Nazi pleaded guilty to double murder and was sentenced to 45 years in prison
– Hispanic man suspected of killing 8 people in a shooting at a Texas mall appears in a YouTube video wearing a “Scream” mask the same day of the attack
