Angry conservatives are expected to gather to D.C. today for the first right-wing rally there since the Jan. 6 riot, during which the U.S. Capitol was sacked by a mob of Trump supporters trying to stop lawmakers blessing President Joe Biden's election victory. That day claimed several lives and led to more than 600 criminal charges. Today, the Capitol is a maze of crowd control fences and armed guards.
At least one Proud Boys leader has encouraged followers from across the country to show up, though others online have discouraged attendance and warned it might be a false flag operation designed to trap supporters. Meanwhile, "White Lives Matter" is advertising global demonstrations for September 18 and has been supportive of the January 6 insurrectionists online, but it does not have a DC chapter.
Manger said Friday that Capitol Police still do not know how many people to expect, but that event organizers secured a permit for 700 attendees in Washington. Around 500 people have indicated they plan to attend, though an internal Capitol Police memo reviewed by CNN notes that past recent events organized by Look Ahead America had significantly lower attendance than expected.
Sitting members of congress are staying away, but some MAGA candidates are turning up. Seems a win-win for them: if it's peaceful, they'll get the halo of showing up while sitting members chickened out. If it goes to shit, they become the leaders of the hating, voting mob.
Update: The hour is upon us but from coverage it looks like most of the people there are press.
