Worshippers were left frightened after a neo-Nazi group gathered outside a US synagogue and brandished swastikas.
Shocking photos emerged of a dozen people waving hate symbols outside the Chabad of Cobb synagogue in East Cobb, Georgia on Saturday.
Members of the synagogue said that the neo-Nazis were outside for a few hours.
Videos posted online also showed the group holding swastika flags and signs that read "Every Single Aspect of Abortion is Jewish" as residents could be heard shouting at them to "go home".
Jon Minadeo II, leader of the so-called Goyim Defence League, was understood to be the leader of the rally. Minadeo II was previously arrested by Polish police after posing outside Auschwitz with a series of offensive signs.
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Around a dozen protesters stood outside the synagogue (Photo: Jennifer Caron Derrick/Facebook)
Minadeo shared a photo of himself on August 27 last year standing outside of the infamous Arbeit Macht Frei gate at Auschwitz while wearing a swastika necklace and holding a sign that read “Greenblatt suck 6 million d**ks”.
The Goyim Defence League is described as “a small network of virulently antisemitic provocateurs”, according to the ADL.
The ADL said the group's aim is “to cast aspersions on Jews and spread antisemitic myths and conspiracy theories”.
Stewart Levy, who attends Chabad of Cobb, told local news outlet WMAZ: "This was the most frightening thing I've ever seen in my entire life. I am shocked, absolutely shocked to see this here.
"When I see the amount of ignorance out there and some of the truths that they are promoting, it is just frightening the level of inaccurate knowledge that there is."
Local police officers attended the scene but did not disperse the rally due to freedom of speech rights. Freedom of speech except for true threats is normally protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
Disturbing video footage of the neo Nazi rally outside of a Chabad Jewish center during Shabbat in East Cobb, GA yesterday.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) June 25, 2023
Important to note leader of the rally - Jon Minadeo II - was arrested the previous day after disturbing a synagogue in Macon, GA. pic.twitter.com/KItQLjfnbc
The Chabad of Cobb synagogue thanked members of the community for stepping up against hate.
In a statement, they added: “We have been in communication with Cobb County officials, who have identified these individuals as part of a small group that travel around the country in order to spread their hateful message.“
"Ultimately, we must remember that the most potent response to darkness is to increase in light. Let’s use this unfortunate incident to increase in acts of goodness and kindness, Jewish pride, and greater Jewish engagement.”
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Goyim Defence League with antisemitic banner hanging over Interstate 405 (Credit: Twitter)
Last year, the Goyim Defence league were also responsible for hanging banners supporting Kanye West off a freeway in Los Angeles.
The group was photographed raising their arms in Nazi salutes above the banners, which read “Honk if you know” and “Kanye is right about the Jews”, as well as references to several biblical verses, including one regarding “the synagogue of Satan”.
According to the ADL, the group has been responsible for dozens of similar messages across the United States, while also engaging in offensive stunts targeting Jewish people, including holding another banner above an overpass in Texas that read “Vax the Jews”.
(Gab)
Robert Wilson and Joseph Minadeo at the gates of Auschwitz in an image posted on social network (Gab)
The group's founder John Minadeo II was also arrested for standing outside of the infamous Arbeit Macht Frei gate at Auschwitz while wearing a swastika necklace and holding a sign that read “Greenblatt suck 6 million d**ks”.
Robert Wilson, pictured beside Minadeo, held a sign reading “Shoah the ADL”.
Georgia ranked fourth in US states experiencing the highest number of antisemitic incidents with 44 recorded in 2022, according to ADL.
