America’s drag sweetheart and RuPaul’s Miss Congeniality Nina West posted a video to Instagram this weekend calling out Nazis for crashing a drag brunch fundraiser in Columbus Ohio hosted by her drag mother Virginia West and friend Anisa Love. The event held at the Land-Grant Brewery and Tap Room was to benefit Kaleidoscope Youth Center, the largest and longest serving LGBTQIA+ organization serving youth in not just Columbus but all of Ohio.

Outside the event, holding a black and red banner that proclaimed “There Will Be Blood” the protestors carried swastika flags and were dressed, covered head to toe in black and red with masks to hide their faces. They chanted at the crowd and held their hands in a Nazi salute throughout the event.

In her post on Instagram Nina West went on to say about Virginia and Anisa’s fundraising event “they were not deterred. They did not stop. Nor did the people in attendance.” West went on to say that she was rattled by the footage but she was not shocked to see the protest, “Seeing my drag mama perform while those people raise the Nazi salute is yet another awakening.”

“Be brave. Stand up. Claim our space. claim our rights. We will not be silenced. We will not be erased.” —Nina West

What the Nazi protestors did accomplish with their showing was a response from city officials. Mayor Andrew Ginther said that the “vile and offensive out-of-state hate group” does not represent the community and in a written statement he added “While their ‘speech’ is protected by the Constitution, they do not have the right to threaten, intimidate or harm others. Thanks to Columbus Division of Police who ensured the show was uninterrupted and everyone stayed safe. Thanks to the performers, including Virginia West, for their courage and commitment to love and acceptance over divisiveness and hate.”

In a tweet, City Council President Shannon Hardin said that he would be donating to Kaleidoscope Youth Center to show that the community does stand with them adding “LGBTQ+ kids & families shouldn't have to deal with obscene hate from literal nazis. While @ColumbusCouncil has an existing budget earmark for @KYCOhio, I'm donating today to support the great work they do & show that our community stands with KYC and the community they serve.”

West added in her social media post, “My drag mother has long been a hero of mine, and many in our Columbus community and queer community at large. And we all have got to be like her. Be brave. Stand up. Claim our space. claim our rights. We will not be silenced. We will not be erased.”

You can support Kaleidoscope Youth Center by donating at kycohio.org and you can see Nina West live in the Hairspray The Musical national tour all across the country. Q

For the original post on Instagram click here