During a Bernie Sanders rally a man unfurled a flag with a swastika on it, prompting outrage from the crowd and the campaign.
The Vermont senator was speaking in Phoenix Thursday night when a man standing in the upper section of a crowded arena behind Sanders pulled out the flag. The audience booed loudly at the sight of the fascist symbol.
Sanders, who is Jewish, responded to the incident over Twitter on Friday.
As someone whose family was wiped out by Hitler and as an American, to have in this country somebody bringing forth the most detestable symbol in modern history is unspeakable. pic.twitter.com/0TySmmxhgh
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 6, 2020
“As someone whose family was wiped out by Hitler, and as an American, to have in this country somebody bringing forth the most detestable symbol in modern history is unspeakable,” he said.
A national surrogate for Sanders, Brianna Westbrook, told the Washington Post she was shocked by the blatantly anti-Semitic display.
“It was absolutely wild,” Westbrook said. “I never thought I would have seen a swastika at a political event. It’s gross.”
The flag was swiftly taken away from the man and he was escorted out of the rally. After the man was removed, Sanders, who didn’t appear to see the see the flag, remarked that “whoever it was, I think they’re a little outnumbered tonight.”
Steven Slugocki, chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party in Arizona, tweeted his disgust after the incident.
“We can argue about which candidate should get the Dem nomination, but antisemitic acts have no place in this world. This is absolutely abhorrent,” Slugocki said.
We can argue about which candidate should get the Dem nomination, but antisemitic acts have no place in this world. This is absolutely abhorrent. pic.twitter.com/U5gvT7Db6y
— Steven Slugocki (@Slugocki) March 6, 2020
The incident comes amid concerns for candidates’ safety and the lack of Secret Service protection for Sanders and fellow Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. During Biden’s speech after Super Tuesday, two anti-dairy protesters stormed the stage.
Biden also condemned the incident on Friday over Twitter.
“I don’t care who you’re supporting, attacks like this against a man who could be the first Jewish President are disgusting and beyond the pale,” the former vice president said. “Hatred and bigotry have no place in America — and it’s up to all of us to root out these evils wherever they’re found.”
Secret Service said it has not yet received any requests from Democrats running for president for protection.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Sanders campaign for further comment but did not immediately receive a response.
