Protesters with Nazi flags and signs supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis demonstrated outside Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida, according to the local police.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office confirmed that some of the approximately 15 people protesting were there with signs supporting the state's Republican governor and presidential hopeful.
Some were carrying Nazi flags featuring swastikas. NGO StopAntisemitism shared to Instagram a video of the incident.
The OCSD said it responded to the protest and that the disturbance dissipated after approximately two hours.
"We are aware of these groups that aim to agitate and incite people with antisemitic symbols and slurs. They are also aware of the law," the OCSD said in a statement. "The Orange County Sheriff’s Office deplores hate speech in any form, but people have the First Amendment right to demonstrate."
Lisa Gause, a 60-year-old old spotted the protesters with her son, told USA TODAY that she snapped a photo of the protesters after she spotted a "DeSantis 2024 Make America Florida" flag amongst their number.
She lamented the state of political polarisation in the US.
"We don't want this going on," she told the paper.
Anna Eskamani, a state congressional lawmaker representing Orlando, was sent several images and videos of the protest, she she shared on Twitter.
"It's absolutely disgusting to see what has become a common presence of Nazis in Florida, and even more disturbing when they are holding signs and flags that signal support for people like Governor DeSantis," Ms Eskamani told USA TODAY. "Every person, regardless of political ideology, should condemn this. Florida is a state built on diversity and we will always stand against bigotry and hate.”
Shannon Watts, the founder of the progressive parents’ advocacy group Moms Demand Action, shared an image of the protests were Nazi flags, a DeSantis “Make America Florida” flag, and a black sign cut into the triple circle shape associated with Mickey Mouse’s head and ears that read “butt f*****.”
“Two dozen white supremacists are outside the main Disney World entrance in Orlando right now, marching with signs featuring Gov DeSantis’s face, swastikas, the n-word and homophobic slurs. This is the 2023 Republican Party,” she wrote on Twitter.