Intermittent light rain followed about 40 counter-protestors throughout the morning of June 2 at the Statehouse as they waited for a planned neo-Nazi rally that never materialized. The activists, some black clad members and supporters of Anti-Racist Action and some supporters of the International Socialist Organization, were on hand to stop an attempt by various racist groups to disrupt the dedication of the new Holocaust memorial at the Ohio Statehouse.

The neo-Nazi groups had planned to bring supporters and protest the event, claiming the Holocaust never actually happened. A group headquartered in Illinois called the Creativity Movement planned on uniting several groups for the effort. It was confirmed that they did in fact make the journey, and some of their more local members were seen together with their members from out-of-state at several nearby parking lots.

The National Socialist Movement, which bills itself as “America's Nazi Party” also was on hand in their best 1920s stormtrooper chic. They remained cowering in a parking lot blocks away as well.

The neo-Nazis did not seem well-coordinated as the various groups in various parking lots made not visible attempt to link up and march on the Holocaust memorial. It is not known if all the participating racist groups were invited to the planned meet up afterward to decide on strategy for the movement in the future.

The black clad counter-protestors, who had organized on short notice, awaited the neo-Nazis at the entrance to the event, where they expected the Nazis to attempt to confront a group of World War II veterans who were to be honored at the event. Jason Dominguez, Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Veteran's Services came out to thank the counter-protestors for showing up and asked them to try to prevent any Nazis from confronting the World War II two veterans, who had personally participated in liberating death camps some 71 years ago.

One group of four neo-Nazis were observed within a block of the event, apparently scouting for a way in. They placed themselves as close to mounted police officers as possible while defiantly staring at the counter-protestors, while at the same time attempting to appear inconspicuous. It is not clear how they intended to blend in while being the only people wearing bomber jackets on a warm but wet early summer day. They left hurriedly when the press attempted to photograph them.

Later, a carload of neo-Nazis pulled up, flung a fistful of business cards in the general direction of the Statehouse and then sped away. The police made no visible attempt to cite them for littering.

The business cards sported the name and candidate information of Holocaust denier and write-in candidate for the United States Senate Robert Ransdell. Ransdell is the Cincinnati unit coördinator for the neo-Nazi national alliance. The business cards carried the addresses of several neo-Nazi websites and a promise to “noose” blacks. The Free Press has elected to not publish the contact information on the cards, nor the additional racist and anti-Semitic statements.

The group Anti-Racist Action, which opposed the neo-Nazis, made vague statements about an upcoming campaign but would not elaborate to the press. When it was clear that the disorganized neo-Nazi rally had fizzled, the counter-protestors left, thanking those veterans that were close at hand for their service.

It is not clear at this time what future organizing plans the neo-Nazi groups have, nor is it clear how organized those organizing plans will turn out to be. Anti-Racist Action activists leaked that this attempt was the first of a new campaign by neo-Nazi groups who hope to revitalize their movement in the Midwest.