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WASHINGTON – Washington and state capitals across the country braced for protests on Saturday morning that organizers are calling “Justice for D6,” aimed at drawing attention to what they say is the unfair treatment of those indicted in the riot on January 6 at the Capitol.
United States Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger spoke into a megaphone early Saturday morning to a large group of law enforcement officers near the rally site in the nation’s capital.
Capitol Police shared footage of their final preparations on social media hours before the rally began at 12 p.m. ET.
Authorities had erected fences earlier in the week around the Capitol and the Supreme Court, held “tabletop” rehearsals to plan to fight the violence and promised that police would be visible throughout the city.
Crowds for the event, which was scheduled to take place in an area of the Capitol’s western front, were sparse just two hours before the start time.
Law enforcement made it clear on Friday that several agencies were coordinating their response to the protest in an effort to avoid the chaos of the Jan.6 attack on the Capitol. Authorities were also organizing a police presence at other events planned in other parts of DC on Saturday, including an annual street festival northeast of the Capitol.
“We are not going to condone violence,” Manger told reporters Friday at a joint press conference with the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. “We will not tolerate any criminal behavior of any kind.”
Manger said on Friday that there had been intelligence “discussions” about possible violence on Saturday and said he was most concerned about clashes between protesters attending the rally and counter-protesters.
Mary Beth Cronin, 56, drove eight hours overnight from outside Hartford, Connecticut, arriving early for the rally with a friend.
She said the media misinterpreted what happened on January 6, associating non-violent protesters with “some bad apples.”
“I don’t condone violence,” Cronin said. “Anyone who was violent that day, I condemn. “
As she surveyed the sparse crowd an hour before the scheduled start, she said it was important to attend because she believes the Tories have too often been silent.
“Even though we’re the only two people here,” she said, “I still believe what we’re doing is right. “
Also before the rally, Karen Irwin, 46, a counter-protester, rolled a cart with homemade signs, including one that read “Terrorists are not political prisoners”.
“We are back for their Insurgency 2.0,” Irwin said. “We must have dissenting voices. “
Asked about an antifa sign, she replied that she was not part of a group. “I don’t know of any organization,” she said. “If you are American, you are an antifa member – you are anti-fascist.”
As they were unprepared for the Jan.6 assault on Capitol Hill, police said, they are ready to prevent and respond to illegal activity on Saturday – whether carried out by primary protesters or counter-demonstrators.
Matt Braynard, executive director of Look Ahead America and organizer of the event, wrote on Twitter that he expects “a 100% peaceful event in support of non-violent offenders … who have been charged.”
Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said on Friday that “No Gun Zone” signs had been placed around the protest site and recalled that it was illegal to bring a gun within 300 meters of such an area.
“District gun laws will be enforced,” he told reporters.
But gun restrictions vary by jurisdiction, and satellite protests are planned at state houses and federal buildings in 17 states, according to Look Ahead America.
Capitol Police have warned that in addition to firearms, other items prohibited on Capitol grounds include replica firearms, knives, pepper spray, ammunition, explosives and alcohol.
Meanwhile, Manger said on Friday that his main goal was to protect free speech and allow a legal protest.
Capitol Police said the National Guard would be available to help secure the perimeter of the Capitol if needed, but would not be deployed otherwise.
“We have a solid plan in place to ensure this remains peaceful,” Manger said, adding that officers would be ready to respond “if violence occurs”.
More than 600 people have been arrested in the eight-plus months since the Jan.6 attack, more than 50 of whom have pleaded guilty to various federal crimes. Six were found guilty by the court, according to the Ministry of Justice.
The potential for chaos on Saturday made the rally politically toxic to leading Republicans, many of whom maintain the lie at the heart of the assault on Capitol Hill: that the defeat of former President Donald Trump was the result of an election tampering .
Trump, who was indicted by the House in January for his role in inciting violence, said Thursday that rioters had been “persecuted” by the Justice Ministry.
“Our hearts and minds are with those so unjustly persecuted in connection with the January 6 protest over the rigged presidential election,” Trump said in a statement. “On top of everything else, it has conclusively proven that we are a two-tier justice system. Ultimately, however, JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!”
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But the former president, who was acquitted by the Senate, and other Republican officials keep their distance from gatherings. Neither he nor any member of Congress is expected to attend the main protest in Washington.
Trump called the whole affair a “setup” for more arrests and criminal charges, a message echoed in extremist online forums that were the hotspots of the Jan.6 riot. As a result, numbers for Saturday’s rally could be lower than the initial protest turned attack.
The meeting point in Washington is Union Square, a small park located just west and prominent in the Capitol. Organizers have posted rules on the website of Look Ahead America, the group sponsoring the protests. They include: “traveling in a group”, “not wearing or bringing political, candidate or other organization paraphernalia” and “being respectful to our security team and law enforcement”.
The Justice Department said about 140 police officers – from the Capitol Police and Washington Metropolitan Police Department forces – were assaulted in January.
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