There has been a wave of concerns among law enforcement and mainstream media that this weekend’s rally in support of the jailed Jan. 6 rioters would turn violent. And of course, it didn’t. It was so overhyped by the radical left that the reporters and police actually outnumbered the few hundred rally goers staked outside the Capitol.
Linde Barrera, a retired New York public school teacher, traveled to the rally on a bus with 20 other people and said she was “disappointed” in the turnout. She said she wanted more people to come, but that people were probably scared and canceled.
Former President Donald Trump even encouraged his supporters not to attend, telling the Federalist in an interview that it was most likely a “setup.” He said if people don’t show up then it means there’s a “lack of spirit” and if people do show up, then they will be harassed.
The Saturday rally is a combination of disgust in the way people were treated from the Jan. 6 situation compared to how Antifa and Black Lives Matter members were treated. He called it unjust, unfair, and just disgraceful. He even issued a statement out to those who were arrested on Jan 6.
“Our hearts and minds are with the people being persecuted so unfairly relating to the January 6th protest concerning the Rigged Presidential Election. In addition to everything else, it has proven conclusively that we are a two-tiered system of justice. In the end, however, JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL” Trump posted in a statement on his website.
Others, however, were happy to show up. Matt Braynard, who helped organize the event by Look Ahead America and worked for Trump’s campaign, talked about the “wonderful” turnout at the event. He countered claims that he was a “pro-rioter” and begged attendees during the event to be respectful to law enforcement and not bring campaign gear.
Rally goers brought posters that read: “free the mostly peaceful Americans,” “Trespassing is the new insurrection,” and “Our 6th Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury.” The trial has been called into question since many of the detainees have been held in solitary confinement for long periods of time. You would think more left-leaning anti-police advocates would speak out such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who told the Washington Examiner that she doesn’t believe in solitary confinement for extended periods of time.
Federal officials have arrested more than 500 people in connection to the Jan. 6 siege.
Others said they were discouraged by the rally turnout but glad to see some people, adding that “it could’ve been me” being arrested on trespassing charges. Rally goers called the process “outrageous” and pointed out the way their rally was being treated as compared to BLM-led protests.
Joe Kent, a Trump-endorsed challenger to Washington Rep. Jaime Beutler, shared how strongly he felt in supporting the political prisoners, adding that there’s an emphasis to show what’s going on right now because constitutional rights are being violated. There were no sitting lawmakers that attended the event, although there was some pressure coming from Kevin McCarthy.
Capitol Police had briefly put up fencing around the Capitol after Jan. 6 as a means of increased protection. But the police put back up the exact same fencing in anticipation of the rally. They brought in about three dozen snowplow trucks to line up along 3rd street in D.C and block access to the roads, along with two squads of Capitol Police officers decked up in riot gear. They walked right behind the rally during the program and stood guard at the barrier blocking the stage to the Capitol. A police helicopter was even seen flying overhead.
While Democrats dramatized and made the rally look worse than it was, there were no brawls that broke out. The crowd was overwhelmed with hoards of reporters and photographers, including several left-wing protesters who gathered their own counterdemonstration.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tried to demonize the rally’s attempts by claiming anyone who attends is “coming back to praise the people who were out to kill members of Congress.”
The low rally turnout called into question whether such rallies will maintain power without the presence of the former president. However, it’s safe to say that the Trump voters are demanding justice for November 3, 2020, and an election that was rigged in many key states. They demand to know the truth. The left is getting scared and they should be.
