Thousands of MAGA fans descend on D.C. to protest Biden win – but Proud Boys leader ordered to stay away
THOUSANDS of MAGA fans descended on Washington D.C. to protest Joe Biden winning the presidency on Tuesday.
Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio has been ordered to stay away from the demonstration, however, after his arrest on Monday.
The demonstration came the day before members of Congress are to vote to certify the results of the 2020 US Presidential election, and the same day that voters in Georgia went to the polls to cast votes in the Senate runoff race.
Ahead of the vote, conspiracy theorists, members of the Proud Boys extremist group, and militia groups were expected to be among those gathering to protest election results.
As Trump supporters gathered, Tarrio – who was reportedly released from jail on Tuesday after he burned a Black Lives Matter banner allegedly stolen from a church – was ordered to stay out of the District, The Washington Post reported.
Video shared by News2Share showed Tarrio on Tuesday after he was released.
“You’re a f***ing disgrace,” one person yelled.
“We love you. God bless you,” one woman said as she hugged Tarrio.
When asked what he would say to his supporters, he said: “Thank you for supporting me. And thank you for your continuous support. We’re gonna keep pressing forward.”
After he was asked to elaborate, Tarrio said: “We’re going to keep fighting.”
He added he would fight against “this f**ked up election,” and “the tyranny.”
Tarrio then claimed he was arrested “like Roger Stone” as he claimed “like seven patrol cars” came and picked him up “for a misdemeanor.”
“They pulled me out of the car at gunpoint for a misdemeanor,” he alleged.
Pictures showed crowds of demonstrators gathered in Washington DC, as they showed support for President Trump.
Demonstrators were seen clad in MAGA gear, many not wearing masks and with little social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Protesters held signs with messages that said things like, “We the people have our standing! Our Constitution has standing!” and waved Trump and American flags.
One flag read: “Trump is my president.”
In one picture, US Park Police officers were seen leading a man away as he was arrested after cops allegedly found him carrying a concealed firearm during the rally.
Video showed the crowds packed close together as they stood waving their flags and holding signs.
One photo showed workers boarding up windows on Tuesday ahead of the result being certified.
Despite repeated backless claims from Trump, his team, and supporters that he won a second term and the election was rigged, elections officials have repeatedly said there is no evidence of voter fraud that would alter the outcome of the election.
Officials in DC geared up in preparation this week as demonstrators planned the gatherings to protest the results of the election.
DC Police shared an advisory that there would be “parking restrictions & potential street closures” amid expected demonstrations from January 5 to 7.
The National Guard was also deployed amid anticipation of possible outbursts over Biden’s win.
“The protection of persons and property is our utmost concern and responsibility,” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement on Tuesday.
Bowser said MPD has been communicating with US Park Police, US Capitol Police, the Secret Service, and the National Guard ahead of the demonstrations.
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She added that the government did not “request personnel from any other federal law enforcement agencies,” however.
President Trump himself tweeted about DC demonstrations – which was dubbed a “March For Trump.”
“I will be there. Historic day!” he tweeted on Sunday as he shared a video with information on the march.