Pro-Trump protests decry president's election loss, opposing groups clash in Washington

[webfact]

Pro-Trump protests decry president's election loss, opposing groups clash in Washington

By Jonathan Landay and Timothy Gardner

 

Marine One, carrying U.S. President Donald Trump, passes over the "Stop the Steal" rally, in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2020. REUTERS/Erin Scott

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative groups claiming without evidence that the Nov. 3 election was stolen from President Donald Trump staged protests across the country on Saturday, with one in Washington turning violent at times as police broke up sporadic clashes after dark.

 

Organizers of Stop The Steal, linked to pro-Trump operative Roger Stone, and church groups urged supporters to participate in "Jericho Marches" and prayer rallies.

 

But groups of pro-Trump "Proud Boys" protesters and "Antifa" counterprotesters brawled in downtown Washington on Saturday night. Police moved in quickly to separate them, using pepper spray on members of both sides, Reuters witnesses said.

 

Around 200 members of the Proud Boys, a violent far-right group, had joined the marches earlier on Saturday near the Trump hotel. Many wore combat fatigues, black and yellow shirts and ballistic vests, carried helmets and flashed hand signals used by white nationalists.

 

Conservative groups claiming without evidence that the Nov. 3 election was stolen from President Donald Trump staged protests across the country on Saturday, with one in Washington turning violent at times. Olivia Chan reports.

 

Earlier, police in riot gear and on bicycles kept the opposing demonstrators apart by blocking streets. After dark fell, the protesters - including members of the aggressive far-left anti-facism movement - splintered into smaller groups to roam the streets in search of their rivals.

 

Protests were also held in other communities around the country, including Atlanta, Georgia, another state where Trump's campaign has sought to overturn Joe Biden's election victory, and Mobile, Alabama, according to local news coverage.

Local media in the Washington state capital of Olympia reported

https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article247809255.html that one person was shot and three arrested after clashes between pro- and anti-Trump protest groups.

 

FLYNN SPEAKS

More than 50 federal and state court rulings have upheld Biden's victory. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected a long-shot lawsuit filed by Texas and backed by Trump seeking to throw out voting results in four states.

 

"Whatever the ruling was yesterday ... everybody take a deep, deep breath," retired Army General Mike Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser, told protesters in front of the Supreme Court, referring to the court's refusal to hear the Texas case.

 

Flynn who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with the former Russian ambassador, spoke in his first public address since Trump pardoned him on Nov. 24.

 

"My charge to you is to go back to where you are from" and make demands, Flynn told the crowd, without being more specific. The U.S. Constitution is "not about collective liberty it is about individual liberties, and they designed it that way," he said.

 

Trump, a Republican, has refused to concede defeat, alleging without evidence that he was denied victory by massive fraud. On his way to Andrews Air Force Base and then the Army-Navy football game in New York, Trump made three passes in the Marine One helicopter over the cheering protesters.

 

During his first debate with Biden in September, Trump gave fuel to the Proud Boys movement by telling the group to "stand back and stand by." He later said he condemned the group and "all white supremacists."

 

MASKLESS PROTESTS

Trump's supporters carrying his campaign flags and signs marched between the Supreme Court, the Capitol and downtown Washington, which was closed to traffic by police vehicles and dump trucks.

 

Few of the marchers wore masks, despite soaring COVID-19 deaths and cases, defying a mayoral directive for them to be worn outside. Several thousand people rallied in Washington, fewer than during a similar protest last month.

 

As some in the crowd echoed far right conspiracy theories about the election, a truck-pulled trailer flew Trump 2020 flags and a sign reading "Trump Unity" while blaring the country song "God Bless the U.S.A."

 

"It's clear the election has been stolen," said Mark Paul Jones of Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, who sported a tricorner Revolutionary War hat as he walked toward the Supreme Court with his wife.

 

Trump "is being railroaded out of office," he said, adding that Biden won with the complicity of the Supreme Court, FBI, Department of Justice and CIA. The Supreme Court "didn't even take the time to hear the case," Jones said.

 

Eddy Miller of Philadelphia, who was selling Trump campaign T-shirts, said he was sure "there was fraud despite what I see on the news" about court rulings striking down fraud allegations.

 

BATTLE OF JERICHO

Some protesters referenced the Biblical miracle of the battle of Jericho, in which the walls of the city crumbled after soldiers and priests blowing horns marched around it.

 

In his speech, Flynn told the protesters they were all standing inside Jericho after breaching its walls.

 

Ron Hazard of Morristown, New Jersey, was one of five people who stopped at the Justice Department to blow shofars - a ram's horn used in Jewish religious ceremonies - to bring down "the spiritual" walls "of corruption."

 

"We believe what is going on in this county is an important thing. It's a balance between biblical values and anti-biblical values," Hazard said.

 

His small group, including one member who wore a Jewish prayer shawl known as a tallit, are Christians "who love the Jewish people. We love Israel," he said.

 

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Timothy Gardner and David Lawder; Editing by Heather Timmons, Tom Brown and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-14

 

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[PatOngo]

Damn it, wherrre's ma gun! When will the Proud Boys get it through their dumb, stupid heads that Trump is a one term loser and accept the majority vote of the people. Shame Proud Boys, SHAME!

