Photo Credit:Associate Press
The incident, captured on video, showed the group parading past local businesses as their leader shouted through a bullhorn. Police received 911 calls around 1:30 p.m. but did not make any arrests, though some marchers were briefly detained.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther denounced the display as a “cowardly act,” reaffirming the city’s commitment to fighting hatred and bigotry. “We will not allow any of our neighbors to be intimidated, threatened, or harmed because of who they are,” Ginther wrote on social media. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also condemned the event, stating, “There is no place in this state for hate, bigotry, antisemitism, or violence.”
This demonstration adds to a troubling trend of White supremacist activity in the U.S., with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a record 282 such events in 2022. Similar marches have occurred nationwide, including in Nashville, Washington, D.C., and Michigan.
In response to Saturday’s events, Columbus community leaders organized a unity march on Sunday. “Your hate isn’t welcome in our city,” City Attorney Zach Klein declared. “This is not who we are.”
While no violence occurred, the incident has renewed calls for vigilance against extremism and solidarity in the face of hate.
