Washington police braced for ‘wild’ pro-Trump rallies
A city accustomed to mass protests is gearing up for especially intense ones over what should be the most mundane of political events: the counting of Electoral College votes during a special joint session of Congress.
At the urging of US President Donald Trump, his diehard supporters are planning to descend on Washington, DC on January 6 to pressure Republican lawmakers into aligning themselves with the doomed effort to overturn Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
Shouting matches, verbal harassment of Trump opponents and even knife fights accompanied previous demonstrations following Biden’s election win in November. Now federal and
local law enforcement are bracing for what may be the most intense Trump protest yet as Congress is poised to formally
declare Biden president-elect.
Various pro-Trump groups are promoting the demonstrations online. One called #StopTheSteal operates the website WildProtest.com, which proclaims: ‘‘ Be there, will be wild.’’ It is supported by incoming Republican members of Congress Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The United States Park Police confirmed that the permits had been approved for three protests. It did not comment on specific security measures it will take to keep the peace.
On the social media app Parler and far-right message boards, members of the Proud Boys group have discussed organising in Washington – with one leader, Enrique Tarrio, suggesting that they will be incognito.
‘‘We will not be wearing our traditional Black and Yellow. We will be incognito and we will spread across downtown DC in smaller teams,’’ he wrote.
Tarrio also suggested that the group may dress in all-black gear at night, a style similar to the tactic used by Antifa groups who often combat the Proud Boys.
Other groups are planning to demonstrate at the Capitol itself as the House and Senate count Electoral College votes.
Many restaurants and office buildings in downtown Washington are already boarded up, just as they were for demonstrations last year about racial injustice and, more recently, last November’s presidential election.
Trump, who this week cut short his end-of-the-year trip to South Florida and returned to the White House, has promoted the January 6 protests by his backers. ‘‘JANUARY SIXTH, SEE YOU IN DC!’’ he tweeted on Thursday. He has not said whether he plans to attend any of the rallies.