WASHINGTON -- About a dozen white nationalist protesters stormed Politics and Prose on Saturday, just as author Jonathan Metzl was discussing his book Dying of Whiteness.
"I think a lot of people in the audience were really nervous," said Katy Cain, who was at the bookstore when the disruption occurred.
RELATED: Group of white nationalists interrupt author during discussion at Politics and Prose bookstore
"I think everybody in their mind it flashed to sort of-- Charlottesville vibe, because there was the chanting and they did come in with an aggressive sort of posture," she said.
The protesters called themselves "identitarians." Identitarianism is a white nationalist movement that began in Europe and has branches around the world.
The bookstore interruption was brief but gained a lot of attention online. The event unfolded as the world learned a gunman had opened fire on a synagogue in San Diego, Ca.
Mayor Muriel Bowser chimed in via twitter saying "Between the horrific act of hate and antisemitism at Chabad of Poway and the ignorance and hate from the white nationalists who interrupted a book talk today in DC, my heart is broken."
"To find out that it was this sort of transcontinental moment happening, it was surprising," said Cain.
Cain said it felt silly to be concerned about a bookstore protest in light of the synagogue shooting, but that both events are part of the same worrying trend.
"They are different groups, but they are not different mindsets," she said.
"It's not OK, and the only way that we can make sure people know that is by saying it over, and over, and over again. It is not OK."