About 15 people with flags displaying Nazi insignia gathered outside Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, as others displayed messaging in support of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the demonstration, which dissipated after about two hours with no arrests. Two counter-protesters also showed up, the office said.
“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 office said in a statement. “The Orange County Sheriff’s Office deplores hate speech in any form, but people have the First Amendment right to demonstrate.”
Representatives for DeSantis and Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
‘We don’t want this going on’
Multiple people waved red and black flags with swastikas, and at least one person held a poster of DeSantis, according to photos and videos circulating on social media and obtained by USA TODAY.
Lisa Gause, 60, told USA TODAY she and her son were stopped at a red light when she saw the small group and took a photo of the scene, which shows a “DeSantis 2024 Make America Florida” flag planted in the ground.
“Good lord, what is this world coming to? What is Florida — what is America coming to?” said Gause, a sixth-generation Floridian. “We don’t want this going on.”
Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, of Orlando, also shared a number of images of the scene.
“It’s absolutely disgusting to see what has become a common presence of Nazis in Florida, and even more disturbing when they are holding signs and flags that signal support for people like Governor DeSantis,” Eskamani said. “Every person, regardless of political ideology, should condemn this. Florida is a state built on diversity and we will always stand against bigotry and hate.”
The Combat Antisemitism Movement, a non-partisan international organization, issued a statement on the incident and noted a “similar occurrence” happened at the same location last May.
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Disney vs. DeSantis
The incident comes as DeSantis, who is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has been embroiled in a feud with Disney for more than a year.
Early last year, Disney’s former CEO criticized a Florida law that bars classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity — Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
DeSantis responded to the criticism by signing legislation that stripped Disney of the right to govern the land that includes Disney World and overhauled the property’s governing board. Disney then passed measures to deprive the new board of its power for decades.
In April, DeSantis announced new legislation to assert control over Disney and suggested that a prison could be built nearby. Days later, Disney sued DeSantis and other government officials, accusing them of retaliating against the company for engaging in exercising its constitutional rights.
Last month, Disney executives canceled construction of a nearly $1 billion office complex in Orlando.
DeSantis announced his presidential bid days later through a live Twitter event with SpaceX Founder Elon Musk. The online event was plagued by technical difficulties.
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