barbarism,” to which dozens of people posted comments, including pictures of weaponry that they planned to bring to the President’s rally on January 6th.[1]
In another thread on thedonald.win, responding to the President’s tweets, discussion included how to most effectively sneak guns into Washington, including one individual writing: “Yes, it’s illegal, but this is war and we’re clearly in a post-legal phase of our society.”[2]
One supporter wrote out an exact blueprint for the events that unfolded: “But on Jan 6, remember…Capital Building/Halls of Congress is ground zero. Jump the lines. Cross the roadblocks. Push past the robo cops. Don't let them usher/kettle us to any other “symbolic” monument. IMPORTANT. They need to hear our roar inside the chambers before the [expletive] begins.”[3] Another wrote: “The capitol is our goal. Everything else is a distraction. Every corrupt member of congress locked in one room and surrounded by real Americans is an opportunity that will never present itself again.”[4] Supporters even predicted that the President would not deploy the National Guard, allowing them to ambush the Capitol Police: “[Trump] can order the NAT guard to stand down if needed. unfortunately he has no control over the Capitol Police… but there are only around 2k of them and a lot are useless fat asses or girls.”[5]
Whether or not President Trump was aware of these specific posts, it was widely reported and understood within the federal government that the crowd planning to attending the Save America Rally included many individuals who were armed, dangerous, and prepared to carry out violence. Indeed, the day before the rally, several people were even arrested, including on weapons-related charges, for assaulting a police officer and simple assault.[6] One such arrest was the leader of the Proud Boys for destroying a church’s “Black Lives Matter” banner at an earlier pro-Trump post-election rally.[7] These arrests and reports prompted D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to caution residents to avoid the rally, even mobilizing city police.[8]
- ↑ Dan Barry and Sheera Frenkel, ‘Be There. Will Be Wild!’: Trump All but Circled the Date, Wash. Post (Jan. 6, 2021).
- ↑ Craig Timberg & Drew Harwell, Pro-Trump forums erupt with violent threats ahead of Wednesday’s rally against the 2020 election, Wash. Post (Jan. 5, 2021); see also Andrew Beaujon, MAGA Geniuses Plot Takeover of US Capitol, Washingtonian (Jan. 5, 2021) (“TheDonald.win’s posters have discussed ways they might “occupy” or “storm” the US Capitol to make citizens’ arrests of lawmakers who hold old-fashioned views like honoring state-certified election results.”).
- ↑ Are we allowed access to Capitol Hill offices and chambers on Jan. 6?, The Donald,. (last visited Jan. 10, 2021).
- ↑ The capitol is our goal. Everything else is a distraction. Every corrupt member of congress locked in one room and surrounded by real Americans is an opportunity that will never present itself again, The Donald, (last visited Jan. 10, 2021).
- ↑ This many patriots would storm the capitol if President Trump orders it on January 6th., The Donald, (last visited Jan. 10, 2021).
- ↑ Allan Smith, D.C. Police make several arrests ahead of major pro-Trump election protests, NBC (Jan. 6, 2021).
- ↑ Judge bans Proud Boys leader from Washington, D.C., after arrest, NBC (Jan. 5, 2021).
- ↑ Brandy Zadronzyny & Ben Collins, Violent threats ripple through far-right internet forums ahead of protest, NBC (Jan. 5, 2020).
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