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Amid high security, small pro-Trump crowd rallies at U.S. Capitol

Published Sep 18, 2021 06:03AM ET Updated Sep 18, 2021 06:22PM ET
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2/2 © Reuters. A U.S. Capitol Police officer patrols the unscalable fence erected around the Capitol ahead of an expected rally Saturday in support of the Jan. 6 defendants in Washington, U.S. September 17, 2021. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst 2/2

By Jan Wolfe and David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Police and media vastly outnumbered protesters around the U.S. Capitol on Saturday at a sparsely attended rally by supporters of the people who breached the building on Jan. 6, trying to overturn former President Donald Trump's election defeat.

About 100 to 200 protesters showed up, some carrying the flags of the right-wing group Three Percenters over their shoulders. It was far fewer than the 700 people organizers had expected and the thousands who brought mayhem to the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Hundreds of officers patrolled the Capitol grounds and a black eight-foot-high (2.44 m) fence that surrounded the white-domed building for about six months after the attack was reinstalled, reflecting unease about a potential repeat of Jan. 6. One hundred National Guard troops were on standby.

As part of an effort by some of Trump's far-right supporters to rewrite the history of the deadly mob assault on the Capitol that was captured in graphic video, speaker after speaker insisted that hundreds of rioters arrested for their actions that day were "political prisoners" who committed no violence.

Prosecutors and legal experts say the cases are being handled properly.

"This is about justice and disparate treatment," said Matt Braynard, a rally organizer and supporter of Trump's false claims that his defeat was the result of widespread fraud.

While crowds were small, passions rose at times, with sporadic yelling matches breaking out between participants in the rally and counter-demonstrators. Police on bicycles moved in to break up some of these squabbles.

Capitol Police reported four arrests, including a man armed with a handgun spotted in the crowd, though they said it was "not clear why the man was at the demonstration." Officers in riot gear also removed one man from the rally who had a large knife strapped to his hip.

Organizers of the "Justice for J6" rally called for a peaceful event, but U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger told reporters on Friday there had been threats of violence linked to the rally, some targeting individual members of Congress, and police were bracing to prevent clashes between Trump supporters and opponents.

Tony Smith, 40, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, said he had come to voice his support for a fair judicial process for those charged in the breach of the Capitol.

"If we don't honor that we don't honor America," said Smith, who was carrying a poster board that said "We Want Trump!"

HUNDREDS CHARGED IN JAN. 6 RIOT

More than 600 people have been charged with taking part in the Jan. 6 violence, which followed a speech by Trump at a nearby rally reiterating his false claims that his election loss was the result of widespread fraud. Those claims have been rejected by multiple courts, state election officials and members of Trump's own administration.

Rioters that day battled police, beating them with sticks and metal barricades, smashed their way through windows into the Capitol building and ran through the halls, sending lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence running for safety.

Four people died on Jan. 6, one fatally shot by police and three from medical emergencies. A Capitol Police officer who had been attacked by protesters died the day after and four police officers who took part in the defense of the Capitol later committed suicide.

Almost 50 people have so far pleaded guilty to charges related to the violence, nine admitting to committing felonies. The vast majority of defendants have been released awaiting trial but about 75 are still in custody, according to court documents.

Members of the right-wing groups the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Three Percenters are among those charged with storming the building.

"Let them go, let them go," the crowd occasionally chanted during the rally, which lasted just over an hour.

But Eric Lamar, 64, a retired firefighter in Washington, D.C., said he came to the Capitol to counter "false narratives" from Trump supporters about Jan. 6.

"It breaks my heart," Lamar said after hearing another retired firefighter claim that the riot was a "false flag," a conspiracy theory wrongly claiming that the event was staged. "There is no question that what happened on Jan. 6 is the work of supporters of Donald Trump who decided falsely and without evidence that the election was stolen."

Trump called Saturday's rally a “setup” and said media would use it as an excuse to bash Republicans regardless of its outcome, according to an interview on Thursday with the Federalist, a conservative news website.

