Thread by @MacWBishop

thought we were done for the day

but there is a bit of a kerfuffle between opposing protesters at the capital hilton next to blm square

police forming a cordon between about two dozen pro-trump activists and maybe 100 anti-trump protesters

police in riot gear have staged around the block

social media activist with a maga mask being hounded from the scene by dozens of young people

they started off yelling at each other but now they’re talking

i wouldn’t read too much into it

there’s plenty of others still yelling at each other

pro-trump activists started cheering when anti-trump protesters were pushed back from in front of the capital hilton, police pushed them back to the intersection

i’ve ended up in a pro-trump march of several hundred that has made its way to the washington monument, shouting “our streets!” and “take our country back!”

some in the crowd say they are with the proud boys

these pro-trump protesters have jumped the barricades and are chanting “USA! USA!” and “four more years!” at the base of the washington monument

speaker at the base of the monument: “see? this is what is possible when we, the white race, get together and unite.”

the crowd is chanting “america first!” and “USA! USA!” as several among the crowd make white supremacist hand gestures

the crowd is chanting “baked alaska”

i am unable to see the speaker but it may be Tim Gionet

there are perhaps a hundred american nationalist activists chanting in the darkness at the base of the washington monument

there are no police nearby

a speaker is saying in the megaphone “it comes from chi-ina. it’s not racist. it’s the wuhan kung flu... do any of you see evidence of a pandemic out there? no!”

sorry i kinda broke the thread there

they are now outlining their case for why the media stole the election

chants of “groyper! groyper!”

i don’t know what this is, maybe a kind of fish?

the crowd is leaving the base of the monument, with a speaker saying “well, now that we’ve pushed the dirty commies off the streets, i think it’s time to celebrate boys and girls”

the dc metro police are now shadowing the marchers as they walk up 15th in the direction of the white house

proud boys

a lot of individuals rocking plate carriers

without plates

back at the intercontinental hotel

the crowd is chanting “we want alex” apparently in an effort to get the infowars guru to come out of the hotel and speak

a lot of chanting, but no one seems to know what to do now

they’ve moved to the jw marriott around the corner for more speeches

there is a lot of anger at fox news

there’s a reporter here with a level iv body armor plate carrier who *does* have plates

i mean everyone has to make their own judgment about safety and security, so it ain’t for me to say that it’s excessive

there’s a man in a maga hat yelling at the dc police that covid is a hoax

they are ignoring him

speeches are done

the activists are back to standing around periodically chanting

no obvious plan in effect, but crowd not yet dissipating

gonna sit down for awhile

gettin kinda bored

i wonder how the marriott staff feels about all this

still several hundred people here

just hanging out and talking

there’s a dude in a “usmc weapons training battalion” sweatshirt excitedly and loudly urging the crowd to follow him, shouting “trump supporters, let’s go!”

they are ignoring him and somewhere in my former weapons co nco soul i am appalled at his lack of effective leadership

there is a lone black woman haranguing the crowd and they are starting to mob around her

with nothing else to do the crowd is engaging with her in a shouting match

no physical contact and police are on scene

just angry and insulting words

about 50 vs one

police are standing between them and her

this woman is really triggering these people

it’s like a moth to flame

she’s just standing a dozen yards away and she is loud as hell and they just can’t ignore her and she won’t go away

she just said she was in the service and they are a bunch of boot [expletives]

sure dude

counter protester on scene shouting “Black Lives Matter!” as police race to interpose themselves

trump supporters moving now, with four or five counterprotesters walking ahead of them, police between them and the crowd

trump supporters marching in different direction than counterprotesters

they have unfurled a giant trump banner

stopping and chanting blue lives matter

riot cops standing by

i believe we just walked in a circle

i want to be very clear

i have at this point seen only marching, shouting and anger

that’s not a statement for or against anything

it’s just what i’ve observed so far

and i’ve covered enough protests to know how quickly things can change

i say this as counterprotesters with a biden flag have showed up again

it takes little to change the dynamic

this biden supporter and trump supporter are having a vigorous, yet informed and civil debate alongside the march

america is complicated

but i don’t think it has - for the most part - lost the plot

and then there are the two local black dudes just walking by screaming “fuck trump!” while the marchers look at them in confusion

the marchers just tore down and destroyed several “black lives matter”signs

riot police now on scene

gettin spicy now

what was not apparent in that clip was that the police were breaking up a group of people who were in a physical altercation

a trump supporter was arrested

the two black individuals were let go

that was a tense moment but it ended and everyone moved on

ok that’s it for me

anything further that happens tonight is likely to be pretty stupid and i have to get up early

good night all thanks for your patience and take care

now i gotta find my car

which is like

somewhere