This account of a trip to DC Protest needs to be told!!!It needs to be passed along. I received this from a good friend, I have the utmost respect for.
Hello all,
I've been in touch with a number of you but wanted to put the event to pen. As I recall it.
Our local News Paper Headlines
Capital Under Siege
TRUMP INCITED RIOTERS REPULSED AFTER BUILDING BREACH
CONGRESS RESUMES PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER
With all the news about the 1/6 rally I want to share my perspective. Not all of what's being said in the media is correct, some comments are misleading.
The numbers at the event were over the top, I heard 500,000 and another estimate at 1,000,000. I've never been in such a crowd. People as far as you could see. So unfortunate the behavior of a few and loss of life.
Initially there were a number of us that were going to make the trip to DC, an historic event. As it turned out only myself and Earl, a buddy from New Hampshire went. Understandable, It was a day down, day there, and day back. Not an insignificant amount of time to take away from work. We drove to Leesburg VA on the 5th, spent the night, On the 6th took an Uber in and back. We didn't have a clue as to where we were going or what to expect. I didn't really know where the Ellipse was, just that the President was going to talk. Then to the Capitol building. The driver took us close by.
I've attached a map I marked up to give reference to where we were and the path we walked.
We arrived at 10:30, a very cold windy day, I froze. We came in from the west and walked east on Constitution Ave. We listen to some of the speakers at about the mark (A) on the map. Looking through the trees we could see the President speak on the screen. I think he was due to talk at 11:00 but it may have been closer to noon before he did. The Washington Monument to our rear right. There were maybe (20) porta potties lined up on the street, people in lines going 20-30 deep from each.
For the most part the crowd was made up of groups, of 2, 3,4 and more all together and of families, young and old. There were all races and age groups. Everyone was very polite and considerate. Not a rude person to be had. We spoke to many and they came from all over the country. Didn't feel the least bit unsafe in the crowd.
As I look back some things stand out.
The media said there were (5) deaths, I can account for (2). A man behind us had a heart attack, not looking too good when they carried him out and a woman from the direction of the Washington Monument was being carried out shortly after, I believe another heart attack. They may have died at the event but were not killed
As I said, most participants were in groups and stationary, staying in one place. What was odd, we noticed single individuals walking through the crowd, young men mostly with helmets, small backpacks and in black, nondescript clothing. When the woman was being carried out, one swiftly came by me and took a direct picture of her. The person helping the woman confronted the guy and said WTF are you doing ? She needs help not a picture taken. The guys told him to F off and kept moving. Not a normal thing to do when someones in need.
Another incident was a grungy looking guy, again with a helmet, backpack walking through the crowd saying , repeating ,"we have to take the Capitol building." I didn't think much of his comments at the time. He carried some kind of ram's horn and blew on it as he maneuvered through the crowd. I now assume they were there to incite the crowd. Most people were stationary, single guys were moving, working the crowd.
The President's speech seemed low key, and he did say, in so many words, about the rally moving to that Capital building, and did say go in peace. This would have been after 1:00, it was a slow cold walk to the Capitol Building.
We walked east on Constitution Ave, about a mile. Freezing cold.. The crowd was in good spirits with no talk of violence or of storming the Capital Building that I heard.
We stopped at about (C) the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave and 3rd street. People as far as we could see in all directions and a solid crowd between us and the Capitol building. Must have been 1/4 mile. Being on the short side, I was on my toes trying to get a better look. I could then see individuals climb up the steps and walls to go into the Capitol Building. However when the timeline is reviewed it appears the building was breached before the President was through talking. A 45 minute walk after he was through. A group was already at the Capitol building..
Another couple incidents come to mind.
While at the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave and 3rd street, a guy walked through the crowd repeating "the jobs to get to the Capitol building" trying to incite more to move. Shortly after a couple guys moving through the crowd made a comment about "this should have been planned better" as they moved forward. (?)
When a number of police cruisers started to come to assist, traveling east on Constitution , someone in the crowd hollered, "stop them, block the road.". Again, inciting marginal thinkers to stop the help from coming in.
We stayed there till about 4:00 as more and more troops/police started coming in and it was known that there was gun fire in the building. Someone having been shot. Time to go.
We walked back, west on Constitution Ave and beyond the Ellipse, getting a ride out as it was getting dark.
To hear the rally was an angry mob and Trump incited rioters doesn't do it justice, or to put the blame on Mr Trump. No one blamed Bernie Sanders when one of his followers shot representative Steve Scalise.
Home and now self guaranteed, feeling fine , I'll get a test later today.
Were in uncharted waters,
Mark