A group marched without opposition at Wisconsin’s state capitol on Saturday, brandishing swastika flags, making Hitler salutes, and instilling fear in onlookers as per DailyMail report on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Approximately 20 members of the self-proclaimed ‘Blood Tribe’ gathered outside a former synagogue, chanting slogans like ‘Israel is not our friend’ and ‘there will be blood,’ while state police observed the situation.
Thousands gathered in town for the Badgers’ match against Nebraska, parading their banners from the University of Wisconsin campus to Capitol Square in the heart of Madison.
“My stomach dropped, I felt disgusted, I was outraged, it was horrible,” said Jewish student Jordyn Grover.
“I’ve never felt more disgusted in my life. Seeing all of these people that just genuinely want me dead.”
The demonstration occurred amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, leading to a rise in anti-Semitic events globally and an unusual surge in hateful actions in the United States during the summer.
In July, a group with flags protested at Disneyland in Florida, chanting ‘Go back to Mexico.’
Simultaneously, around a dozen groups targeted a synagogue in East Cobb, Georgia, waving swastikas and hurling anti-Semitic abuse. Now, they have chosen Wisconsin as their latest target.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers expressed strong condemnation for the presence of these hate groups in the streets and near the State Capitol, describing their messages as disturbing and hateful.
He emphasized that such ideologies have no place in Wisconsin, rejecting any acceptance or normalization of their rhetoric and hate
I strongly condemn their presence in our state, echoing the sentiment of Wisconsinites.
The organizers on Saturday distance themselves from white supremacists advocating for a more moderate image, as per the Anti-Defamation League.
The organization, led by Christopher Pohlhaus, a former US Marine turned tattoo artist with ties to the January 6 Capitol riots, opposes female and LGBT members.
This year, they protested drag shows in Wisconsin and Ohio, attended Pride events in Toledo and Watertown armed and chanting offensive slogans.
In Madison, they paused outside the country’s fourth-oldest synagogue, the Gates of Heaven, before realizing it’s no longer in use.
Rabbi Bonnie Margulis from Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice expressed that individuals in marginalized communities currently experience profound feelings of isolation and fear.
She highlighted the heightened anxiety within the American Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities, emphasizing a pervasive sense of insecurity.
These groups are increasingly focusing on power stations and disrupting critical infrastructure to destabilize society, according to a Dailymail investigation earlier this year.
The Anti-Defamation League suggests there are at least 50 loosely connected white supremacist groups disseminating a significant amount of racist propaganda, such as fliers, banners, graffiti, and laser projections.
Stephanie Fryer from the Madison Police Department mentioned that officers monitored the incident, emphasizing the group’s lawful demonstration and the protection of their First Amendment rights.
