A group of neo-Nazis received a police escort as they disrupted Detroit Pride month celebrations on Saturday.
Members of the National Socialist Movement, which the Southern Poverty Law Center calls one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the country, were given a police escort as they protested the pride event. The group was seen making Nazi salutes and openly carrying weapons.
“Fuck you, faggots,” one of the men was seen yelling into a bullhorn in a video posted to social media.
Members were also seen tearing up Pride rainbow flags and urinating on an Israeli flag.
Police say they were there to keep the peace:
Police officials told the Detroit News that officers were working to keep the Pride attendees and protesters apart but attendees said the Nazi group’s actions were only made possible by their police escort.
“Where was Detroit Police when armed Nazis were marching with their NAZI FLAG shouting Homophobic slurs, anti-black racism, and white nationalism you ask? Serving and Protecting THE NAZIS,” one activist wrote on Twitter.
“It’s 2019 and cops are escorting Nazis through a pride celebration. Disgusting,” another person tweeted.
DC Pride disrupted too:
The Washington DC Pride parade was also disrupted and sent seven people to the hospital when hundreds of people fled the scene where a man pulled a BB gun on another man for hitting his partner.
There were reports of a stampede and shots fired but DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said “no shots” were fired at the event.
Aftabjit Singh, 38, was arrested on weapons and disorderly conduct charges but the incident ended the festivities.
