Thread by @abeaujon

Oh hi I’m at the Demand Free Speech rally where a guy dressed like a Continental soldier is leading a singalong of “God Bless America,” which he promises will shut down the counterprotests

And now he says he’s heading over to the 14th Street side to challenge counterprotesters to a sing off

Greg Aselbekian comes up and introduces himself as someone you may have seen on the news. (His friend grabbed one of the flags the protesters burned)

“Hate speech is just another word for speech I don’t like,” he says, a few sentences after decrying flag burning as “disgusting”

Aselbekian says he’s been banned from Tinder

My guess is about 150-200 people here

Host says there will be a VIP event tonight featuring an open bar, Roger Stone and Milo. Says to visit the event’s web page for details

Just spoke with Aselbekian who tells me he doesn’t ever go out without his suit and MAGA hat because it’s his look

This is Cassandra Dreiling, left, Of Florida, and Abigail Noel of California and Memphis. They’re here with a group called Justice 4 Prince, which believes lots of celebrities were murdered.

They’re here because they want Trump to reopen an investigation into Prince’s death, which they say was a murder that benefited Warner Bros.

They say their reception here has been pretty good

There’s a guy here with a sign promoting InfoWars’ Roku app

This is Peter Boykin who comes up to share his own #metoo moment, which he describes as being raped by social media

“Today is our Independence Day,” Boykin says, and asks people whether they’re willing to “lay down your digital lives” to fight for free speech

Aaaaand here’s someone in a Comet Ping Pong shirt

This is Julian Conradson and Miriam Irizarry of Phoenix with their dogs Poppins and Speedy. Their big sellers are a Drain the Swamp T-shirt and one that says Donald Trump Liberal Tears Real Harsh Whiskey Sour Mash Covfefe

Someone gave me a flyer for a straight pride festival in Boston next month

Andy Ngo is among the counterprotesters, the host says, adding that he “has cojones”

Update on the after-party: host says they’ll meet at trump hotel at 6:30 to be bussed to party spot. I’ve heard Spy Museum but also that that’s wrong ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Here’s a view of the scene

Here’s the view across to Pershing Park

I’m seeing a bunch of these Sheer Terror Proud Boys shirts, a Government Issue quote that is particularly weird here in the home of D.C. skating

Gavin McInnes is here in handcuffs to make a point about censorship. He goes to break them but it doesn’t work out and someone has to help him

Here’s a much better picture of McInnes by @EvyMages

Milo is up now telling jokes about @willsommer’s wife

This event is about free speech and also Will’s wife I guess

Also Milo is dressed as Laura Loomer I think. I was locked in the Pret when he started so I missed any explanation that might have been offered

Here they are via @EvyMages

Milo again insults Will’s wife, urges people to fight Antifa

Now urges people to report “safe” conservatives for hate speech, part of a plan to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Milo hands off to Loomer and they have a playful disagreement about who’s the most banned person on the internet

Loomer says this isn’t about free speech but about sending people like her to a “digital gulag” and that’s the first step to something or other

She proudly mentions she’s been banned by uber eats

“There ought to be more people here,” Loomer says, blaming attendance on Antifa

She now is saying deplatforming is the first step to a holocaust

Talks about “those of us who have lost it all”

Now leads a “stop the bias” chant, which lasts about 15 seconds, and promotes her website

So this guy in the Elvis glasses and red white and blue hat has caused some commotion that has drawn a crowd of proud boys. He claims the organizers of this event have donated to Antifa

He is of course live-streaming, as are like a third of the people here

With the encouragement of the Proud Boys most people are ignoring him again

Crowd has thinned out post Milo and Loomer

So far we’ve heard from people who say they’re running against Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi and Ilhan Omar, respectively

Things are wrapping up.

Adrienna DiCioccio speaks last, says location of tonight’s after party is still a secret because Antifa kept them from being at the Spy Museum

On that note I am going home to enjoy my Saturday. Thanks for following!