The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘MAGA Drag’ a no-go
NEW HAVEN — A planned “MAGA drag” in support of now twice-impeached President Donald Trump, due to start Saturday morning at the IKEA parking lot in New Haven and head up the capitol building in Hartford, appears to be a bust.
Flyers promoting the event had been shared on social media, and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker asked residents to stay away, despite reports that the event had been canceled.
“Given what occurred last week at the U.S. Capitol and some threats of violence around the U.S., we are encouraging people to stay away from the area of Sargent Drive, Long Wharf and IKEA until this afternoon,” Elicker said early Saturday. “Our police department is working with local law enforcement to prepare for any potential issues at this event and over the coming days.”
Participants had been told to begin gathering at the IKEA parking lot at 10 a.m. As of 11 a.m., the scene was quiet aside from a heavy police presence and the usual crowd of shoppers on a gray morning with heavy rain earlier.
By noon, there was no sign of the so-called “MAGA drag” at the grounds of the Capitol in Hartford. Had anyone gone, they would have found there was not easy access to the Capitol building.
The circular drive around the Capitol was barricaded on Saturday and no cars could get on the property. The Capitol building itself was surrounded with metal barriers as well. There were a half-dozen Capitol Police cars, marked and unmarked, on the 14acre Capitol property abutting Bushnell Park.
Christine Stuart of CT New Junkie tweeted video from Hartford at 1:45 p.m. showing a line of two cars displaying Trump flags drive by the state Capitol building. Seven counterprotesters stood in front of the State Supreme Court.
IKEA said that demonstrators did not have authorization to use the parking lot.
“We’re aware that our
New Haven (CT) store parking lot is being promoted as a meeting location for a MAGA event this Saturday,” IKEA tweeted Friday evening. “We ask those who plan to gather at IKEA New Haven to understand they are not authorized to use the property as a meeting location.”
Two New Haven police patrol cars were present at least 45 minutes before the store opened and two hours ahead of the meetup.
Trump supporters broke windows and gained access to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, leading to dozens of arrests and the second impeachment of the president for inciting the riot. The FBI later warned that additional armed demonstrations had been planned for all 50 state capitols for the period between Jan. 16 and Jan. 20, the date of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Elicker said Saturday that, “Currently we have received no credible threats in New Haven.” Connecticut authorities said last week there was “no specific threat” against public officials here.