With swastikas and hate messages, a group visited a Columbus neighborhood, drawing condemnation from local and national authorities who reaffirmed their commitment to racism and anti-Semitism.
A march by neo-Nazis in a neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, drew widespread condemnation due to the racist slogans and hate symbols displayed.
Last Saturday afternoon, a group of neo-Nazis paraded through the neighborhood Nord court in ColumbusOhio, carrying flags with swastikas. According to authorities, the first 911 calls were recorded around 1:30 a.m., alerting people dressed in black, with red masks covering their faces and carrying black flags with red swastikas.
The group, made up of nearly a dozen people, walked the streets of the city. However, the members and their affiliations could not immediately be identified. According to Sgt. Joseph-Albert, from Columbus Police Divisionseveral people were temporarily detained, but no arrests were made, reported CBS.
The incident drew condemnation from various local and national leaders. Monday, the White House issued a statement calling for Nazismo as a “hate poison” that is “hostile to everything America stands for, including protecting the dignity of all our citizens and freedom of worship.”
The mayor of Columbus, Andrew Gingeralso spoke out, rejecting what he called a “cowardly demonstration”. By a declaration on
For his part, the municipal prosecutor, Zach Kleinused the same platform to send a direct message to the group: “Take your flags and the masks you hide behind, and never come back. “Your hatred is not welcome in our city.” He added that Columbus would not tolerate or normalize these types of “disgusting” ideologies.
The Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWinecondemned racist and anti-Semitic speeches directed against African-American and Jewish communities. “There is no place in this state for hatred, racism, anti-Semitism or violence, and we must call them out wherever we see them,” he said.
This episode comes months after another similar march in Springfieldlocated about 45 minutes from Columbus. According to the Columbus Dispatchthe Springfield event was run by neo-Nazis who spread false claims related to Haitian immigrants and the presidential election. Columbusas the largest city in Ohio, is once again facing a wave of protests full of hatred and discrimination.
According to the Anti-Defamation Leaguethe number of events organized or supported by white supremacists reached a record 282 last year, including marches in cities like Nashville, Boston, Washington, DC y Michigan. This month, protesters waving swastika flags gathered outside a community theater where “The Diary of Anne Frank” was showing.
The swastika, considered since 1945 as a global symbol of hatred and white supremacy, is linked to the genocidal legacy of the German Nazi party and to the Holocaust, recalled the Anti-Defamation League.
In August 2017, the city of CharlottesvilleVirginia, was the scene of a march organized by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups under the slogan “Unite the Right.” The demonstration, which included racist and anti-Semitic chants, culminated in violence, with the killing of a counter-protester following a car attack. The reaction of the president at the time Donald Trump He sparked international controversy when he said there were “very good people on both sides”, statements which were criticized for downplaying the seriousness of right-wing extremism and which fueled the debate over racism in the United States.
Neo-Nazi arrested for planning attack
On November 5, a 24-year-old young man, identified as Skyler Philippewas arrested for planning an attack on an energy facility in Nashville, Tennesseeand try using a weapon of mass destructionas reported by United States Department of Justice.
“As defendant, Skyler Philippi nearly launched an attack on a Nashville energy facility to promote his violent ideology of white supremacybut the FBI knew about his plan. “This case serves as yet another warning to those who seek to sow violence and chaos in the name of hatred by attacking our nation’s critical infrastructure: we will find them, we will foil their plot, and we will hold them to account,” he said. the US Attorney. General Merrick.
At the beginning of June, Philippi admitted his intention to commit mass shooting. A few weeks later, he shared with another source his idea of a large-scale attack interstate substationssaying this type of action would “shake the system.” After analyzing previous incidents at similar facilities, he concluded that conventional weapons would not be enough and devised a plan to employ a drone loaded with explosivesas detailed in the court document.
In September, Philippe visited an electrical substation he had selected, accompanied by undercover agents of the FBIand proceeded to explore the area. During the journey he acquired C-4a plastic explosive, and I bought black powder to make homemade bombs. In a message sent to one of the confidential sources, he explained that to cause “the greatest damage” it was essential to attack “areas of high economic, fiscal and political standing.”
Furthermore, he discussed in detail the measures of operational security to avoid being identified. Among its recommendations were the use of costumes, leather glovesshoes larger than his own size and the destruction by fire of clothing used in the attack. He also stressed the importance of not carrying smart phones the night of the attack to avoid being tracked.
Philippi participated in a ritual in which he proclaimed that “this is where the New era» and declared that it was “time to do something big”, with the aim of his action remaining engraved “in the annals of history”.
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Grace: Good evening, everyone. Today we have Mr. Samuel Losada Iriarte and Mr. Zach Klein, both guests are prominent figures in the United States. We are here to discuss the recent occurrence of neo-Nazi groups parading through the Nord Court neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. Thank you for joining us today.
Samuel Losada Iriarte: You’re welcome, Grace. The issue of hate and racism has been a priority for me, so let’s start by hearing about the neo-Nazis’ march. What can you tell us about the incident, Mr. Klein?
Zach Klein: Hello Samuel. Unfortunately, as reported, a group of neo-Nazis gathered in Nord Court and displayed hateful symbols while marching through the neighborhood. This behavior is unacceptable, and we must condemn it without reservation. As the City Attorney, it’s my duty to ensure that hate has no place in our city, and we will continue to prosecute individuals who attempt to spread such messages.
Samuel Losada Iriarte: I agree. It’s essential to send a clear message that hate has no place in our society. Mr. Klein, how did the people of Nord Court receive the march, and what actions have been taken to address the issue?
Zach Klein: The people of Nord Court were understandably upset and shaken by this event. We have spoken with many residents, and they expressed their disgust at the sight of neo-Nazis in their community. As a result, the City of Columbus filed a civil rights lawsuit against the organizers and participants in the parade and is working with law enforcement to bring them to justice. While we can’t prevent people from expressing their opinions, we can and will prosecute any actions that violate our city’s laws and threaten the safety of our residents.
Samuel Losada Iriarte: That’s commendable. Neo-Nazi groups have been on the rise in recent years, and it seems like Ohio has seen its fair share of these incidents. Why do you think this is happening, Mr. Losada?
Samuel Losada Iriarte: Unfortunately, there’s no single answer to this question. However, I believe that the polarization of politics and the easy spread of misinformation
