Patriot Front March Draws Global Attention
Pictures of a white nationalist group preparing to march through the streets of Washington, DC during Independence Day celebrations have raised eyebrows across the globe. The Patriot Front claims about 400 of its members marched through the city on Saturday, local time, carrying the group’s flag, Confederate flags, variations of the US flag, and placards emblazoned with far-right slogans.
Founder Leads the Rally
The founder of the white supremacist group, Thomas Rousseau, led the march, which also featured chants of “reclaim America.” According to the Anti-Defamation League, members of the Patriot Front “maintain that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it to them, and no one else.” Photos capture crowds of Patriot Front members on trains, alongside people of minority races, sharing glances as they rode to Washington’s northern suburbs, Reuters reports.
Police Response and Legal Protections
The Washington Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it was tracking the group’s “first amendment” activities and noted no reports of arrests. “MPD recognises the rights of individuals to peacefully express their views and remains committed to maintaining public safety and security for DC residents and visitors,” the MPD told Reuters. The rally is the latest in a long line of demonstrations since the group was founded following a “Unite the Right” march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
Group's Ideology and Message
The group claims “Democracy has failed this once great nation,” and a “hard reset” is needed to “return to the traditions and virtues of our forefathers (European settlers).” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the group would not face prosecution for the event. While Burgum told CNN the Patriot Front’s white supremacist, anti-immigrant ideology is “nothing that I could possibly agree with,” it is protected free speech, even if it “makes democracy messy.”
Context of the March
The Washington, DC march fell on 4th of July celebrations marking the USA’s 250th anniversary of gaining independence. The celebrations included President Donald Trump making a speech in which he launched veiled attacks at his democratic socialist rivals by declaring communism as a major problem in the US and “a mortal threat to American liberty.” “It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbour or even 9/11,” he said.
