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Orlando Nazi rally featured shocking slogans like 'Jews rape children' and 'drink their blood'

Nazi supporters were spotted in Florida giving salutes and raising the Nazi flag as the Internet slammed Governor Ron DeSantis for his silence over the rally

"This is not a drill, folks. It’s happening here." That's how one Twitter user described the situation in Orlando, Florida on January 29, 2022. The internet was left shocked after multiple photos and videos emerged from the city, showing Nazis raising the flag, giving the salute, and chanting worrying slogans out in public, on one occasion even with police protection. It has now led to widespread condemnation of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has so far maintained silence over the rally.

Over the past several years, there has been a stunning rise in Nazism and White supremacy, especially after Donald Trump famously refused to slam those involved in the 2016 Charlottesville rally. In August 2021, Paul Marcum of Michigan was caught flashing a Nazi salute and yelling "Heil Hitler" during a school meeting. Then in October, one Utah TikToker caught a group protesting vaccine mandates with a Nazi flag. 

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However, those incidents have often been just a small group or just one person. That was not the case in Orlando though, where social media users spotted a large number of Nazis in several areas of the city, dressed up and even assaulting some motorists.

Nazi rally takes over Orlando

Users first spotted the group on a busy intersection within the Alafaya/Waterford Lakes area of metro Orlando, near the University of Central Florida. According to StopAntisemitism.org, the rally was organized by the National Socialist Movement and live-streamed on their website. Rally participants were caught chanting "The Jew is the devil" and "Jews rape children and drink their blood," and even "Heil Hitler."

One user also recorded footage of the Nazis beating up one driver. It's unclear why the driver was assaulted, but the Twitter user said, "My son just witnessed nazis in Orlando. He said there were dozens hanging on the corner. The guy getting assaulted got out of his car and pushed one of them." Other users reported that the group also chanted anti-Black slogans, and even made monkey noises at a Black woman who passed them. 

Some users also spotted the Nazis on a bridge across the motorway on January 30. It's unclear if they are the same people as those at the Alafaya/Waterford Lakes intersection, but they do appear to be part of the same group. Spotted with a large sign that says "Vax the Jews", the group gave salutes to all drivers as they passed. Shockingly, one user spotted police on the bridge with the Nazis but took no action.

"“11 cop cars & 2 choppers” keeping NSM Nazis safe on the highway bridge for their hate banner drop in Orlando right now Pic of Nazi giving all the cops a thumbs up," the person tweeted.

A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff's Office told Newsweek that there were around 20 people demonstrating, but defended its lack of action saying, " The Orange County Sheriff's Office deplores hate speech in any form, but people have the First Amendment right to demonstrate." Perhaps unsurprisingly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has not chosen to weigh in on the rallies, maintaining silence even as the videos and photos continue to blow up online.

'It’s disgusting and we don’t want it'

"Nazi speech is NOT free speech, it is hate speech. It’s disgusting and we don’t want it in Orlando or anywhere. We need to be louder than these fascist a-holes. Why would anyone want to be part of this?? DeSantis has yet to put out any statement. Doesn’t want to upset his voters," one person condemned. Another slammed, "As the grandchild of survivors seeing the videos of multiple Nazi events in Orlando made me physically sick. The radio silence by officials there makes it worse. Little Marco found time to tweet about football and to support Rogan but crickets on this." Another user tweeted, "Near Orlando, Florida. So upsetting. My Dad flew 51 missions bombing Nazi targets & my uncle is buried under a white cross. wtf is wrong with these people?"

"In case you didn’t hear, there’s a Nazi rally in Orlando today. The rise of authoritarianism, book bans, armed insurrectionists, demagogues, disinformation. America in 2022 has a lot more in common with 1930s Germany than many are willing to admit," one person said. Another tweeted, "This is @GovRonDeSantis Free State of Florida. Where in Orlando, Nazi’s don’t have to hide anymore and are on our street corners starting fights & spewing hate." A Florida Senate candidate tweeted, "What is happening in Florida right now is extremely scary. We have a Governor and a GOP led Legislature that refuses to condemn Nazi organizers in Orlando. Condemning anti-Semitism should transcend politics, but unfortunately, they remain silent."