A group of neo-Nazis from Michigan appeared at a Toledo LGBTQ+ event Saturday night to "harass" attendees, according to multiple organizations.
Photos and video, show the group wearing symbols associated with a neo-Nazi group while demonstrating on Adams Street. In the videos, the group chanted and displayed hate symbols.
NGO StopAntisemitism shared images of the neo-Nazis marching throughout the town with their audience on Twitter.
Toledo, OH - this past Saturday, a dozen masked Nazis drove into town from Michigan, protested an LGBTQ event in town and then moved onto a Synagogue in Sylvania nearby to harass Jews with tiki torches.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) July 17, 2023
Local police were called and escorted the Nazis back into their U-Haul. pic.twitter.com/v76UrceIeW
In one video, a member of the group can be seen open-carrying two firearms and wearing tactical gear. Other members appeared to be open carrying weapons as well.
In response to a request for a report of the incident, Toledo police told WTOL 11 no report had been made. According to police, the group arrived and protested for approximately 10 to 15 minutes and then left.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz also released a statement condemning the Nazis: "When a group of Nazis showed up in Toledo last Saturday, Toledo responded exactly how you’d expect; by drowning out hate with love, anger with joy, and yelling with singing and dancing. It took less than 15 minutes for these Nazis to learn what we already know to be true: hate has no place in Toledo. We are proud to stand beside our LGBTQ+ neighbors, our Jewish neighbors, and our Black, Muslim, Asian, and Disabled neighbors, and we refuse to be silent in the face of white supremacy. Thank you to our Toledo Police Department officers who responded swiftly to prevent escalation and keep our neighbors safe."