A Neo-Nazi rally happened in tiny Newnan, Georgia today.

According to some reports, as few as 35 Nazis showed up to hear their leader mock men wearing skinny jeans. To protect them, the state had to send 400 heavily armed law enforcement officers in full riot gear.

But that doesn’t mean things were smoothly. The cops were very aggressive with counter-protestors, according to reports from the scene and videos which show use-of-force arrests because of bandanas.

ADVERTISEMENT

Huffington Posts’s Christopher Mathias was shocked by the brutality of the cops.

“I just witness the most over-aggressive policing I’ve ever seen in #Newnan,” he wrote on twitter. “Tackling protesters and arresting them… for wearing masks.”

I just witness the most over-aggressive policing I’ve ever seen in #Newnan. Tackling protesters and arresting them… for wearing masks. pic.twitter.com/Mf1e5cfKH2 — Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) April 21, 2018

The issue was that anti-Nazi activists covered their faces with bandanas—which the cops responded to with violent confrontations and arrests.

ADVERTISEMENT

Police rush into a crowded protest at the Nazi rally to snatch and arrest someone, allegedly for wearing a red bandana on their face — multiple protesters have been tackled and arrested for masks already today. pic.twitter.com/OdVXUpixHT — Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) April 21, 2018

The images were described as “shocking” by others, as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pretty shocking mages of Georgia police in riot gear protecting actual nazi’s in #Newnan by pointing guns at anti-fascist demonstrators. @JackSmithIV removed by police after he’s recognized by a couple of the extremists. https://t.co/j1veYGxsNm — Winifred (@WaywardWinifred) April 21, 2018

ADVERTISEMENT

The rally organizers carried Nazi flags but faced no violence.

The National Socialist Movement arrives in Georgia, with flags that used to bear the swastika. There can’t be more than a couple dozen, far fewer than their last rally in Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/R0bYKVyjri — Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) April 21, 2018

ADVERTISEMENT

The Nazis were seemingly emboldened by their protection forces. When Mathias tried to ask organizer Jeff Schoep a tough questions, the Nazi told him that he would “have [him] removed for being disrespectful.”

Asked Nazi leader Jeff Schoep something he didn’t like, he threatened to kick me out for being “disrespectful.” Hasn’t kicked me out yet. #Newnan pic.twitter.com/lE8kj26BwQ — Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) April 21, 2018

And of course plenty of people were arrested for wearing masks—a perverse side-effect of a Civil Rights Era law meant to unmask the Klan which was still enforced as a misdemeanor. The police in Georgia are arresting anti-nazi protestor for wearing masks because of a law written to prevent Klan members from wearing their hoods in public.#JustFollowingOrders#Newnanpic.twitter.com/4T5BHPf2tE — Quincy Johnson II (@QuincyJohnsonII) April 21, 2018

ADVERTISEMENT

In videos, officers aggressively watched to see anyone with a mask and then grabbed them and pull them to the ground while pointing assault rifle-style weapons at the crowd.

Video of arrests in #Newnan with one officer pointing his rifle at protesters and press pic.twitter.com/72ODQjEx99 — Daniel Shular (@xshularx) April 21, 2018