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In downtown DC to cover the MAGA rally today. Just walked by this massive BLM billboard on the National Geographic building where a bunch of Trump supporters are standing solemnly in the alley with their middle fingers at the air. Good morning!
If only they know that the media has already been steadily defunded for the past couple of decades.
This guy is standing here chanting “no forced vaccinations!”
The crowd for the first part of the rally stretches from the White House Ellipse to the Washington Monument.
Overheard one guy say, “I think there are 47 million people here.” Reader, there are not.
(I’m very bad at crowd estimates but if push comes to shove i’d say idk 10k or so?)
I will never not be confused by the musical choices at these MAGA rallies. So far:
-Elton John, “Tiny Dancer”
-Elton John, “Saturday Night”
-Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”
-Phil Collins, “In the Air Tonight”
-Elton John, “Tiny Dancer”
-Elton John, “Saturday Night”
-Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”
-Phil Collins, “In the Air Tonight”
And now: Celine Dion, “My Heart Will Go On.”
This guy is shouting over a mobile PA system that he’s going to come back here on Jan. 20 armed. “I’ve had enough. I’m ready to die for my country.”
The rally organizers are now blasting Backstreet Boys, “I Want It That Way.”
One of the things i’ve been on the lookout for has been guns. DC prohibits open carry. Though lots of online chatter in the weeks prior about people defying law and bringing guns, have seen none so far. However, it appears this group is packing pepper spray.
Found the (nearly) Naked Cowboy.
Important note: This is a dangerous rally—for many reasons—but chiefly that almost no one is masked (i’m wearing 2) and everyone is basically shoulder to shoulder. I covered a lot of the BLM protests this summer and most were masked, hence why they weren’t superspreader events.
Another concerning as I walk around the crowd. Overhearing small groups of people (some of the groups carrying pepper spray) trying to encourage people to storm the Capitol Building after the rally on the Ellipse. Doubt this will happen, but nonetheless troubling.
The anti-Semitism award of the day goes to this guy.
Folks.....
More musical selections from this rally:
-David Bowie, “Space Oddity”
-The Animals, “House of the Rising Sun”
-Alice Cooper, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”
-Village People, “Macho Man” (Trump’s fave).
-David Bowie, “Space Oddity”
-The Animals, “House of the Rising Sun”
-Alice Cooper, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”
-Village People, “Macho Man” (Trump’s fave).
Proud Boys are marching to the Capitol right now, “after they got Enrique, we’re going to let this fucking city know we fucking exist!” they shout.
Here’s video of the Proud Boys marching across the National Mall to the Capitol, shouting “Fuck Antifa!”
Just got threatened by a Proud Boy for documenting their march to the Capitol. “You’re going to get it,” he asked what I was doing (told him i’m a reporter and covering rally on Twitter.
(Walked away, not worth getting stabbed over)
Capitol Grounds are empty now, but the MAGA march will soon head here and flood the area.
The Proud Boys here chanting (from a far distance)
