Nashville, Tennessee – A small group of neo-Nazis marched in downtown Nashville, drawing vocal opponents and eventually leaving after a confrontation with local residents, the police reported. The group, consisting of men wearing red, long-sleeve T-shirts and black pants, was seen carrying black Nazi flags as they walked around the Capitol and parts of downtown on a Saturday afternoon.
Despite the group’s presence, no arrests were made, and they left in a U-Haul box truck which exited greater Nashville, leading police to believe they were not locals. The men wore red shirts with the words “Blood Tribe,” a white supremacist organization founded by former Marine Christopher Pohlhaus, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The organization rejects “softer optics” in favor of loud demonstrations and hard-line stances on white superiority, the ADL added.
The ADL also noted that the group, which emphasizes physical fitness and a warlike mentality, has previously targeted events geared towards the LGBTQ community, such as Drag Queen Story Hour readings for children. State representatives were quick to comment on the neo-Nazis’ presence in the city, with some blaming GOP legislators for allowing hate speech that appeals to such groups.
State Rep. Aftyn Behn expressed frustration with the state’s leadership for failing to condemn the speech and actions of these groups. Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, publicly condemned the neo-Nazis’ presence, stating, “Nazism and antisemitism should never be tolerated in any form.” The governor further emphasized the state’s support for Jewish people around the world facing persecution.
Video footage captured a counterdemonstrator challenging the men as they walked along downtown streets, branding them as “cowards” and using expletives. This demonstration by the neo-Nazis sparked a debate over hate speech and extremist groups in Tennessee. The incident also highlighted the ongoing tensions between different ideological groups in the state.