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From: Emma Lovén Svensson, TT
Published:
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WASHINGTON. Thousands of Trump supporters march through Washington to protest the results of the US presidential election.
When black-clad counter-protesters attack, police intervene to protect Trump supporters.
– We are here to support our president. Our rightful president, says David Ross, 54.
A steady stream of people travel the streets of Washington toward Freedom Plaza in the glorious November sun. The flags they carry are red, white and blue, and are adorned with messages praising President Donald Trump. Much of the central parts of the city are closed to cars and the police presence is high. Just before the lunchtime rally began, the president passed by in a motorcade and was able to see the thousands of Americans who traveled to the capital to support him.
During the demonstrations in Washington DC, both common Trump supporters and right-wing extremist groups, including the pro-violence white power group Proud Boys, are expected to gather.
The events have been given several different names, including March for Trump, Stop the Steal, and Million MAGA March, in reference to the Trump campaign slogan Make America Great Again.
Margret Wolf, 56, and Phyllis Austin, 72, have traveled here from Pennsylvania to support the president and demonstrate against the electoral fraud they believe has taken place.
– I’ve known for over a year that Democrats would try to steal the election. That was the only way they would get votes. I’m not surprised, says Margret.
According to Phyllis, it is therapeutic to see so many like-minded people gathered in one place. She is convinced that Trump will finally get a second term.
– We believe in what Trump has done politically, he has done what he said he would do. We believe our country has improved and will also do good things for the next four years.
Photo: PONTUS HÖÖK
Millions of MAGA of March.
Photo: John Locher / TT
Member of the white power group Proud Boys.
David and Rebecca Ross, both 54, traveled here from New York to support the president and lobby to investigate allegations of voter fraud. For David, it is obvious that something is not right with this year’s election.
– If you look at the electoral rallies that Trump held. There were thousands and thousands of people. If you compare him to Biden, he had nothing, he says.
For Rebecca, it is suspected that Trump did so well on Election Day, but then fell in votes for Biden the days after.
– Suddenly he stopped getting votes on election night and then thousands of votes started pouring in for Biden, but none for Trump. It’s obvious.
Photo: PONTUS HÖÖK
Millions of MAGA of March.
The fact that so many people have gathered in the capital today is strengthened, David thinks.
– Look around you, here you see people talking, real people. There is no catch with us that we are here. These are us who have come together: the people.
According to several top US government security officials, there is no evidence that there have been any irregularities in the US elections. In a joint statement, several security officials wrote that “the November 3 presidential election was the safest in the history of the United States.”
Fighting concerns
Although the majority of those gathered today in Washington are peaceful protesters, there is concern about the clashes. Several far-right groups have announced their presence earlier in the day, and at lunchtime the Proud Boys arrived at Freedom Plaza wearing bulletproof vests and military helmets and were greeted with cheers from protesters.
Photo: Alex Brandon / TT
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
A few hours later, outside a hotel in Black Lives Matter Plaza, police are forced to intervene to protect Trump supporters from black-clad counter-protesters.
Hundreds of police are on standby in the area. Several of them have their rubber bullets drawn and shoot tear gas at those who do not obey orders.
According to Fox DC, local police arrested ten people suspected of, among other things, gun law violations, assault and violence against police. It is unknown which side the detainees belong to, but the police announce that they will come out tomorrow with more information.
Photo: PONTUS HÖÖK
Millions of MAGA in March.
A week ago Biden was declared the winner
A week has passed since the US media declared Joe Biden the winner of the US presidential election. Trump has persistently claimed that he himself is the rightful winner and that Biden’s victory is the result of electoral fraud, an accusation for which he has produced no proof. At a press conference on Friday, however, he said “time will tell” who will run the country after January 20, which has been interpreted by many as beginning to accept the idea of a power shift.
Photo: PONTUS HÖÖK
Emma Lovén Svensson and Pontus Höök of Aftonbladet in Washington.
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