Masked men marched at Union Station and then across Capitol Hill on July Fourth, chanting calls to rid the U.S. of immigrants and carrying Confederate flags. D.C. police said they were tracking First Amendment activity in the Eastern Market neighborhood.
On July Fourth, a group of masked men gathered at Union Station and began chanting calls to “reclaim” the country and get rid of immigrants.
Some of the marchers held Confederate flags as they moved from the station and continued across Capitol Hill. The demonstration drew attention not only for the chants, but for the way it echoed earlier far-right movements.
The marchers were believed to be linked to a white supremacist group that emerged from the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The connection to Charlottesville runs through a grim chapter in U.S. history. The Aug. 12, 2017, rally grew out of a right-wing protest of Charlottesville’s plan to take down Confederate statues. During that event, a woman was killed when a white nationalist plowed his car into a crowd of counterprotesters.
Back in Washington, D.C., a police spokesperson said the department was “tracking First Amendment activities that occurred this morning in the Eastern Market neighborhood.” Some police officers were present, and later members of the National Guard walked by.
MPD said in its statement that it “recognizes the rights of individuals to peacefully express their views and remains committed to maintaining public safety and security for DC residents and visitors.”
Union Station Capitol Hill July Fourth masked men immigration Confederate flags white supremacist group Charlottesville Unite the Right MPD National Guard