ADL, Paul Weiss and Taft file suit for compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of the City, elected officials and multiple residents targeted by the white supremacist group and its associates.
New York, NY, February 6, 2025 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), Paul Weiss and Taft today filed a civil lawsuit against the neo-Nazi extremist group Blood Tribe, its leaders, and additional unnamed individuals, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the campaign of harassment and intimidation they unleashed against the people and city of Springfield, Ohio, beginning in July 2024.
The filing in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio alleges that Blood Tribe, fueled by ethnic and racial hatred, engaged in a months-long campaign of harassment and intimidation against the City of Springfield and its officials and residents who rebuffed the group’s persistent racist attacks against the local community.
The City of Springfield, Ohio is a diverse community, and City officials remain committed to ensuring that all residents feel safe and supported. According to the lawsuit, in July 2024, members of Blood Tribe coordinated a hate fueled response to what they described as an “invasion” by Haitian immigrants and a threat to “the good White residents” of that city.
The defendants kicked off a months-long intimidation campaign by first openly marching downtown with Blood Tribe members waving swastika flags, brandishing weapons at residents, and yelling racial slurs. After that, the city received at least 33 bomb threats targeting locations across the city, including elementary schools, hospitals, private residences, and government buildings. Blood Tribe then proceeded to target specific Springfield residents.
“The City of Springfield will not stand idly by while hate groups like Blood Tribe attempt to terrorize our residents and violate their civil rights. This lawsuit sends a clear message that hate, intimidation, and violence, have no place in our community,” said City of Springfield Mayor, Rob Rue.
“It is unacceptable that outside extremists targeted and descended upon this city, sowing fear and attempting to halt the business and lives of an entire community,” said Steven Sheinberg, ADL Chief Legal Officer. “Their threats and harassment are not just morally abhorrent, but also a clear interference with community members’ civil rights and the City of Springfield’s necessary work on behalf of its residents. We filed this lawsuit today to hold them accountable for the harm they have caused to this community.”
According to the ADL Center on Extremism, Blood Tribe is a neo-Nazi group that claims to have seven regional chapters in the United States and two in Canada, presents itself as a hardcore white supremacist group and rejects other white supremacists who call for softer “optics.” Blood Tribe’s goal is to normalize the swastika, usher in a resurgence of Nazi ideas and ultimately build a white ethnostate, occupied, controlled and led by “Aryans.” It holds rallies where members carry swastika banners, give the Nazi salute and shout the Nazi chant, “Sieg Heil!” Blood Tribe leadership recruits members, assesses membership dues, charges fees for participating in events, solicits donations and sells Nazi-themed merchandise.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial on nine counts, including conspiracy to violate civil rights; failure to prevent interference with civil rights; public nuisance; telecommunications harassment; menace; incitement to violence; ethnic intimidation; conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The suit was filed on behalf of the City of Springfield, Ohio, its elected officials, and multiple residents by attorneys at ADL, Paul Weiss, and Taft.
About ADL
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.
About Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is a premier firm of more than 1,000 lawyers with diverse backgrounds, personalities, ideas and interests who provide innovative and effective solutions to our clients’ most complex legal and business challenges. The firm represents many of the world’s largest and most important public and private corporations, asset managers and financial institutions, as well as clients in need of pro bono assistance.
About Taft
Taft is a modern law firm with a non-headquarter operating model, which is fully committed to delivering the highest level of service to today’s organizations and individuals. The legal performance of Taft attorneys is recognized nationally, with inclusion in the Am Law 100, Chambers USA, Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and more.