Over the weekend, an unsettling confrontation occurred in downtown Concord, New Hampshire, as a neo-Nazi group disrupted a planned anti-Trump rally. The group, identified as Blood Tribe, bore Nazi symbols and engaged in a physical altercation with onlookers, prompting an investigation by Concord police. "All of a sudden around 1:30, we started hearing visceral screams coming from downtown," Aislinn Kalob, a local resident, told NBC10 Boston.
According to witnesses, more than a dozen masked individuals carrying signs, one of which confusingly read "Trump loves Epstein," marched onto the State House steps where New Hampshire 50501 protesters were preparing to start their "Rage Against the Regime" rally. Despite the marchers' apparent attempt to provoke, "It was a planned protest, we had permits," Jenn Coffey, an organizer with New Hampshire 50501, emphasized to NBC10 Boston.
The Blood Tribe, as they call themselves, has been classified as a neo-Nazi organization by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Their presence sparked outrage among Concord residents and government officials alike. "There is no place for hate groups or their repugnant and disgusting ideology in New Hampshire," Governor Kelly Ayotte said in a statement obtained by NBC10 Boston.
On the other side, while walking down Main Street with their faces covered, the group's violent confrontation left one man pepper-sprayed and physically assaulted—a moment captured in cell phone footage. Trying to make sense of the aggressive display, Concord Mayor Byron Champlin took to Facebook to express his disgust and commend the local police for their swift response. “I am disgusted by Neo-Nazis marching through our streets,” Champlin said. Blood Tribe, known for its extreme rhetoric and actions, notably aims to turn the United States into an all-white ethnostate, according to the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, as reported by WBUR.
The situation has drawn the attention of the New Hampshire Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Unit, along with an investigation into possible criminal activity by the Concord Police Department. Authorities noted that similar groups have previously appeared in Concord. Community members have responded publicly to the incident, emphasizing support for inclusivity and opposition to hate-based demonstrations.
