About 10 members of the Blood Tribe, a neo-Nazi group, showed up at Athens Pridefest in Georgia last Saturday wearing matching red and black outfits, masks, and sunglasses while holding a swastika flag and delivering Nazi salutes. Their goal was clear: intimidate and divide. It didn't work.
Community Response Overpowered the Hate
The moment the group appeared, Pride attendees sprang into action. People booed the protesters, recorded their activities, and strategically walked around them with a large banner to block their hateful display from view. Attendees also confronted them verbally, shouting challenges to remove their masks and face the community openly. The Athens Pride and Queer Collective, which organized the event, issued a statement condemning the group: "Their appearance was intended to intimidate, divide, and spread fear, but it failed to overshadow the overwhelming spirit of joy, solidarity, and love that defined our community celebration." No violence occurred and police made no arrests.
Part of a Troubling Pattern
This wasn't an isolated incident. The Blood Tribe, founded by Marine Corps veteran Christopher Pohlhaus, has targeted LGBTQ+ events repeatedly. In late April, about 20 members protested a drag brunch in Columbus, Ohio, chanting white-supremacist slogans and Nazi salutes. Pohlhaus had also led a similar action against a drag queen story hour in Akron, Ohio, in March. Across the country, neo-Nazi and white-supremacist groups have become regular fixtures at anti-LGBTQ+ protests—from Texas to Florida to Idaho—contributing to a documented rise in hate incidents targeting the community in recent years.
Why This Matters
These groups don't just show up to protest; they also recruit at events, according to experts. The Western States Center and other anti-bigotry organizations have published guides helping Pride organizers protect events through coalition-building, law-enforcement coordination, and public messaging strategies. Federal warnings from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have flagged potential terrorist threats during Pride season. Athens Pridefest, which included a parade, kids' zone, drag performances, and vendor fair, demonstrated that with preparation and community solidarity, LGBTQ+ people can celebrate safely even when hate shows up at the door.
Source: LGBTQ Nation
Cover photo: Airam Dato-on / Pexels