 

[Colabamumbai]

Sadly America loses its democracy. 

 

[placeholder]

42 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

Sadly America loses its democracy. 

 

Not yet. But give Trump and his supporters a few more years

[Scott]

Troll post reported and removed.

 

[Tug]

Sadly 4 were stabbed all critically I don’t know who or what side sad .not nearly as many protesters (not by a long shot)as many who (peacefully)protested the day after trumps inauguration hopefully this will soon pass we have much more important tasks than crying for mr silver spoon sore loser 

[Salerno]

1 hour ago, Colabamumbai said:

Sadly America loses its democracy. 

 

Not yet, numerous courts around the USA has seen to that.

[Dumbastheycome]

If these acts  of violence and baseless rhetoric  continue and/or  escalate could it invite use of the Insurrection Act ?

[ballpoint]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Around 200 members of the Proud Boys, a violent far-right group, had joined the marches earlier on Saturday near the Trump hotel. Many wore combat fatigues, black and yellow shirts and ballistic vests, carried helmets and flashed hand signals used by white nationalists.

And there are those on this very thread who are still trying to tell us they're not a White supremist movement.

[Jonnapat]

Surely a country that has lost control of itself by rules that allow a defeated President a further 10 weeks in office to wreak havoc, which he is only too happy to be a big part of. Possibilities of big trouble in the next few weeks. 

One has to feel for Biden and the new administration which will have an enormous problem to govern with any authority, all things considered. A really strong AG is essential. 

[placeholder]

3 minutes ago, Jonnapat said:

Surely a country that has lost control of itself by rules that allow a defeated President a further 10 weeks in office to wreak havoc, which he is only too happy to be a big part of. Possibilities of big trouble in the next few weeks. 

One has to feel for Biden and the new administration which will have an enormous problem to govern with any authority, all things considered. A really strong AG is essential. 

As has bern pointed out by Constutional scholars, the Founding fathers took it for grsnted for the incumbent to be blessed with a modicum of decency.

[Rimmer]

Troll meme removed

[Baerboxer]

6 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Damn it, wherrre's ma gun! When will the Proud Boys get it through their dumb, stupid heads that Trump is a one term loser and accept the majority vote of the people. Shame Proud Boys, SHAME!

 

 

Probably take them as long as it took the Democrats in Congress to acknowledge Hilary lost, Trump won and accept it. 

 

Sad to see how the divide is being fueled and widened by extremists on both sides.

 

If the Republicans retain the Senate and were to take control of Congress, then Biden-Harris Administration is in for a rough time. Which won't help the American people one way or another.

 

Ironic though that the Democrats now call for unity and acceptance when they never would. 

 

Politicians in the West used to govern on behalf of the people and for the benefit of the people. That era has long gone.

 

 

[CharlieH]

Reported post and incorrect format removed.

 

If you are going to copy n paste from other sources, make sure you standardise it or it will simply be removed.

[placeholder]

23 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Probably take them as long as it took the Democrats in Congress to acknowledge Hilary lost, Trump won and accept it. 

 

Sad to see how the divide is being fueled and widened by extremists on both sides.

 

If the Republicans retain the Senate and were to take control of Congress, then Biden-Harris Administration is in for a rough time. Which won't help the American people one way or another.

 

Ironic though that the Democrats now call for unity and acceptance when they never would. 

 

Politicians in the West used to govern on behalf of the people and for the benefit of the people. That era has long gone.

 

 

What nonsense. Where's your evidence that the Democrats in any significant numbers contested the legitimacy of Trump's election. This is a really vivid example of dishonest "both-sidesism".

Democrate are calling for unity and acceptance in relation to the election. That's about a matter of fact. Politicians may call for unity and acceptance in issues. But that is, after all, a standard thing to call for by politicians.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

As has bern pointed out by Constutional scholars, the Founding fathers took it for grsnted for the incumbent to be blessed with a modicum of decency.

As I understand it the founding fathers expected politicians to do a couple or three terms and then leave politics. I'm sure they would be astounded that any politicians would be in congress for 40+ years. Pity they didn't make all political terms 2 max.

[Jeffr2]

31 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Probably take them as long as it took the Democrats in Congress to acknowledge Hilary lost, Trump won and accept it. 

 

Sad to see how the divide is being fueled and widened by extremists on both sides.

 

If the Republicans retain the Senate and were to take control of Congress, then Biden-Harris Administration is in for a rough time. Which won't help the American people one way or another.

 

Ironic though that the Democrats now call for unity and acceptance when they never would. 

 

Politicians in the West used to govern on behalf of the people and for the benefit of the people. That era has long gone.

 

 

Your wrong.  Hillary conceded on November 9th.  Trump still hasn't and I'm guessing you know what today's date is.

 

NO comparison.  Impossible to compare the 2.  The divide is being widened by the GOP and alt right groups.  Period.

 

You must have missed Biden's speech when he said even if you didn't vote for me, we're all Americans and I'll still support you.

