Jarrett William Smith, a former U.S. soldier with a neo-Nazi background, recently menaced an LGBTQ-friendly event in North Carolina. Smith was identified at a protest against a drag story hour in Sanford, where drag performers read stories to children. His appearance, donning a skull mask and a shirt with Nazi symbols, is part of a worrying pattern of far-right figures increasingly targeting LGBTQ+ events.
Smith’s Troubling Background
Smith’s history includes charges of encouraging the assassination of former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke and advocating arson against an anti-fascist podcaster. Convicted for distributing bomb-making instructions, Smith’s extremist activities were first noted by the FBI in 2019. His military training in combat and tactical operations, coupled with his radical ideologies, pose a significant threat to public safety, particularly to the LGBTQ+ community.
The Incident at the Local Yoga Studio
The Sanford event took place at a local yoga studio, intended as a safe and inclusive space for Halloween-themed storytelling. Smith joined a group that marched to the event, including a local pastor, positioning themselves on the public sidewalk behind the venue. This incident represents an escalation in anti-LGBTQ+ activities by individuals with extremist backgrounds.
FBI’s Monitoring of Smith’s Extremist Activities
Smith’s extremist activities escalated after moving to Kansas, where he discussed plans to target Antifa members and spoke of destroying cell towers or news stations. His arrest in 2019 came after providing an FBI undercover agent with instructions for constructing explosive devices and improvised napalm.
Rising Violence Against the LGBTQ+ Community
This incident in North Carolina is part of a broader trend of growing animosity and violence towards the LGBTQ+ community. In a separate incident in Cedar Glen, Calif., Laura Ann Carleton was fatally shot following a dispute involving a Pride flag. The shooter, Travis Ikeguchi, had previously torn down a Pride flag and used homophobic slurs against Carleton. This tragic event underscores the heightened dangers faced by the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
Jarrett William Smith’s participation in the protest against the LGBTQ+ event in Sanford is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by extremist individuals and groups. His background as a former soldier with neo-Nazi affiliations highlights the seriousness of these threats, necessitating vigilance and protective measures for LGBTQ+ events and spaces. The continued targeting of the LGBTQ+ community by far-right extremists calls for a concerted response from law enforcement and community support to ensure safety and inclusivity.
