Neo-Nazis Yell Racist Slurs and Allegedly Pepper Spray Bystander During Columbus Protest [Video]

The shocking display of hate that unfolded in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, has left the community in utter disbelief.  Armed neo-Nazis, masked and clad in black, marched through the Short North, spewing racial slurs and promoting white power while carrying Nazi flags adorned with red swastikas.

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Videos of this disturbing scene began surfacing online around 1:15 p.m., capturing the crowd of about a dozen individuals, one with a bullhorn, parading down the street. The group’s behavior escalated quickly. Police were called after reports emerged that one member of the gathering had sprayed pepper spray or mace at an innocent bystander. Witnesses also described them shouting hateful rhetoric toward people of color and Jews, leaving many onlookers shaken.

Despite the severity of the situation, officers arrived to find the group had already dispersed without incident. A van containing the marchers was later stopped, and several individuals were detained, though no charges were filed after it was determined that no assault had occurred. The community leaders condemned this terrifying demonstration.

“This vile display of hate by a small band of masked neo-Nazis is another sad example of the bigotry we’ve seen across the country,” said Lee C. Shapiro of the American Jewish Committee.

Governor Mike DeWine also weighed in, declaring, “There is no place in this state for hate, bigotry, antisemitism, or violence.”

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— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) November 17, 2024

Meanwhile, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther released a lengthy statement slamming the despicable march.

“We reject the cowardly display reported in the Short North earlier today,” Ginther shared on Twitter.

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— Mayor Andrew Ginther (@MayorGinther) November 16, 2024

The protest has shaken the fabric of Columbus, a city that prides itself on diversity and tolerance. Civil rights advocate Sean Walton Jr. called the incident “alarming and unacceptable,” urging the city to rise above the hate with unity and love.