Americans who believe Donald Trump is being cheated out of reelection are massing at noon today in D.C. for a show of support for the president. Million MAGA March, Stop The Steal, and March For Trump are just three groups simultaneously converging on the nation’s capital. A rally designed to fire up the base will gather at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington followed by a march to the Supreme Court at 2 p.m. to pressure for an official and serious look into 2020 election irregularities. Groups involved include Stop the Steal DC, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Women for America First, and Right Side Broadcasting Network.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany expects the event to be well attended as she told Fox News: “I think it’s going to be quite large from what I’m hearing. I don’t have an estimate for you.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser is unfazed and ready for the event – whether 50 people or 50,000 show up: “We continue to follow those activities and be prepared for those activities. Our police chief will have a similar posture this weekend as he did last week. And we will be there to support peaceful exercise of First Amendment demonstrations.”
Be on the lookout for Truckers for Trump: they plan to drive through the city with MAGA and Trump flags flying. Drag the Interstate will be out for a “Nice Saturday Drive,” and Brandon Straka and his group of #WalkAway members will be encouraging the crowds. And Infowars’s Owen Schroyer has an elaborate caravan of vehicles that started in Texas, stopped along the way, adding more and more MAGA participants now gathered in the Swamp.
But a massive attendance is not assured: social media platforms such as Mailchimp, Eventbrite, and Facebook de-platformed #StopTheSteal forcing participants to Parler, MeWe, and other social media outlets in the eleventh hour to communicate event details.
And On The Other Hand
Of course, with any MAGA protest, there will be counter-protesters, decked out in black wearing face coverings. Expect clashes between Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and perhaps the crazies four years ago adorning female genitalia-inspired pink hats. Another lovely radical leftist group, All Out DC, has their “F— MAGA” counterprotest scheduled to be adjacent to March For Trump.
The permits on hand indicated a smaller group of 50 were planning to rally in Freedom Plaza – but in 2020, who jumps through the hoops for government records? The National Park Service says the park can only safely hold 13,000 people. And of course, this is D.C., and firearms are not allowed – regardless of lawful carry and concealed carry permits. Police have also indicated roads will be closed and parking restricted.
No matter how many people attend the events today, it is clear that America’s political divide isn’t close to being bridged any time soon. But as McEnany said: “People want to show up and have their voice heard.”
And that will certainly happen.
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