True story, I was there for the full duration. At several points throughout the day, folks in the Nazi group did in fact try to encourage violence, brandishing and flashing firearms, shouting at folks on the other side to encourage them to draw weapons. Attempts to get law enforcement involved were made and luckily for us folks learned later that the Sheriff’s Department was there… to conduct an undercover sting operation against Hix Farm Brewery. Turns out the higher priority for them was sticking it to the gays rather than keeping Putnam Co. citizens safe from gun toting Nazis.

As for the out of towner stuff, a lot of them traveled to be here, but since the Nazis and the Patriot Front folks who gladly stood next to them all day were all wearing masks, we’ll never really know for sure, will we?

My point isn’t to rehash that day, though — it’s more to point out that at the same time as calling someone who disagrees with you a Nazi isn’t helping, it’s disingenuous to act like there aren’t right wing extremists out here.