Neo-Nazi group spotted at St. Patrick’s Day parade remains active in Boston

Though many may even see Massachusetts as a beacon of inclusive beliefs, the state just isn’t resistant to the actions of hate teams. In truth, final 12 months Massachusetts was the fourth-most focused state within the nation by hateful propaganda, in line with The Anti-Defamation League. 

In March a neo-Nazi group often called the Nationalist Social Membership, or NSC-131, was noticed on the annual South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade. It seems that group, and maybe others, are nonetheless energetic in and round Boston. On Could 7, an NSC-131 gathering was noticed close to the Park Road MBTA station, in line with Waltham Night time’s Watch, a corporation that paperwork hate teams, hate crimes, and far-right exercise in Boston, Waltham, and different close by areas. 

The neo-Nazi group has been organizing at the least two public actions a month this 12 months, and its membership abruptly spiked final fall, a consultant of Night time’s Watch mentioned. This could possibly be the rationale the group is taking daring motion and showing in public incessantly, they added. 

“What makes Massachusetts totally different is that folks listed below are very reluctant to consider that hate teams can exist right here. We now have an extended historical past of confronting bigotry elsewhere and denying it at residence,” the Night time’s Watch consultant mentioned. 

Boston police weren’t concerned in any current incidents with hate teams, a BPD consultant mentioned Tuesday. Usually, the group’s public showings are protected by first modification rights, except an altercation happens or another legislation is damaged, the BPD consultant added. 

NSC-131 is much from the one hate group energetic in Massachusetts. In 2021, The Southern Poverty Regulation Middle tracked 14 hate teams working within the state. They signify neo-Nazi, anti-LGBTQ, anti-Muslim, and white nationalist beliefs, in line with SPLC. 

Anti-Semitic incidents elevated by 42 p.c in the New England Area in 2021, in line with ADL. This contains 155 incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism reported to ADL. Nationally, ADL reported that america noticed a 34 p.c improve in such incidents final 12 months. 

Members of NSC-131 are keen on “flash demonstrations,” in line with ADL. They’ve demonstrated in entrance of the Holocaust memorial in Boston, outdoors a faculty board assembly in New Hampshire, outdoors a progressive bookstore in Massachusetts, and staged an anti-LGBTQ protest outdoors the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in New Hampshire, in line with ADL. 

In January, a bunch of neo-Nazis focused two docs at Brigham and Ladies’s Hospital, in line with a press release from The Boston Human Rights Fee. The docs had been referred to as “anti-white” for creating packages to handle racial fairness in drugs. In February a bunch of individuals concealing their faces held up a white banner with the phrases: “WHITE PATIENCE HAS LIMITS” on a bridge over Storrow Drive. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has additionally confronted open threats of violence and hate speech as a result of her vaccine mandate within the metropolis, in line with the Fee.

Members of the neo-Nazi group explicitly determine with the unique Nazis, and belive that there’s a Jewish-led conspiracy to “substitute” white individuals in America, the consultant from Night time’s Watch mentioned. Their objective is to construct an underground community of individuals prepared to mount a “ruthless resistance” towards perceived enemies, in line with ADL. Along with public demonstrations, NSC-131 members distribute propaganda and host personal gatherings centered on firearms or health coaching, ADL reported.  

Earlier this 12 months, a bunch of about 20 NSC-131 members attended the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, waving a banner that learn “hold Boston Irish.” The organizers of the parade instructed The Boston Globe that the group was “neither invited, nor welcome at our parade.”

Native Celtic-punk band The Dropkick Murphys additionally received concerned when one among their songs was utilized by the neo-Nazi group in a video. After a back-and-forth on Twitter, the band despatched NSC-131 a stop and desist letter for copyright violations.

Whereas bigger organizations like ADL and SPLC have the instruments to assemble detailed knowledge on these hate teams, grassroots organizations like Night time’s Watch are additionally turning into extra energetic. 

“It’s necessary to doc this stuff so individuals can’t deny them. It’s necessary for individuals in Massachusetts, significantly the Boston suburbs, to acknowledge this stuff occur right here and take steps to guard our communities,” the Night time’s Watch consultant mentioned. “People who find themselves susceptible to hate crimes should know if there are hate teams energetic close by. With regard to NSC, we hope that extra individuals will study to acknowledge and report their location after they do a public motion, enabling flash counter-protests.”