Unlike on Jan. 6, when Congress was in session to certify Biden's election, the Capitol was largely empty on Saturday, with most members out of town.

No members of Congress attended Saturday's rally, though two Republican congressional candidates addressed the group.

Authorities, who had made clear they were much better prepared after being caught without enough forces to deploy quickly in January, took no chances.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin put 100 National Guard troops on standby to help police on Saturday if needed.

National Guard troops were stationed in and around the Capitol from early January through late May, with as many as 5,200 troops in place at the mission's peak.

Amid high security, small pro-Trump crowd rallies at U.S. Capitol
 

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Comments (12)
Me comment
Me comment Sep 19, 2021 8:25PM ET
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The size of the turnout will represent the size of the vote trump will get if he runs in 2022.
Steven ML
Steven ML Sep 19, 2021 2:35PM ET
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This was the biggest small pro-Trump rally. Ever.
Catholic Man
CatholicMan Sep 19, 2021 10:17AM ET
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President Trump did not endorse this.
Patron Silver
Patron Silver Sep 19, 2021 10:17AM ET
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former...Hopefully forever.
Catholic Man
CatholicMan Sep 19, 2021 10:17AM ET
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Patron Silver you guys are sweating
wasloslolkiyekA wasloslolkiyekA
wasloslolkiyekA wasloslolkiyekA Sep 18, 2021 4:06PM ET
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Another very biased piece from Reuters, with several opinions about the election, Trump, and supporters. Reuters is just another mouthpiece for the left/Democrats, and not a journalist organisation.
Roger Miller
Roger Miller Sep 18, 2021 2:30PM ET
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The political elites have to learn how to be this concerned for the safety of the average citizen...or soldier, or military ally.  Only in despotic regimes do we see this much concern for leaders security.
Patron Silver
Patron Silver Sep 18, 2021 1:09PM ET
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it will be a dud. most repubs by now realize they were duped by the big con. You can see that by how the ape-man style candidates losing election after election. the only ones going to this are greasy haired thugs like bikers and proud boys
Jason Patcher
Jason Patcher Sep 18, 2021 9:54AM ET
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domestic ***are *** no abortions or immigrants no news no vaccines -- if that's what you want, move to Syria or Iran
Casey Connor
Casey Connor Sep 18, 2021 9:54AM ET
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You are a spineless cuck.
Jason Patcher
Jason Patcher Sep 18, 2021 9:54AM ET
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I trying to be engaged without being condescending but it's hard at this point
Benjamin USA
Benjamin USA Sep 18, 2021 9:54AM ET
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Casey Connor triggered trump simp?
Jason Patcher
Jason Patcher Sep 18, 2021 9:44AM ET
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to the more moderate republicans: start policing your own please.
matthew panos
matthew panos Sep 18, 2021 9:36AM ET
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Yeah, their going to threaten the Capitol again with banners, musical instruments and costumes. What at hoax. (Jan 6 was a hoax too )
FERRATO GIL
FERRATO GIL Sep 18, 2021 8:45AM ET
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"prepared for a rally of supporters of the hundreds of people who broke into the building on January 6" At the very least this editor lives in a bubble or lacks cognition. HAHAHAHA!
Jason Patcher
Jason Patcher Sep 18, 2021 8:45AM ET
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your no better than the Taliban if you endorse attacking government buildings
matthew panos
matthew panos Sep 18, 2021 8:45AM ET
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Jason Patcher -yeah some attack…costumes and banners looked really threatening
Roger Miller
Roger Miller Sep 18, 2021 8:45AM ET
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Jason Patcher  Which Antifa has been doing for over a year.  Don't forget the attacks on the police, who are under the direction of our government.
Silence Dogood
Silence Dogood Sep 18, 2021 8:45AM ET
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Jason Patcher  like police stations?
John Doe
ForexInsiders Sep 18, 2021 8:45AM ET
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Or the "Seattle Autonomous Zone"? lol
 
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