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Only two days after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a group dressed in red and black unfurled a Nazi flag on the steps of South Dakota's state capitol in Pierre.
The incident, documented in photos shared across X (formerly Twitter), appeared to show more than a dozen masked individuals standing on the Capitol steps Saturday.
In a press release, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety said the "unscheduled march" ended without incident after South Dakota Highway Patrol officers asked the group, which didn't have a permit, to leave.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem condemned the incident on X Saturday afternoon.
"We just celebrated the 80th commemoration of D-Day, when the take-back of Europe from Freedom-hating Nazis began. Today, Nazis attempted to rally at the SD Capitol without a permit and were escorted away by Highway Patrol officers," the governor wrote. "Nazis are not welcome here in South Dakota. We stand on the shoulders of generations of Americans who have fought for the Freedom of all — here and abroad. We stand for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We reject all hatred and Nazis. Full stop."
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The state's Jewish community applauded the work of the South Dakota Highway Patrol, saying they condemned the neo-Nazi display "in the strongest terms possible."
"South Dakota is a state that protects the rights of all its citizens, and where Jewish people are safe," Jewish community leaders wrote. "This group was organized and came from out-of-state, and in no way represents the good citizens of South Dakota, who overwhelmingly find this abhorrent, as represented and clearly demonstrated by the swift condemnation by our elected leaders."
Local and national organizations issued statements responding to the incident, including the South Dakota Democratic Party and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which wrote in a release "hate groups will never prevent diverse communities in South Dakota or anywhere in our nation from exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and speech."
South Dakota's State Auditor Rich Sattgast posted on Facebook over the weekend he encountered a similar group in Deadwood. The group wore shirts that said "Blood Tribe" on the back.
The Blood Tribe, according to the Anti-Defamation League, is a growing neo-Nazi group led by white supremacist Christopher Pohlhaus. The group believes Adolf Hitler is a deity and see themselves as the only path to a white ethnostate. Officially formed in 2021, the Blood Tribe identifies as "hardcore" and attempts to project hyper-masculinity by not allowing female members.
Pohlhaus, an ex-Marine-turned-tattoo-artist who goes by "The Hammer," according to the Anti-Defamation League, responded to Noem's post Saturday, mocking the governor's claims Blood Tribe members were escorted from the property.
"You didn't escort [expletive] you big silly," Pohlhaus wrote. "We occupied your steps for the entire time we intended to be there, then slowly swaggered-off to chant an entire lap around your house."
State officials have not confirmed if the Blood Tribe was responsible for both incidents over the weekend.
50 facts and figures about D-Day
50 facts and figures about D-Day
It was the largest amphibious assault in history
The ‘D’ in D-Day is redundant
Secrecy and deception were key
The practice run turned deadly
German defenses were the war’s biggest construction project
Forces landed on five code-named beaches
Omaha Beach was the hardest fought
A massive bombardment preceded the invasion
Thousands of paratroopers landed first
Canadian forces captured the most ground
D-Day involved nearly 7,000 Allied ships...
…and more than 11,500 Allied aircraft
There were 73,000 Americans at D-Day
Comanche ‘code-talkers’ joined the siege
The Allies faced 50,000 German defenders
The battle lasted until August
The exact number of fallen is unknown
Most Allied troops arrived after D-Day
The operation led to the liberation of Paris
A memorial cemetery sits on US soil in France
Families fought—and died—together
Around 14,000 corpses were returned home
The Allies lost more than 11% of their troops
German casualties exceeded 240,000
The action was far from consistent
The tide was a double-edged sword
The beach was a minefield
D-Day was the result of trial and error
The Germans almost guessed it right
It was supposed to happen a month earlier
Nature played a key role
Higgins boats whisked many troops to shore
D-Day films have become part of American popular culture
A D-Day movie star served on D-Day
Many other famous people served on D-Day
Gargantuan supply shipments preceded the invasion
17 million maps were needed
The landings opened a supply line
Artificial harbors supported the supply lines
The Army attacked with 6 divisions
500 gliders took to the air
A separate battle raged high above the beach
The mighty Atlantic Wall fell in a day
The day produced 12 Medals of Honor
Heavy packs encumbered troops
Boat ramps served as shields
One African American combat unit participated
That unit’s medic is an unsung hero
Germany surrendered less than one year later
50 facts and figures about D-Day
Darsha Dodge is the News Editor of the Rapid City Journal. Contact Darsha at ddodge@rapidcityjournal.com.
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