COLUMBUS, Ohio WXIX/Gray News – Ohio officials are responding to a neo-Nazi group that marched through Columbus on Saturday afternoon.
Around 1 p.m., social media posts began surfacing, showing about a dozen individuals dressed in black clothing and wearing masks with a red skull design. The group walked through the Short North area, carrying flags featuring Nazi symbols, including swastikas.
Columbus police responded to the scene and reported that the marchers were armed. However, no arrests were made.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine condemned the march, stating, We will not tolerate hate in Ohio. Neo-Nazis, their faces hidden behind red masks, roamed the streets in Columbus today, carrying Nazi flags and spewing vile and racist speech against people of color and Jews. He emphasized that hate, bigotry, antisemitism, and violence have no place in the state.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther also denounced the march, saying, The Columbus community stands firmly against hatred and bigotry. We will not allow any of our neighbors to be intimidated or harmed because of who they are, how they worship, or whom they love.
Ginther highlighted the city’s commitment to diversity, tolerance, and acceptance, calling the march a cowardly display. He added that the Columbus Division of Police is monitoring the situation to ensure public safety.