Pro-Trump Protesters to Gather Amid Fears of Violence

Organizers were preparing for an expected crowd of 5,000 on Tuesday and more than 30,000 throughout the week, according to permits issued by the National Park Service. Local government officials warned that the events could turn tumultuous. Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington requested assistance from the Army National Guard on Monday, and the local police warned that anyone who intended to arrive in Washington with a firearm, as some on social media sites promised to do, would be arrested.

Many of the hundreds of demonstrators who showed up on Tuesday for the “March to Save America” and “Stop the Steal” rallies chose not to wear masks to prevent transmission of the coronavirus. Some of the speakers during the rally at the Freedom Plaza delivered aggressive speeches claiming the groups were “at war,” targeting Republicans in Congress who have refused to protest the results of the election.
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Marc Elrich, the executive of neighboring Montgomery County, Md., said that the demonstrations could turn violent with some of Mr. Trump’s supporters looking to disrupt the vote count. “Protest organizations and the groups they represent have shown an alarming affinity for violence. Sadly, they have not been shy about suggesting the need for violence,” Mr. Elrich said in a statement. “There is talk of disrupting the counting of votes in Congress, which would require extreme actions.”