HARRISBURG, Pa. — Several concerned Harrisburg residents gathered on State Capitol steps Sunday for an anti-hate rally in response to Saturday’s neo-Nazi presence in the city.
It’s currently unknown why the group was there. but city officials confirmed an investigation has been launched.
Sunday’s peaceful demonstration was meant to condemn the actions of the organized hate group.
“This a direct response, okay, to what happened yesterday in terms of a Nazi march that came through my city,” said resident Keith Bentz.
Witnesses believe it was the neo-Nazi Maine-based group, Blood Tribe.
They reportedly arrived in a U-Haul and started their march through Soldiers Grove, eventually making their way through the Capitol and onto State Street.
Joshua Selvey, who helped organize Sunday’s demonstration, says the group carried swastikas and chanted racial hate speech.
“It was what you would call a ‘guerilla tactic,’ so that they can get media coverage and exactly what they wanted to happen is what actually happened,” Selvey said.
“That’s one of their favorite tactics, they’ll load a bunch of people into a U-Haul, drive, and show up like a flash mob,” Bentz added.
Selvey believes the group wanted to generate a negative response from people, like an act of physical violence, and failed to do so.
“I believe in the right of free speech, but I also believe that free speech is not consequence free,” Selvey said.
On Facebook, the City of Harrisburg condemned the group’s actions and announced an investigation with information expected to be released as it becomes available.
Some residents say that’s not enough.
“They definitely had an hour rally at the top of the steps, supported by the state and by the police because evidently the police were making sure that their U-Haul was okay when they had to leave,” Bentz said.
Bentz and others are asking for city and state leaders to publicly condemn Saturday’s rally.
Meanwhile, groups like the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg are working with law enforcement to enhance security in certain areas.
As of this article’s publication the federation has received no credible threats.
Residents don’t believe the rally was politically motivated, though that hasn’t been confirmed.