By Kristina Cooke, Ned Parker and Ted Hesson
(Reuters) – Far right groups and other backers of U.S. President Donald Trump plan to rally in Washington on Saturday in a public show of support for his unsubstantiated claim of widespread voting fraud in the Nov. 3 election.
Republican Trump has refused to accept that he lost the election to Democrat Joe Biden, now President-elect, adding to tensions. Trump’s supporters, including Republican lawmakers, have amplified his claims that the election was stolen from him.
The protests will bring together far right personalities including conspiracy theorist and Infowars broadcaster Alex Jones and self-described “American Nationalist” Nicholas Fuentes. The Oath Keepers militia and the far-right Proud Boys have also said their members are attending.
Some left-wing groups have called for counter demonstrations.
“Heartwarming to see all of the tremendous support out there, especially the organic Rallies that are springing up all over the Country, including a big one on Saturday in D.C. I may even try to stop by and say hello,” Trump said on Twitter on Friday.
Law enforcement had warned of potential violence around the election, including from extremist groups, which so far has not come to pass. Experts on extremist groups said that the Washington demonstrations had the potential to become violent if protesters clashed with counterprotesters.
Christopher Rodriguez, the capital’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management director, said his agency was tracking about a dozen groups each made up of “about a dozen” people who had indicated they would attend on Saturday.
“I don’t want anyone to think we are talking about large numbers of folks,” he said at a news conference on Thursday.
He stressed that those attending the rallies would not be allowed to carry weapons. “Violence will not be tolerated,” he said.
The Trump supporters are expected to congregate near Freedom Plaza, just east of the White House. They have given their rallies different names, including the Million MAGA March, the March for Trump and Stop the Steal DC. MAGA is an acronym for Trump campaign slogan Make America Great Again.
There have been pro-Trump protests around the country since Biden was projected the winner on Nov. 7, but they have been small and unfolded with few incidents.
Enrique Tarrio, the Florida-based leader of the Proud Boys, said he expects roughly 250 members to attend the rally. He said he did not expect violence at the event and said the Proud Boys would adhere to D.C. local gun laws.
Stewart Rhodes, the head of the anti-government and pro-Trump Oath Keepers, said in a statement his group will be “assisting” with security for the rallies.
(Reporting by Ned Parker, Kristina Cooke and Ted Hesson, editing by Ross Colvin and Grant McCool)
