Florida neo-Nazis who projected a swastika on a downtown building say the hysteria over drag queens is helping them recruit people

• A neo-Nazi group in Florida told NPR that anti-drag hysteria is helping them recruit members.
• The group has projected anti-Semitic and hateful messages onto Florida buildings.
• Other white nationalist groups have been using uproar over LGBTQ issues to drum up support.

A group of Florida neo-Nazis who recently projected a swastika onto a downtown Jacksonville building say the national hysteria drummed up over drag queens is helping them recruit new members, according to NPR. 

The neo-Nazi group, National Socialist Florida, told NPR that conversations about recent legislation pushed by Republicans targeting drag shows have helped them recruit new members.

"What we have seen is certain types of activism definitely gets interest and recruitment up," Josh Nunes, the leader of the group, told NPR. "And that's where like the drag queen shit — like everybody wants to be a part of the team shutting that down."

Tennessee became the first state last week to pass a law restricting drag performances, and other states like Arkansas and Texas have proposed similar bills. 

National Socialist Florida first started projecting hateful and racist messages onto local buildings last year, with the message "Kanye is right about the Jews!" beamed onto a football stadium during a college game, according to NPR. 

Earlier this year, the group projected an image of a swastika and a cross onto the side of a downtown Jacksonville building. 

The image of the cross and swastika was shared on Jacksonville's subreddit in January; hundreds of users were furious.

"Fuck these racist fucks," one user wrote.

Another message the group projected onto the 37-story Wells Fargo Center building in Jacksonville read, "Why are child friendly drag shows legal? @ Ron DeSantis," NPR reported. 

The Proud Boys, another white nationalist group, has also been targeting LGBTQ+ issues with demonstrations against drag performers.