TRUMP FANATICS IN LAST-DITCH BID TO BLOCK BIDEN
THOUSANDS of Donald Trump supporters rallied in Washington DC over the weekend to back his last-ditch victory claim – leading to clashes with counter-demonstrators.
The marches were intended as a show of force before the US electoral college meets to formally elect Joe Biden as the 46th US president today.
But fighting broke out between proand anti-Trump demonstrators after sunset, with police reports of 23 arrests and four stabbings.
In the nation’s capital, police had sought to keep the two sides apart, a strategy that included sealing off Black Lives Matter Plaza where counterdemonstrators had gathered.
Pro-Trump activists, marching under the banner of ‘Stop the Steal’ were joined by members of the far-right Proud Boys, dressed in yellow and black, many in bullet-proof vests.
The neo-fascist group were seen chanting vulgar slogans but were apparently under orders not to engage with hecklers.
Mr Trump, whose term will end on January 20, refuses to concede while clinging to baseless claims of election fraud, which were again rejected – this time by the supreme court – on Friday. Crowds cheered on Saturday as he flew overhead in the Marine One helicopter on his way to an American football game in New York state. ‘Wow! Thousands of people forming in Washington (D.C.) for Stop the Steal. Didn’t know about this, but I’ll be seeing them,’ Trump posted on Twitter – despite the rallies being organised weeks ago. Gen Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser recently pardoned by Mr Trump, was speaking from the stage at the time.
‘That’s pretty cool. Imagine just being able to jump in a helicopter and just go for a joy ride around Washington,’ said Gen Flynn, whose pardon wiped his conviction for lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation.
Gen Flynn likened the protesters to soldiers and priests breaching the walls of Jericho – giving the rallies the title of ‘Jericho marches’.
At a smaller rally downtown, former Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka also spoke out, urging backers not to give up despite Friday’s legal defeat.