SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 23: An Ireland supporter who invaded the pitch to celebrate victory with the Ireland team is seen in handcuffs after the Third International Test match between the Australian Wallabies and Ireland at Allianz Stadium on June 23, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) The Ohio man who could be seen holding an anti-Semitic sign during an April protest against the state’s shelter-in-place order was indicted on federal weapons charges on June 15.
The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland reported that the man, identified as Matt Slatzer, 36, brought a .38-caliber firearm to a bar in Canton on Feb. 2, authorities said. When police arrived, Slatzer allegedly threatened to kill them.
It is unlawful for Slatzer to possess a firearm because he was convicted on domestic violence charges in 2010. Law enforcement plans to confiscate the rest of Slatzer’s firearms as well.
Additionally, Slatzer faces charges in Stark County for allegedly being inebriated during the Feb. 2 incident, according to WHBC.
Slatzer was identified in myriad media reports as the man holding a sign during the April rally in Columbus depicting a rat wearing a kippah and a Star of David with the words, “The Real Plague.” Additionally, the Cleveland Jewish News reported in May that Slatzer sought to target Jewish students at Kent State University on May 4, the anniversary of the 1970 Kent State University shooting in which three of the four students killed were Jews.
He was arrested in May on suspicion of disorderly conduct and posing risk of physical harm after allegedly entering a convenience store with a machete and wearing a shirt with a swastika on it.
Anti-Defamation League Regional Director James Pasch told the Plain Dealer, “[Slatzer] is someone who has promulgated hatred for years. We’re thankful to the FBI and law enforcement for removing him from our streets.”
The StopAnti-Semitism.org watchdog tweeted, “Let’s hope it helps keep this career criminal off the streets for good!”
Our previous Antisemite of the Week Matt Slazter, the new nazi from Canton Ohio, has been slapped with a Federal Federal Weapons charge.
Let's hope it helps keep this career criminal off the streets for good!
More here: https://t.co/nh0LgpNpoe https://t.co/wttnZcdt78
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) June 16, 2020
Slatzer’s arraignment is scheduled for June 18.
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