COLUMBUS, USA – Ohio officials and community leaders have denounced a neo-Nazi demonstration that took place Saturday, November 16, 2024, afternoon in a Columbus neighbourhood, where a small group of individuals marched waving swastika-emblazoned flags and shouting racial slurs.
The display is the latest in a series of public gatherings by White nationalist groups across the United States.
Around a dozen individuals, dressed in black attire with faces obscured by red masks, paraded through the Short North district near downtown Columbus.
Video footage, captured and shared by CNN affiliate WBNS, shows members of the group carrying black flags featuring red swastikas and yelling racial slurs, including repeated use of the N-word.
The group walked past local businesses, including cafés and boutiques, as their leader amplified their chants through a bullhorn.
Officials Condemn the Demonstration
The march quickly drew condemnation from local and state leaders.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther called the event a “cowardly display” and vowed to stand against hatred and bigotry.
“We will not allow any of our neighbours to be intimidated, threatened, or harmed because of who they are, how they worship, and whom they love,” Ginther, a Democrat, wrote on social media.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine echoed these sentiments, denouncing the marchers’ racist and anti-Semitic rhetoric.
“There is no place in this state for hate, bigotry, antisemitism or violence, and we must denounce it wherever we see it,” said DeWine, a Republican.
City Attorney Zach Klein also took to social media, urging the demonstrators to leave the city.
“Take your flags and the masks you hide behind and go home and never come back. Your hate isn’t welcome in our city,” Klein wrote.
No Arrests Made
The Columbus Police Department received 911 calls around 1:30 p.m. reporting the group’s presence in the Short North area. While officers briefly detained some of the participants, no arrests were made, WBNS reported.
The demonstration comes amid a rise in public gatherings and events linked to White supremacist groups across the United States.
The Anti-Defamation League, ADL, reported a record 282 events organised or attended by White supremacists last year.
Recent incidents include marches and demonstrations in Nashville, Boston, Virginia, and Michigan, where swastika flags were displayed outside a performance of The Diary of Anne Frank.
The swastika, a globally recognised symbol of hate, remains closely tied to the atrocities of Germany’s Nazi Party, including the Holocaust, the ADL noted.
Community Responds with Unity March
In response to the neo-Nazi march, Columbus community leaders organised a unity march on Sunday, aimed at demonstrating solidarity against hate and bigotry.
“Our city is stronger than hate,” said one organiser at the unity march, as residents gathered to show support for diversity and inclusivity.
Mayor Ginther and other officials have called for continued vigilance and a commitment to opposing hateful ideologies in all forms.
“Columbus is a city of inclusion, resilience, and unity,” Ginther said. “We will not allow a hateful few to define who we are.”