 

Never heard Trump say anything like that.

[thaibeachlovers]

33 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

Ironic though that the Democrats now call for unity and acceptance when they never would. 

Yeah. There's a word for their call for unity after the last 4 years of resistance.

[Jeffr2]

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

As I understand it the founding fathers expected politicians to do a couple or three terms and then leave politics. I'm sure they would be astounded that any politicians would be in congress for 40+ years. Pity they didn't make all political terms 2 max.

Should be a mandatory retirement at 70.  Enough is enough. 

[Jeffr2]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

Yeah. There's a word for their call for unity after the last 4 years of resistance.

Resistance to lies, corruption and swamp creatures.  Sad you didn't see that.

[TopDeadSenter]

5 minutes ago, placeholder said:

What nonsense. Where's your evidence that the Democrats in any significant numbers contested the legitimacy of Trump's election.

"He lost the election, and he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf," Carter said. 

Moderator and historian Jon Meacham then asked the former president if he thinks that Mr. Trump is an "illegitimate president." 

"Based on what I just said, which I can't retract," Mr. Carter responded to laughs from the audience. "I would say yes." 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jimmy-carter-says-president-trump-illegitimate-president-russian-interference-2019-06-28/

 

Hillary Clinton dismissed President Trump as an “illegitimate president” and suggested that “he knows” that he stole the 2016 presidential election in a CBS News interview to be aired Sunday.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hillary-clinton-trump-is-an-illegitimate-president/2019/09/26/29195d5a-e099-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html

 

Recent comments from 2 icons of the democrat party. There was no pushback against either, for obvious reasons(it was and is a widespread belief in that party and their followers that Trump is illegitimate thanks to being falsely accused of having colluded with Russia to win the election. A quick reminder to everyone that it was a hoax and Trump did not collude with Russia before the cycle starts again.

 

  "Special counsel Robert Mueller's report found that Russia waged a "sweeping and systematic" influence campaign during the 2016 election with the goal of electing Trump, but did not establish a conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Moscow."

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/28/politics/jimmy-carter-trump-russia-interference/index.html

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

Should be a mandatory retirement at 70.  Enough is enough. 

Should be retirement age. In the UK it's 65.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Never heard Trump say anything like that.

IMO I've never heard a politician say that and mean it.

[Jeffr2]

3 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

"He lost the election, and he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf," Carter said. 

Moderator and historian Jon Meacham then asked the former president if he thinks that Mr. Trump is an "illegitimate president." 

"Based on what I just said, which I can't retract," Mr. Carter responded to laughs from the audience. "I would say yes." 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jimmy-carter-says-president-trump-illegitimate-president-russian-interference-2019-06-28/

 

Hillary Clinton dismissed President Trump as an “illegitimate president” and suggested that “he knows” that he stole the 2016 presidential election in a CBS News interview to be aired Sunday.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hillary-clinton-trump-is-an-illegitimate-president/2019/09/26/29195d5a-e099-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html

 

Recent comments from 2 icons of the democrat party. There was no pushback against either, for obvious reasons(it was and is a widespread belief in that party and their followers that Trump is illegitimate thanks to being falsely accused of having colluded with Russia to win the election. A quick reminder to everyone that it was a hoax and Trump did not collude with Russia before the cycle starts again.

 

  "Special counsel Robert Mueller's report found that Russia waged a "sweeping and systematic" influence campaign during the 2016 election with the goal of electing Trump, but did not establish a conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Moscow."

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/28/politics/jimmy-carter-trump-russia-interference/index.html

 

Hard to argue with Clinton.  She got more votes.  Hardly a mandate if only a minority of the people voted for you and you still won.  Get it?

[Jeffr2]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO I've never heard a politician say that and mean it.

You didn't hear Joe say it, did you.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

Hard to argue with Clinton.  She got more votes.  Hardly a mandate if only a minority of the people voted for you and you still won.  Get it?

LOL. Under proportional voting many governments won by a minority.

I think it was a mistake for NZ to change to proportional voting and I'm not alone by far.

[Jeffr2]

7 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. Under proportional voting many governments won by a minority.

I think it was a mistake for NZ to change to proportional voting and I'm not alone by far.

The US is the only major democratic nation that has a system like the Electoral College.  It's why Trump won, and why the GOP doesn't want to get rid of it.  Without the EC, they wouldn't have had a president for a very long time.

[Justgrazing]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Trump "is being railroaded out of office," he said, adding that Biden won with the complicity of the Supreme Court, FBI, Department of Justice and CIA. 

 

He's missed Space aliens , Sitting Bull and Joe Stalin off his list ..

[ballpoint]

1 hour ago, Salerno said:

 

Shame no one told Trump that 

Or those that voted for Trump.

[bluesofa]

13 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

8 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Trump "is being railroaded out of office," he said, adding that Biden won with the complicity of the Supreme Court, FBI, Department of Justice and CIA. 

He's missed Space aliens , Sitting Bull and Joe Stalin off his list ..

Ha ha! Don't forget Whistling Jack Smith (I was Kaiser Bill's Batman).