On Saturday later afternoon, word traveled quickly that a group of masked men who identified themselves as NSC 131 appeared outside Greenwich town hall before moving down Field Point Rd to the intersection of Railroad Ave.
They chanted and held up banners that said, New England Is Ours – The rest must go,” and “Anti-whites FAFO.”
FAFO is short for “eff around and find out.” The ADL calls FAFO an extremist term often used by the Proud Boys to suggest they are always prepared for a fight.
Drivers slowed down to photograph and record the men chanting, “Whose streets? Our Streets, the rest must go” and the images circulated in local Facebook groups Saturday night where residents expressed outraged.
In a large member-only Greenwich Facebook community, a commenter noted, “Love how they cover their faces but are proud to be doing what they are doing. Does that make any sense?”
Another commenter said, “If you have to hide your face to express your agenda, it probably means that even your own loved ones would be ashamed to know that you coordinated outfits with 15 other guys to stand on a corner and yell about absolutely nothing of significance for an hour.“
On Telegram the group, NSC-131, said their visit was in response to the assault on a teenager girl at Byram beach a few weeks ago.
Their post said, “NSC 131 lads in Greenwich, Connecticut in response to an Anti-White gang assault on an adolescent White woman that occurred there. We would remind the legislators of Connecticut and District Attorney Paul J. Ferencek that the best remedy for NSC 131 is proper punishment for minorities that ruthlessly attack our people. Hate crime charges or we’ll be back. @NSC131official.”
According to the ADL, NSC-131 is a New England based neo-Nazi group whose members consider themselves soldiers at war with a hostile, Jewish-controlled system that is deliberately plotting the extinction of the white race.
“NSC-131 seeks to form an underground network of white men who are willing to fight against their perceived enemies through localized direct actions,” the ADL website says. “Members espouse racism, antisemitism and intolerance via the Internet, propaganda distributions and the use of graffiti. The group participates in localized flash demonstrations, counter-protests, and makes appearances at mainstream events.”
As for the assault in Byram Park, arrests were made. However, Greenwich Police do not release names of suspects under 18.
On Sunday, Deputy Chief responded in an email that was not necessary for the group to get a permit to stand on a sidewalk and exercise their First Amendment right.
Greenwich First Selectman Camillo posted on Facebook that the group had come from out of state and that police were aware the group planned the visit and monitored their protest, which lasted about 80 minutes. He said they left without incident.
“Whatever this group’s misguided intent or its reason for being here, none of the participants committed a crime,” Camillo said. “The right to free speech must be respected, no matter how unsavory that speech, balanced with the rights of Greenwich residents and our commitment to public safety.”
Camillo recently announced he was forming an antisemitic and anti hate task force, following antisemitic incidents reported in Greenwich Public Schools.
Earlier this month police said they had identified a juvenile responsible for one of the incidents, carvings outside Old Greenwich School. Their announcement noted the Department investigates crimes, especially those related to hate and bias, to the fullest extent.
The good news? On Friday the YWCA Greenwich held its annual Stand against Racism, with its message of Hope. It was the organization’s 17th and most well attended to date.
See also:
Large Group Gathered in Byram Park Where Assault of Teen Girl Was Videotaped April 10
Arrests Made by Greenwich Police Following Fight in Byram Park April 11