The summer is one of the most popular times to visit Walt Disney World Resort. Families don’t have to worry about taking their kids out of school, so they decide to head down to The Most Magical Place on Earth. Disney World has four incredible theme parks, two water parks, miniature golf courses, a bowling alley, and Disney Springs, an amazing place to shop and dine. It is the perfect place for guests to leave the everyday and “enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.”
Sadly, in June, as guests were driving through Disney World’s gates, some were greeted by something other than magic. They were greeted by hate. Standing right in front of Mickey Mouse were a group of neo-Nazis waving flags with swastikas on them and “DeSantis 2024” banners. The despicable group could be heard shouting phrases like “white power” and “go back to Mexico.”
Nazis outside of Walt Disney World right now — absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/WeXtRi3OSL
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, PhD 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) June 10, 2023
The protest was led by members of the white supremacist hate group the Order of the Black Sun. While many of them wore masks, authorities were able to identify the alleged leader of the hate-filled protest, and he has finally been arrested.
According to a new report from Florida Politics:
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced Jason Brown, 48, was arrested for violating a new Florida law forbidding the display of images on structures without permission…
Officials said Brown has claimed membership in the Order of the Black Sun, which the Anti-Defamation League identifies as a neo-Nazi group based primarily in Florida.
The demonstration in Orlando proved particularly newsworthy because protesters waved flags supporting DeSantis’ presidential ambitions alongside swastikas and imagery of the Third Reich. Images shared online also showed racial and homophobic slurs.
Ron DeSantis Called Out
For weeks after the neo-Nazis descended on Disney World, controversial Florida Governor Ron DeSantis remained quiet. When he finally did speak about the disgusting display, he did not attack the Nazis. Instead, he attacked the media, saying that they were creating a “farce.” He even went so far as to claim that the protestors weren’t actual Nazis, but people pretending to be Nazis to make him look bad.
After the arrest, Mark Glass — Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement — tried to praise DeSantis. He said that the arrest would not have been made had DeSantis not passed the new law about displaying images without permission. That’s interesting, considering that, back in April, DeSantis also signed a law that prosecutes hate crimes as a third-degree felony. The law considers “hate crimes” as harassing or intimidating someone based on their religious beliefs or ethnicity.
While the FDLE Commissioner may have tried to celebrate DeSantis, Nikki Fried — the chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party — was less kind.
“I’d like to thank the FDLE for arresting one of the neo-Nazis involved in Florida’s recent string of vile anti-semitic demonstrations. However, one arrest on a glorified vandalism charge doesn’t solve the core problem. Ron’s refusal to loudly and forcefully denounce the neo-Nazis that support him has created an environment where anti-semitism can flourish.
Ron can point to this arrest as proof of action — and I’m sure he will — but we all know it’s not enough. For what seems like the thousandth time, we call on Ron to do the bare minimum: vocally condemn neo-Nazism and all forms of hate speech.”
DeSantis’ Problematic History of Not Condemning Nazis
Unfortunately, this is not the only instance where Governor DeSantis has failed to condemn neo-Nazis and the hate they spread. Over Labor Day weekend, neo-Nazis returned to Disney World and had several other “rallies” around the Orlando area. They once again flew Nazi flags with swastikas and DeSantis 2024 banners. Some also said that they would vote for DeSantis over Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential primary election.
DeSantis has not commented on the most recent attack by the hate group. He has been accused of remaining silent because he wants their votes more than he wants to condemn hate speech. Shortly after the June incident, DeSantis was called the “Grand Wizard” of Florida during the Annual Tony Awards. The term “Grand Wizard” is used for the leader of the Ku Klux Klan.
DeSantis has frequently said that Florida is “where woke goes to die.” This has led to a large uptick in the amount of hate crimes and rallies by hate groups committed in the Sunshine State. DeSantis has been confronted about his actions by members of his own party, including presidential hopeful and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
