In a disturbing turn of events, neo-Nazi groups paraded through the streets of Florida, brandishing swastika flags and chanting “Heil Hitler.” This disconcerting trend, regrettably, has become increasingly common across the United States. Over Labor Day weekend, a coalition of extremist factions orchestrated a “March of the Redshirts” rally in Orlando. Participants, clad in red and black attire, including a neo-Nazi group leader, were captured on video standing atop an area overpass. Additionally, some neo-Nazis gathered outside the iconic Disney World.
One such group, the Blood Tribe, founded by former Marine Christopher Pohlhaus, previously staged demonstrations in Ohio and Wisconsin. Notably, Pohlhaus resides in Maine. The rally also saw the participation of White Lives Matter, Goyim Defense League, and Vinland Rebels Fascist Action, among other extremist factions. Chillingly, their chants of “We are everywhere” echoed through the videos shared online, accompanied by disturbing antigay slurs directed at individuals they encountered.
A Disturbing Nexus: Extremism and Anti-LGBTQ+ Sentiments
What’s deeply concerning is the alignment of far-right extremists, white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and even some Republican politicians against anything they perceive as “woke,” including the recognition and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals and their existence. The Advocate recently engaged in a conversation with Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. Lewis specializes in the study of domestic violent extremism and homegrown violent extremism.
Lewis emphasized the existence of an alarming level of hate simmering in American society, which the extreme right exploits and aims to normalize. He noted, “In both the white supremacist and the anti-LGBTQ+ spaces, you have seen these very similar patterns where the fringe has become embraced by an increasingly large subset of Americans.” Concepts like the great replacement theory, once relegated to closed white supremacist chat rooms and niche online spaces, have now permeated mainstream media.
A Growing Threat to Society
Lewis stressed that the radical ideology promoted by these groups poses a significant threat. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the menace posed by violent white supremacists, neo-Nazis, anti-government factions, and anti-LGBTQ+ actors. This alarming trend coincides with the growing acceptance of narratives that have historically thrived in these extremist spaces.
As society grapples with the consequences of this normalization of hate, it must confront the grim reality that extremism can lead to violence. A recent tragic incident in Jacksonville serves as a stark reminder of this reality. A white supremacist with swastikas adorning his assault rifle carried out a deadly racist attack, claiming the lives of three innocent Black individuals, motivated solely by his deep-seated hatred.
In these trying times, it becomes increasingly imperative to counteract the rise of hate and extremism, safeguarding the rights and safety of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals who find themselves at the intersection of this disconcerting wave of intolerance.