Neo-Nazis in Columbus: History Repeated, Hate Exposed

On Saturday, November 16, I was having lunch with a friend at Bakersfield Tacos & Tequila in the Short North when I witnessed a scene that felt ripped from history’s darkest chapters. A group of neo-Nazis marched down North High Street, their faces masked, carrying swastika flags, and shouting hateful rhetoric. Shocked by the audacity of such a display of hatred, I instinctively began recording.

The video I shared sparked immediate controversy. Some accused me of fabricating the footage with AI or reposting old content to sow division. Others mocked me outright. The hate displayed online has been vile, but it pales compared to the hatred that fueled this march and the broader history of Nazi ideology.

The Origins of Nazi Ideology

The roots of neo-Nazism trace back to the rise of Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) in the 1920s. Hitler’s ideology was built on a foundation of antisemitism, racism, and ultranationalism, targeting Jewish people, Romani people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others as scapegoats for Germany’s economic and political struggles after World War I. Under Hitler’s regime, this ideology led to the Holocaust, where six million Jews and millions of other minorities were systematically murdered.

Though Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945, the ideology did not disappear. Instead, it evolved. In the post-war era, neo-Nazis sought to revive and adapt these ideas, often under the guise of “white nationalism.” Their movements are characterized by efforts to normalize hatred, using propaganda, misinformation, and public demonstrations to assert their presence.

Neo-Nazism Today

Today’s neo-Nazi groups, like the one that marched in Columbus, represent a resurgence of hate that is alarmingly organized. These groups exploit social media to spread their ideology and recruit disaffected individuals, creating networks that extend across states and even countries. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups have grown significantly in recent years, partly fueled by increasing political polarization and disinformation​.

Ohio, in particular, has been a hotspot for extremist activity. These groups use public displays like the one in the Short North to provoke fear, gain visibility, and attempt to normalize their presence in mainstream discourse.

The Legality of Hate Speech

In the United States, hateful speech like what these neo-Nazis displayed is often considered protected under the First Amendment. But let me be clear: I believe this interpretation is flawed, especially in cases like this. These public demonstrations aren’t just about “free expression”; they’re designed to intimidate, incite fear, and normalize ideologies rooted in violence. Swastikas and Nazi rhetoric aren’t just symbols—they are weapons that evoke terror and embolden those with violent intentions.

The Supreme Court has ruled that speech loses its protection when it incites imminent lawless action or poses a clear and present danger. In my view, this kind of open display of Nazi ideology crosses that line. When a group of masked individuals marches through a diverse neighborhood like the Short North, shouting hateful rhetoric and brandishing symbols of genocide, they’re not expressing an opinion—they’re fostering an environment of terror and encouraging violence against marginalized groups.

This isn’t what free speech was meant to protect. The First Amendment is supposed to safeguard expression that promotes dialogue, not embolden movements that seek to harm and silence others. We need to ask ourselves whether tolerating these acts under the guise of free speech undermines the very freedoms it’s meant to protect. At what point do we say, “This isn’t freedom; it’s fear?”

As a society, we can’t afford to ignore this. These ideologies don’t just stay on the streets—they permeate communities, embolden hatred, and lead to real harm. It’s time to reconsider how we interpret the boundaries of free speech when it’s being exploited to spread terror. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to ensure that our laws protect freedom without giving hate a platform.

There’s a critical difference between what is legally allowed and what is socially acceptable. Public condemnation, education, and solidarity are essential tools to push back against the normalization of these ideologies.

A Community Response

Columbus has always been a city of resilience and inclusion, and the Short North is a beacon of that spirit. To see neo-Nazis march through its streets was jarring, but it’s also a reminder that hate doesn’t disappear on its own—it must be actively opposed. City leaders, including Mayor Andrew Ginther, have condemned the march, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has called for rejecting all forms of bigotry​.

As someone who witnessed this firsthand, I believe our response must go beyond outrage. We must educate ourselves about the history and tactics of these groups, advocate for policies that counteract hate, and show unwavering solidarity with those targeted by their ideology.

The hate I’ve seen online since posting my video has only reinforced the need for collective action. This isn’t just about one event in Columbus—it’s part of a broader movement we must confront.

Let’s ensure that the legacy of United States of America remains one of inclusivity, not a stage for hate. We have the power to stand together, speak out, and ensure that neo-Nazi ideologies find no home here or anywhere else. Together, we can prevent history’s darkest moments from repeating themselves.