Trump's America Returns
On November 16, 2024, a group of masked neo-Nazis marched through Columbus, Ohio, carrying swastika flags and chanting racist slurs. The demonstration, which took place in the city's Short North area, involved about a dozen men dressed in black with red masks, some armed with firearms. They used megaphones to broadcast messages promoting white supremacy and denigrating Jews and people of color. Police were called after a member of the group allegedly used pepper spray on a passerby, but the group had dispersed before officers arrived, and no arrests were made. Community leaders, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, condemned the march, stating that hate and bigotry have no place in the state or city. This incident raises concerns about the resurgence of extremist groups and the potential normalization of hate speech in the current political climate, reflecting a troubling aspect of America's social landscape. (CNN).
The neo-Nazi march in Columbus reminds us of a number of incidents during Donald Trump’s first term, where extremist groups were emboldened and hate speech became more visible in public spaces. One of the most infamous examples was the 2017 Charlottesville rally, where white nationalists marched with torches, chanting "Jews will not replace us." The rally turned deadly when a counter-protester, Heather Heyer, was killed by a white supremacist who drove his car into a crowd. Trump’s response—saying there were “very fine people on both sides”—was widely criticized for failing to unequivocally condemn white supremacy (The Guardian).
Trump also repeatedly downplayed the threat posed by right-wing extremist groups. During the 2020 presidential debate, he infamously told the Proud Boys, a far-right militia group, to “stand back and stand by.” This statement was interpreted by many as tacit encouragement for their activities, and the group later referenced it in their communications (NYT).
Under Trump’s administration, the FBI and DHS reported an increase in hate crimes and domestic terrorism incidents tied to white supremacist groups. Critics argue that his rhetoric, including frequent attacks on immigrants, people of color, and religious minorities, contributed to a climate where hate groups felt emboldened.
Incidents like these highlight how Trump’s approach to addressing hate and extremism often failed to confront these issues head-on. Instead, his ambiguous rhetoric and focus on vilifying political opponents frequently allowed extremist ideologies to proliferate unchecked. The Columbus march serves as a chilling reminder of the societal divisions that intensified under his leadership and appear poised to continue in his upcoming term.