USA
Neo-Nazis seen performing Hitler salutes on march through Nashville
Tennessee lawmakers condemn “Nazi rally” allegedly organised by white supremacist group Blood Tribe
February 18, 2024 13:12
Tennessee lawmakers condemn “Nazi rally” allegedly organised by white supremacist group Blood Tribe
February 18, 2024 13:12A group of neo-Nazis holding giant swastikas and wearing black balaclavas and red shirts marched through downtown Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday.
The group, who were seen giving the "Heil Hitler" salute, are believed to be members of the white supremacist group, Blood Tribe.
Politicians in the southern US state took to social media to condemn the masked men who waved Nazi flags.
Sharing a photo of the group who carried at least five swastika flags, State Representative Aftyn Behn said: “Our office is closely monitoring the Nazi rally downtown.”
“These groups once relegated to the dark corners now feel empowered to spew their noxious ideology out in the open due to our state’s leadership REFUSING to condemn their speech and actions” Behn said on X, formerly Twitter.
our office is closely monitoring the Nazi rally downtown—
— Rep. Aftyn Behn (@AftynBehn) February 17, 2024
these groups once relegated to the dark corners now feel empowered to spew their noxious ideology out in the open due to our state’s leadership REFUSING to condemn their speech and actions. pic.twitter.com/WZ1whZ2tPZ
Behn told American station, News 2, that the group were wearing Blood Tribe insignia. Blood Tribe is a neo-Nazi group that claims to have chapters across the United States and Canada.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Blood Tribe members believe in white supremacy and exalt Hitler as a deity. They do not allow female members and they reject "white supremacists who call for softer 'optics.'” Blood Tribe see themselves as “the only path to a white ethnostate", according to ADL.
Neo-nazi group "Blood Tribe" squatting inside a Uhaul truck (much like Patriot Front) - Nashville Tennessee pic.twitter.com/pWGrFQJAWW
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) February 17, 2024
Nashville vice mayor Angie Henderson shared Behn’s post on X and said: “That I even have to say this. NAZIS are NOT WELCOME in NASHVILLE. In America everyone is free to demonstrate & to say what they want, so: SHAME ON YOU ALL! Get your hateful, dangerous, fascist, nazi nonsense off our streets & off our beautiful Public Square.”
In one clip, someone in the group yells “deportation” and the crowd respond, “saves the nation.”
State Representative Justin Jones called the marchers “white supremacists” and said: “They are literally having a Nazi march here in downtown Nashville”.
Jones said the group were “talking about white supremacy, neo-Nazism, talking about deporting folks and just racial hatred”.
Just left an event honoring a Black sorority and spoke of the need to unite against the rising tide of white supremacy, only to be confronted by Nazis marching through downtown Nashville.
— Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) February 17, 2024
This is exactly what my Republican colleagues hate speech is fostering and inviting. pic.twitter.com/ZaK5kUQDYP
Tennessee Governor, Bill Lee, did not directly refer to the march but posted on Saturday: “Nazism and antisemitism should never be tolerated in any form. As Jewish people around the world continue to face persecution, Tennessee remains unwavering in our support for the nation of Israel and her people.”
The state’s Attorney General, Jonathan Skrmetti, responded to Lee’s post and said on X: “Our Jewish brothers and sisters across Tennessee and around the world will always have this Office’s unwavering support against antisemitism.”