The far-right demonstrators seen waving Nazi flags outside Walt Disney World in Orlando last week have been identified as a neighborhood organization generally known as the Order of the Black Sun, based on experts who concentrate on hate groups.
Ben Popp, an investigative researcher for the Anti-Defamation League, told the Orlando Sentinel that the group, which is thought by its initials “OBS,” is “a small white supremacist network based within the state of Florida.”
“They formed earlier this 12 months, from individuals who’ve been involved in other whites supremacist groups and organizations within the state of Florida for the past couple of years,” Popp said.
“So these individuals are well-known to us.”
Popp told the Sentinel that OBS and other extremist organizations “work together within the state of Florida so as to make themselves appear larger than they’re to each intimidate communities, but additionally to normalize their anti-Semitism and normalize their other types of hate as well.”
“You recognize, they need these varieties of things to be a typical occurrence. So that individuals will kind of get used to this and grow to be desensitized.”
The Anti-Defamation League says that the individuals who waved Nazi flags outside Walt Disney World in Orlando on Friday are members of a bunch generally known as the Order of the Black Sun.Twitter/@AnnaForFlorida
“That’s really their whole goal is to desensitize communities to their hate,” Popp told the Sentinel.
Anna Eskamani, a state legislator who represents Orlando within the Florida House of Representatives, posted temporary clips on her Twitter account Saturday showing several individuals waving flags with the infamous swastika in addition to other fascist symbols and homophobic signs outside the famous theme park.
Eskamani’s images showed a banner touting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said around 15 people spent some two hours outside the theme park Saturday.via REUTERS
“It’s absolutely disgusting to see what has grow to be a typical presence of Nazis in Florida, and much more disturbing after they are holding signs and flags that signal support for people like Gov. DeSantis,” Eskamani said in a press release.
“All and sundry, no matter political ideology, should condemn this.”
The Post has sought comment from Disney and DeSantis.
Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of the late Roy Disney Sr., who co-founded The Walt Disney Company alongside his younger brother, Walt, reacted to the pictures by tweeting over the weekend that her grandfather was “spinning in his grave.”
About 15 people in total protested outside the theme park for about two hours, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office told USA Today, adding that no arrests were made.
Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Walt Disney Company co-founder Roy Disney Sr., said her grandfather was “spinning in his grave.”Monica Schipper
“We’re aware of those groups that aim to agitate and incite individuals with anti-Semitic symbols and slurs. Also they are aware of the law,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
“The Orange County Sheriff’s Office deplores hate speech in any form, but people have the First Amendment right to display.”
Disney has been at the middle of a political firestorm that has pitted the entertainment giant against the Florida governor, who recently announced his candidacy for the GOP nomination for president.
The demonstrators also hung a banner touting the presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.AP
The corporate has sued DeSantis after his administration stripped the Mouse House of semi-autonomous control over the specially created tax district that oversees zoning on the land where the theme parks were built.
Disney has alleged that DeSantis violated the corporate’s First Amendment rights to free expression after it got here out against the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” laws that bars sex and gender identity education for kids before the fourth grade.
Walt Disney World in Orlando is a significant destination for LGBTQ visitors during Pride Month.