About 15 folks with flags displaying Nazi insignia gathered outdoors Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, in accordance with the Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace, as others displayed messaging in help of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned deputies responded to the demonstration, which dissipated after about two hours with no arrests. Two counter-protesters additionally confirmed up, the workplace mentioned.
“We’re conscious of those teams that goal to agitate and incite folks with anti-Semitic symbols and slurs. They’re additionally conscious of the regulation,” the workplace mentioned in a press release. “The Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace deplores hate speech in any type, however folks have the First Modification proper to exhibit.”
Representatives for DeSantis and Disney didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
‘We do not need this occurring’
A number of folks waved purple and black flags with swastikas, and no less than one particular person held a poster of DeSantis, in accordance with images and movies circulating on social media and obtained by USA TODAY.
Lisa Gause, 60, informed USA TODAY she and her son have been stopped at a purple gentle when she noticed the small group and took a photo of the scene, which exhibits a “DeSantis 2024 Make America Florida” flag planted within the floor.
“Good lord, what is that this world coming to? What’s Florida — what’s America coming to?” mentioned Gause, a sixth-generation Floridian. “We do not need this occurring.”
Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, of Orlando, additionally shared a number of images of the scene.
“It is completely disgusting to see what has grow to be a standard presence of Nazis in Florida, and much more disturbing when they’re holding indicators and flags that sign help for folks like Governor DeSantis,” Eskamani mentioned. “Each particular person, no matter political ideology, ought to condemn this. Florida is a state constructed on range and we are going to all the time stand in opposition to bigotry and hate.”
The Fight Antisemitism Motion, a non-partisan worldwide group, issued a statement on the incident and famous a “related prevalence” occurred on the similar location final Could.
A timeline:Graphics illustrate the length, bitterness of Disney-DeSantis dispute
Disney vs. DeSantis
The incident comes as DeSantis, who’s working for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has been embroiled in a feud with Disney for greater than a yr.
Early final yr, Disney’s former CEO criticized a Florida law that bars classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender id — Florida’s Parental Rights in Schooling Act, dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
DeSantis responded to the criticism by signing legislation that stripped Disney of the appropriate to manipulate the land that features Disney World and overhauled the property’s governing board. Disney then handed measures to deprive the brand new board of its energy for many years.
In April, DeSantis introduced new laws to say management over Disney and urged that a prison could be built nearby. Days later, Disney sued DeSantis and different authorities officers, accusing them of retaliating in opposition to the corporate for partaking in exercising its constitutional rights.
Final month, Disney executives canceled construction of a nearly $1 billion office complex in Orlando.
DeSantis announced his presidential bid days later via a reside Twitter occasion with SpaceX Founder Elon Musk. The net occasion was plagued by technical difficulties.
Disney vs. Florida’s Ron DeSantis:Who’s winning feud as Disney cancels campus?
