Paul Nicholas Miller also hurled an antisemitic slur at Israeli-American Ben Azoulay as a swastika flag appeared in the stands, prompting condemnation from local officials. A neo-Nazi fighter gave two Nazi salutes and hurled an antisemitic slur at his Jewish opponent after defeating him at an MMA event in Orlando, Florida, in an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation. Paul Nicholas Miller, a neo-Nazi known online as “GypsyCrusader,” defeated fighter and social media personality Ben Azoulay, a Jewish dual Israeli-American citizen, by split decision at the Kia Center over the weekend. As the final bell sounded, Miller twice raised his arm in a Nazi salute. After he was declared the winner, he took the arena microphone and directed an antisemitic insult at Azoulay, calling him a “little, short fucking Jew schmuck.”
The scenes were not confined to the ring. Videos circulated online showed a spectator unfurling a swastika flag in the stands, with people sitting nearby joining in Nazi salutes. An arena employee confiscated the flag and the spectator was removed from the venue. Several fights also broke out among spectators during the evening. The bout was part of Duel Arena 1, an inaugural martial arts event combining MMA, boxing and kickboxing. Miller, whose chest bears a tattoo resembling the SS symbol, was sentenced in 2021 to 41 months in prison after being convicted of three federal firearms offenses.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, authorities found an illegally unregistered short-barreled rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at his home. Before his arrest, Miller had published hundreds of posts targeting minorities and expressed support for starting a racially motivated civil war. The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida called on the organizers to take responsibility for allowing an openly neo-Nazi figure to participate in the event. Orlando Venues, the city department that operates the Kia Center, condemned the scenes but said the First Amendment prevents it from rejecting an event booking on the basis of a particular viewpoint or ideology. The department said the swastika flag was removed as soon as staff became aware of it and that venue procedures would be reviewed. It did not explain how the flag was brought inside or whether Miller’s background had been examined before the event.
via ynetnews: Neo-Nazi fighter gives Nazi salute, insults Jewish opponent after beating him at Orlando MMA event
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