[ad_1]
Peter Hermann
A journalist covering crime, especially the DC Police Department
Tom Jackman
Reporter covering criminal justice at the local and national levels
Right-wing activists began arriving at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington on Saturday morning, where they met with a strong police presence before the rally to protest the social media blockage because of their political views.
About two dozen members of the Proud Boys, a self-proclaimed chauvinist-western fraternal group that believes in ending welfare and closing borders, entered the park shortly after 10 am.
Police closed many roads around the square and adjacent Pershing Park, where counter-demonstrators rallied under the "All Out DC" banner. They organize a dance party and go-go to cover what they describe as "the face of white nationalism and supremacy. "
The area around Freedom Plaza was heavily barricaded, but there was free access to Pershing Park. Among those who should take part in this counter-rally are the Antifa, antifascists dressed in black, whom the police blame for the violence and destruction that occurs in a downtown area during the inauguration of President Trump on 20 January 2017.
Police are trying to avoid a repeat of last month's bloody fights in Portland, Oregon, involving members of both groups. More than three hours before Saturday night, US and US police had locked the two parks along Pennsylvania Avenue on either side of 14th Street, just east of White House.
Massive dump trucks blocked Pennsylvania Avenue on 12th and 15th streets at the southeast and southwest corners of the square, as well as police cars with flashing lights.
Protesters arrive for the rally on the right. (Evelyn Hockstein / for the Washington Post)
Nevertheless, restaurants in the region, including Occidental and Cafe du Parc, were to remain open during the rallies. Western waiters prepared glasses and cutlery, and at the Café du Parc, customers nibbled biscuits and sipped a large coffee while watching the preparations.
Representatives from both sides of Saturday's event in the district said they were not trying to incite violence, but were prepared to react. The authorities also said they were ready.
"It's not unusual here in Washington, DC, so we'll be ready to do it," police chief Peter Newsham said earlier this week.
Scott Garland, a 54-year-old resident of the Detroit area, said he went to Washington Saturday morning and that he would fly out Saturday night. He was here just for the rally.
He said he joined the Proud Boys about eight months ago, after worrying about the violent tactics of Antifa activists.
Edwin Arthur of Los Angeles arrives for the rally on the right. (Evelyn Hockstein / for the Washington Post)
"I think we have a bad shot in the media. When they call us white supremacists, it's foolish, "he said, saying the group welcomed members of" all races, all sexual orientations. "
Garland, wearing a black and golden "PB" hat, said any violence should be caused by counter-protesters.
"We will never go there," he said, saluting the ongoing protest at Pershing Park. "They want to come here and shut up. That's what I do not understand.
The groups on the right are coming together under the banner "Demand Free Speech", the last of the three rallies – the first two were held in New York and San Francisco – aimed to deal with a wave of social media companies banning right-wing personalities at their platforms.
The event's leader and organizer, Princess Boys, Luke Rohlfing, told The Daily Beast that the event was also addressing left-wing anti-fascist activists after the violent clashes in Portland last week, leaving conservative writer Andy Ngo bloodied, shaken and sprinkled with a vegan milkshake.
The district is used to dealing with protesters. In the summer of 2018, Jason Kessler, one of the organizers of the violent and deadly "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville in 2017, chose Washington for an anniversary event. Fewer than 40 of the 400 planned supports were shown and were outnumbered by thousands of protesters who shouted "Go home, Nazis!" And "No Trump! No KKK! No American fascism!
A massive police presence kept the two parties apart and, apart from a brief confrontation between antifa members and the police long after the rally ended, no violence was reported.
The list of speakers scheduled for Saturday's rally includes several notable personalities, although police said Friday again it was unclear who among the guests listed would come. Among them, Milo Yiannopoulos, an incendiary writer who helped to make Breitbart News a leading right-wing body whose appearances in cities and university campuses provoked violent reactions.
Right-wing journalist Laura Loomer, Gavin McInnes, founder of Proud Boys, and Jack Posobiec, known to have advanced a number of conspiracy theories, such as those related to "Pizzagate" and the assassination of one member of the Democratic National Committee Seth Rich in a robbery in the district.
The rally comes two days after tourists and locals visit the district to celebrate President Trump's controversial "Salute to America", plus a firework display, speech and a military vehicle show. , tanks and aircraft overflights.
Fears of violence between supporters and critics of Trump have not materialized, although there have been some minor clashes at the mall and a fight in front of the White House after a member of the board. a communist group burned two American flags on Pennsylvania Avenue.
A coalition of more than 20 groups – including Black Lives Matter D.C., the DVV Sanctuary Immigrant Rights Group and the anti-gentrification organization Keep D.C. 4 Me – will be organizing an all day event at the Pershing Park counter. Members of the district's colored communities will lead a dance party to music "for black, brown and Aboriginal joy over white nationalism and supremacy".
Hannah Natanson and Marissa J. Lang contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link