Trump supporters’ protest march ended in a showdown

A week ago, Joe Biden supporters packed the streets of Washington, DC, to celebrate the Democrat’s election victory. At a time when larger gatherings are strongly discouraged, it was Saturday’s turn for Trump supporters to fill the streets.

Equipped with various effects from Trump and the United States, the enthusiastic supporters showed up to pay tribute to the outgoing president, who they believe was robbed of the electoral victory.

– This election was stolen from us, Courney Holland, a conservative activist from Nevada told those present. He went on yelling “Stop the robbery,” writes Fox News.

– They think we’re stupid. They underestimate Donald. They underestimate Donald’s supporters, one of those present told the Washington Post. Others had messages of support for the president:

“I just want him to keep the faith and know that we support him,” Antony Whittaker told the Associated Press. He had made a relatively short trip from Virginia to join the march.

Several arrested

The mood went from jubilation to amplification when more than 300 counter-protesters showed up. This led to several minor clashes, where different sides threw bottles at each other and shouted insults. According to the capital’s police, at least ten people were arrested during the day, including for violent incidents and violations of the gun law.

As of tonight, the level of conflict in DC also increased. At 9.45 p.m. local time, Mayor Muriel Bowser claims that a total of 20 people have been arrested in connection with the demonstration, while two policemen have been injured.

In addition, a protester has multiple stab wounds.

Trump against “scum”

Shortly after the announcement, Donald Trump took to Twitter to communicate with the counter-protesters.

– ANTIFA SCOUT took his legs around his neck when they tried to attack people during today’s march, because those people defended themselves aggressively. Antifa waited until last night, when 99 percent were gone, to attack innocent Trump supporters, the president wrote on Twitter.

The president also urges the police to put away their silk gloves and do their job. So far, neither the police nor the mayor have confirmed that there are supporters of the antifa movement behind the attacks on Saturday night.

Several right-wing groups, such as the Proud Boys and Three Percenters, were also present in DC on Saturday. Trump’s march had received a lot of publicity on both social and traditional media, and it was feared that this would lead to larger violent clashes between right-wing groups and far-left counter-protesters.

Therefore, the police had taken a series of precautions and during the march they closed a large part of the capital.

Optimistic estimate

Trump’s march had previously been dubbed the “MAGA Million March.” Estimates show that around 100,000 traveled to the capital on Saturday.

“It’s not around July 4 or anything, but people have turned up,” a police officer told the New York Times.

Trump’s press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was more optimistic in her estimate.

– AMAZING! More than a MILLION supporters of President Donald Trump have come to the swamp to show their support, McEnany writes in Twitter.

McEnany’s huge hype has led many to draw parallels with Trump’s original press secretary, Sean Spicer. Spicer drew attention as early as his first week on the job, insisting that Trump had a record turnout during his inauguration ceremony.

“This was the largest audience that has ever seen an opening ceremony, period,” Spicer said in 2017.

Trump longed

Trump was very unhappy with how participation was presented almost four years ago, and is also reacting to the presentation of viewer numbers on Saturday.

– Fox News and Fake News channels do not show these large accumulations. Instead, the reports are on nearly empty streets. We are oppressed by the PRESS! Says one of Trump’s many Twitter messages on Saturday.

The president has also used the platform to spread repeated accusations of electoral fraud and has continued to benefit from the recognition of the electoral defeat.