This is the horrific moment a gay Iraq war veteran is harassed by a racist mob who shouted “n*****” and “f*****” at a conservative conference in Phoenix.
Decorated soldier Rob Smith was hounded by the group this weekend during America Fest at the Phoenix Convention Center. The event was a gathering of conservative supporters and commentators.
In the video, which Smith shared on his social media pages, a group of men can be heard chanting “gay sex” at him.
In an attempt to fight back against the group, he turns to them and says, “Yes, Nick Fuentes is into gay sex.”
Smith was talking about the right-wing white nationalist and Holocaust denier, who has a cult following among the far right. Fuentes has previously described himself as asexual.
After the commentary, the group begins chanting “f*****” at Smith before rising to chants of “America First.”
Gay Iraq War veteran Rob Smith (pictured) was harassed by a racist mob shouting “n*****” and “f*****” at a conservative conference in Phoenix
Smith said in a post that they also directed racial slurs at him, but they cannot be heard in the clip he shared.
In sharing the footage, Smith said: “Last night in Phoenix I was confronted and surrounded by some white supremacists who do not like gays or blacks in the Republican Party.
'They shouted 'n*****' and 'f*****' at me to get their point across. However, I served in Iraq. I never go backwards. Ever.'
Since he shared the images, fellow conservatives have sent messages of support to Smith.
Activist Scott Presler wrote, “Rob, I'm so sorry you had to go through this. This is completely unacceptable and does not represent the vision of America First.”
Christina Pushaw, the rapid response director for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign, said: “This is embarrassing behavior.
“All I can say is that their trash talk is rewarded online, and some of them are so delusional that they think they can do the same thing in real life.”
Republican congressional candidate JR Majewski wrote, “I was there… when I heard the commotion I stood up for Rob and got him out of there safely.
“This is the unfortunate reality of a fractured party without leadership.”
Smith, pictured here with former President Donald Trump, received support from fellow conservatives after sharing the images.
For his service, Smith received the Army Commendation Medal and Combat Infantry Badge, and he now works as a commentator and podcaster
Smith is arrested here after handcuffing himself to the White House fence to protest a policy against LGBTQ soldiers
Smith served in the U.S. Army for five years and completed two tours of the Middle East from 2000 to 2005, one in Kuwait and one in Iraq.
It was at that time that he realized he was gay, despite “don't ask, don't tell” – a policy that prevents LGBTQ soldiers from publicly disclosing their sexual orientation without risking being fired.
In November 2010, five years after leaving the military, Smith and twelve other activists, both military and civilian, handcuffed themselves to the White House fence in protest of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”
They were arrested and a year later were invited to meet then-President Obama and attend the ceremony at which the policy was rescinded.
For his service, Smith received the Army Commendation Medal and Combat Infantry Badge, and he now works as a commentator and podcaster.
Since leaving the military, Smith also wrote a book titled “Always a Soldier: Service, Sacrifice, and Coming Out as America's Favorite Black, Gay Republican.”