Neo-Nazis disrupt Pride celebration in Grove City, Ohio Photo: Grove City Police
The organizers of a Pride festival in Grove City, Ohio refused to let hate win when a group of gun-toting Neo-Nazis attempted to ruin the day.
The Pride in GC festival, hosted by the organization Pride in GC, included food trucks, live music, as well as pumpkin painting and bracelet making for kids.
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Around a dozen masked protestors carrying swastika flags interrupted the event. According to police, they were present for less than half an hour and legally carried guns. The protestors did not threaten violence and followed orders to remain on the sidewalk.
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“It hurts me to know there are people out there that have that much hate,” attendee Nathan Stover told WSYX. He also said the protestors were “yelling things very inappropriate for kids to hear.”
But the celebration continued, and in its aftermath, Mayor Ike Stage and the Grove City Council issued a joint statement in support of the LGBTQ+ community to “condemn the display of hate.”
“We are a diverse community and want our citizens to feel welcome and safe in Grove City,” the statement said. “We stand with those affected and reaffirm our commitment to fostering an environment where all individuals can express themselves without fear or harassment.”
In a separate statement, Pride in GC praised the fact that the event was “the biggest PrideFest yet” that included “all the resources you could ask for” along with a visit by three members of the Grove City Council.
“We also had a group that showed up trying to silence us, and send us back into the closet. They did not stop us. Our organization is centered around love, community, and acceptance. We won’t be stopped from doing just that,” Pride in GC said. “We would like to thank the community, our members, our volunteers, and our allies who stood up to the display of hate. We would like to thank Grove City City Council and the Mayor for their statement.”
The group also said it received a slew of donations from community members and ended its statement with an emphatic, “LOVE ALWAYS WINS!”
Festival attendee Stover echoed similar sentiments, declaring, “They can show up all they want, but it’s not going to change the energy. Love has a greater energy than hate does.”
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