Nazi flags are flown on steps outside Tennessee capitol building as locals are outraged over white supremacy march in Nashville
Chilling footage shows a group of masked neo-Nazis marching through historic black neighborhoods in Nashville on Saturday before raising their swastika flags at the state capitol.
Dozens of uniformed extremists came to Tennessee and gave Hitler gun salutes as they marched down Nashville’s “Honky Tonk Highway.”
The group was unchallenged as they took a stage at the state capitol building in a show of strength, but they were met with anger when they took their protest to the streets.
“Show me your damn faces!” a bystander shouted as they stomped past, “What are you ashamed of?”
“You don’t belong here,” someone replied, “Go to your third world country.”
The neo-Nazis went unchallenged as they raised their swastika flags over a stage in the Tennessee capital
The group, believed to be members of ‘Blood and Tribe,’ threw Hitler salutes as they marched down Broadway in Nashville’s historic black neighborhood
Ordinary passersby were caught up in the drama as the extremists marched through downtown Nashville on Saturday afternoon
The protesters are believed to be members of the white supremacist organization ‘Blood Tribe’, which has organized previous protests at the Wisconsin state capitol and outside Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
They are extreme white supremacist groups that espouse anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic views and parade in military garb, often while being heavily armed.
Former US Marine Christopher Polhaus, who has been linked to the January 6 riots at the US Capitol Building in Washington DC in 2021, founded Blood Tribe.
The group clashed with right-wing journalist and former congressional candidate Laura Loomer during their protest in Orlando in September.
At one point, the video showed one of the members telling Loomer to “throw her in an oven,” while also yelling profanities at her.
“Very vicious and irrational behavior,” the Jewish Trump loyalist tweeted.
“But it’s moments like these that remind us that this is what freedom of speech was created for. Statements you disagree with are also freedom of expression.’
Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones was leaving an event honoring a black fraternity when he ran into the path of protesters Saturday afternoon.
Christopher ‘Hammer’ Pohlhaus (pictured center right) founded the neo-Nazi ‘Blood Tribe’
Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones was among those who expressed outrage at the march
He said it was the second time in several months that far-right groups targeted the capital and blamed Republican lawmakers for fostering a culture of impunity.
“They normalize this so that these kinds of extreme expressions of white supremacy feel comfortable taking to the streets,” he added.
“I didn’t want to run away and hide from it because I think we need to let people know that this is our community and we’re not going to be intimidated.”
Democratic Rep. Aftyn Behn agreed with the claim, tweeting, “These groups once relegated to the dark corners now feel empowered to take their harmful ideology into the open as our state’s leaders refuse to stand up to their statements and actions to condemn.’
But House Republican Majority Leader William Lamberth insisted he shared their concerns.
“Go away Nazi thugs,” he tweeted, “this is Tennessee and you are NOT welcome here.
“By the way, why don’t you show your face so we can all see who you are?” I bet none of you are from around here.”
Jewish Metro councilor Jacob Kupin said this News 2 he received phone calls asking if everything was okay after he also saw the march.
“My response to that, unfortunately, was ‘I’m almost used to it at this point,’” he said.
The group clashed with right-wing journalist and former congressional candidate Laura Loomer at a protest in Orlando in September
“Over the summer we had a number of cases of people dropping anti-Semitic literature on people’s doorsteps, and there was an incident where someone painted a swastika on buildings.”
Republican Rep. Jody Barrett described the march as a “made-for-click fake clown show.”
‘These idiots are either paid artists or people with low IQs who need to go back home to their mothers’ basements.
“Either way, they’re worth all the ridicule and contempt we can muster.”
The group collided