SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Tensions ran high at a city commission meeting on Tuesday in Springfield when public discussion focused on the influx of Haitian migrants in the city.
During public comments, one of the speakers who addressed city officials introduced himself with a fictitious anti-Black name commonly used by white supremacists. He said he is a member of a neo-Nazi group that marched in downtown Springfield on Aug. 10 at the Springfield Jazz & Blues Fest. During that event, more than a dozen men wearing ski masks and red shirts were seen marching with rifles and carrying swastika flags.
As the self-proclaimed Nazi group leader began to speak at the city meeting on Tuesday, a woman interrupted him and addressed city leaders, saying, “He’s a literal Nazi. He marched with swastikas. Do not give him a platform,” as she walked out of the room.
Freak-Out at City Council meeting as Neo-Nazi is allowed to speak
byu/jebhebmeb inPublicFreakout
The man continued speaking as another person could be seen in the video leaving the meeting.
“First of all, I would like to dispel the myth that you knew of our march and intentionally had no reaction or made no forewarning of it as a preventative measure,” he said. “You had no more idea than the police officers or Haitians, and it’s frankly insulting to our organization to make such a claim,” he said.
“Second, I’ve come to bring a word of warning. Stop what you’re doing before it’s too late. Crime and savagery only increase with every Haitian you bring in, and with it…” he said before he was interrupted by the mayor.
“You sound threatening to me. I’m going to ask the police if you can be peacefully removed,” said Rue.
The speaker’s public comments to city leaders ended without incident.
Since 2020, thousands of Haitian migrants poured into Springfield for better opportunities. However, the city has become a target by MAGA Republicans, including 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, who last month who tried to paint the city as an example of immigration policy failures.
“Ask the people there, whether they have been enriched by 20,000 newcomers in four years,” he told an audience at the National Conservatism Conference.
Following the demonstration at the Jazz & Blues Fest on Aug. 10, Mayor Rob Rue issued a statement on the city government’s Facebook page, which said in part:
“There was an attempt to disrupt our community by an outside hate group. Nothing happened, except they expressed their First Amendment rights. Our police division was aware and in control the entire time.”
Springfield has a history of racism and hate that dates back more than a century. The Ku Klux Klan held parades in the early 20th century and disseminated anti-Black, racist materials.
More on the racism and hate protests in Springfield, Ohio.
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