Police respond to group carrying flags with swastikas in Short North, city condemns

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Columbus Police are responding to a group of people holding flags with swastikas walking through the Short North on Saturday afternoon.

Social media posts began circulating around 1 p.m., showing about a dozen people marching wearing all black and masks.

The City of Columbus released a statement condemning the actions.

“The Columbus community stands squarely against hatred and bigotry. We will not allow any of our neighbors to be intimidated, threatened or harmed because of who they are, how they worship or whom they love. We embrace tolerance and acceptance, and derive great strength from our diversity. It is who we are as a people, and it is precisely what has enabled us to grow and thrive and reach new heights of excellence. Together, we reject the cowardly display reported in the Short North earlier today, and we will continue to monitor the situation in partnership with the Columbus Division of Police to ensure the safety and security of our city.”

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein also released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, addressing the situation.

This story will be updated.