NOV 14, 11:42 AM UPDATED 5:20 PM

Thousands Of Trump Supporters Congregate In Downtown D.C. Rallying Around False Election Claims

Colleen Grablick https://twitter.com/colleengrablick
Debbie Truong https://twitter.com/colleengrablick

Thousands of mostly mask-less supporters of President Donald Trump descended on downtown Washington on Saturday, alleging widespread voter fraud and echoing the president’s baseless claims of a “stolen” election.

Democratic and Republican election officials across dozens of states found no evidence of widespread voter fraud or other irregularities in the election, but signs painted with calls to “stop the steal” filled the streets, and chants of “four more years” rang out as demonstrators marched downtown.

By noon, thousands (but not 1 million) were gathered near Freedom Plaza for the “Million MAGA March” (it has also been called the March for Trump or Stop the Steal), Trump flags draped over their backs. Earlier the morning, the Proud Boys, a far-right group of self-described “western chauvinists” — mingled near the plaza and marched through the streets. (The group’s chairman Enrique Tarrio had promoted the event on social media last week.) Other extremist groups and right-wing figures like the Oath Keepers and Infowars’ Alex Jones also made an appearance.

Tensions escalated between counter protesters and pro-Trump supporters as the afternoon wore on and the crowds marched from Freedom Plaza toward the Supreme Court. U.S. Capitol Police in riot gear, helmets, and masks, and Supreme Court Police formed a line to separate the two groups, and blocked off a cluster of Proud Boys when they neared opposing demonstrators by the Supreme Court. Pro-Trump protesters continued their chants of “four more years,” near the Supreme Court, and professed that Trump would win Georgia. Several news outlets called Georgia, a traditionally red state, for President-elect Joe Biden on Friday, beating Trump by more than 10,000 votes.

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