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Masked Demonstrations Reported at Statehouse and Gahanna Overpass
Read the full articleColumbus residents reported masked demonstrations on Oct. 10 at the Ohio Statehouse and an I-270 overpass in Gahanna. Law enforcement agencies have confirmed no permits or incident reports, and the groups involved remain unverified.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Patriot Front gathered at Statehouse
Supporting evidence (2)
One thread alleged that members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front gathered at Statehouse grounds along High Street.
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Patriot Front gathered at Statehouse
"Just drove by at 2pm and saw them posing for a photo, not sure if they have a march planned or what," one poster wrote, adding an uncorroborated estimate regarding group numbers.
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Just drove by at 2pm and saw them posing for a photo, not sure if they have a march planned or what.
Supporting evidence (1)
Another online submission posted Saturday afternoon similarly described Nazis outside the statehouse.
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Nazis outside the statehouse
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Later that day, a separate community post stated that individuals were displaying banners on the Tech Center overpass over 270 in Gahanna.
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Tech Center overpass over 270
Supporting evidence (5)
On Sept. 29, 2026, flyers claiming to be from the Ku Klux Klan were scattered overnight in parts of Clintonville and Worthington, left near residential properties and neighborhood schools.
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Flyers claiming to be from the Ku Klux Klan were scattered overnight in parts of Clintonville and Worthington, in neighborhoods and near schools
The Columbus Urban League sent a statement calling the flyers an attempt to intimidate residents and recruit supporters, noting such materials aim to spread fear throughout area neighborhoods.
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The Columbus Urban League sent a statement calling the flyers an attempt to intimidate residents and recruit supporters
The incident echoed previous regional provocations, including past episodes where masked men crashed a Pride event in Grove City carrying a swastika flag, and North Linden neighbors found racist and anti-Semitic messages on their lawns.
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Last year, masked men crashed a Pride event in Grove City carrying a swastika flag, and North Linden neighbors found racist and anti-Semitic messages on their lawns.
Following the late September flyer distribution, the NAACP Columbus branch urged residents to document incidents and report evidence directly to civil rights representatives and local authorities rather than initiating confrontations: "If you find these flyers, photograph them, do not engage, and report them to info@naacp614.org."
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If you find these flyers, photograph them, do not engage, and report them to info@naacp614.org.
The Southern Poverty Law Center similarly cautioned Central Ohio residents: "To the people of Columbus, be safe and avoid head-on confrontations with those prone to violence."
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To the people of Columbus, be safe and avoid head-on confrontations with those prone to violence.
Central Ohio Leaders and School Officials Condemn Overnight Distribution of Klan Flyers
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique reported on Sept. 30, 2026, that Central Ohio Leaders and School Officials Condemn Overnight Distribution of Klan Flyers after residents in both northern Columbus suburbs discovered the recruitment cards on streets and front lawns.
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Central Ohio Leaders and School Officials Condemn Overnight Distribution of Klan Flyers