Roughly a dozen people waved flags with Nazi symbols on them Saturday outside the entrance to Disney World in Florida, according to police.
One person also waved a flag in support of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential hopeful, at the demonstration.
There was no indication that the DeSantis supporter had anything to do with the Nazi flag wavers.
The Washington Times contacted the DeSantis team about the demonstration but has yet to receive a response.
Nazis outside of Walt Disney World right now — absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/WeXtRi3OSL</ a>
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (@AnnaForFlorida) June 10, 2023
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office told USA Today that the demonstration ended after two hours. No arrests were made.
“We are aware of these groups that aim to agitate and incite people with anti-Semitic symbols and slurs. They are also aware of the law,” the sheriff’s office told the newspaper. “The Orange County Sheriff’s Office deplores hate speech in any form, but people have the First Amendment right to demonstrate.”
Some of the participants held red flags with swastikas on them while others displayed antisemitic posters or images, according to pictures and videos of the demonstration circulating on social media.
Some conservative politicians have been maligned by false affiliations with extremist political groups before.
In 2021, demonstrators dressed as White supremacists said they were Glenn Youngkin supporters during the final days of his winning gubernatorial campaign in Virginia. The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group, later claimed responsibility for the stunt.
Mr. DeSantis has sparred with Disney the past year after the family entertainment giant came out against a state law that barred discussion about sexual orientation to young schoolchildren. Mr. DeSantis responded by moving to strip Disney of its special administrative status that let it set tax rates and provide municipal services.
Disney will lose its special governing status next month.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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