Justice for J6 rally

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Justice for J6
Matt Braynard 20210918-2.jpg
Former Trump campaign staffer Matt Braynard speaking at the Justice for J6 rally
DateSeptember 18, 2021
Caused byRight-wing support for the participants of the 2021 United States Capitol attack[1] – opposition to arrests and criminal charges brought in the attack
MethodsDemonstration
Number
100–200

The Justice for J6 rally was a right-wing demonstration in Washington, D.C., in support of hundreds of people who were arrested and charged following the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[2] It occurred on September 18, 2021.[3][4] The event attracted 100–200 activists and proceeded mostly peacefully. It was organized by a former Trump campaign staffer.[5] The event was noted for extensive security preparations and concerns over possible unrest.

Background[]

FBI poster seeking information on violence at the Capitol published January 6, 2021
On January 6, 2021, supporters of President Donald Trump attempted to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden by storming the capitol during a riot and violent attack against the U.S. Congress, disrupting the joint session of Congress assembled to count electoral votes to formalize Joe Biden's victory.[6] By the end of the month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had opened more than 400 case files and issued more than 500 subpoenas and search warrants related to the riot.[7] The FBI also created a website to solicit tips from the public specifically related to the riot[8] and were especially assisted by the crowdsourced sleuthing of a group that calls themselves "Sedition Hunters."[9] By the end of 2021, 725 people were charged with federal crimes.[10][11]

In August, a Justice for J6 rally was organized by Look Ahead America, a nonprofit led by former Trump campaign staffer Matt Braynard, was scheduled to be held on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on September 18. It was Look Ahead America's third rally held in Washington, D.C.; its first was outside the Department of Justice on June 19, 2021, and its second was outside of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections facility on July 17.[12][13][14][15]

Look Ahead America had also held satellite rallies in nine states prior to the September 18 rally. On July 14 it held a rally in Arizona, which included speakers U.S. Representative Paul Gosar and State Representative Mark Finchem.[16][17][18] The other eight rallies held on July 17, 2021, took place in Georgia,[19] Florida, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming.[20][21]

The rallies were intended as a show of support for people charged for participating in the attack. Lawmakers and law enforcement officials expressed their concerns over possible unrest at the rally.[1][22][23] On August 27, 2021, Matt Braynard on behalf of Look Ahead America and Cara Castronuova of Citizens Against Political Persecution (CAPP) filed a formal complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee regarding the plight of the prisoners.[24][25]

Preparations[]

Matt Braynard stated in interviews that the rally is “100% about #JusticeforJ6 and not the election or any candidate."[26] The official Look Ahead America website discouraged attendees from wearing political gear, stating "Do not wear or bring political, candidate, or another organization’s paraphernalia. This includes clothing or banners supportive of President Trump or President Biden."[27]

In response to the rally's announcement, the Metropolitan Police Department was activated for September 18. There were also discussions about restoring the fencing surrounding the Capitol, though they were initially met with bipartisan disapproval. It was unclear how many people planned to attend the event.[22][1][23]

A counter-rally was subsequently scheduled on the same day, heightening concerns over participants of both events clashing. The Department of Homeland Security shared an intelligence briefing memo to state and local law enforcement agencies, which warned of potential violence at the rally and on the day before. The memo did not identify a specific or credible plot associated with the event, but it also warned that individuals and small groups can "mobilize to violence with little-to-no warning, particularly in response to confrontational encounters with perceived opponents or calls for escalation by key influencers."[28][29]

The protective fencing was restored along with facial recognition cameras[a] around the Capitol by September 13, and multiple congressional offices were slated to close on September 17. Although the fencing was removed shortly after the rally, the facial recognition cameras continue to be deployed around the capitol.[30][31][32]

Rally[]

100 to 200 demonstrators attended the rally.[33] Capitol Police made an estimation that a maximum of 450 people were in the crowd, which was made up of demonstrators, counter-demonstrators, and journalists, with the latter reported to even outnumber the demonstrators.[34][35] Among the speakers were Look Ahead America rally organizer Matt Braynard, Citizens Against Political Persecution co-founder Cara Castronuova, and family members of the prisoners. No member of congress attended though Mike Collins, who is running for Georgia's 10th district, and Joe Kent, who is running in Washington's 3rd district did.[36][37][38]

The event occurred without incident and remained a peaceful demonstration as planned. Four people were arrested before and after the rally, although D.C. police said they made no arrests related to the rally.[35][36] Earlier in the day, two people were arrested for outstanding firearms violation warrants. One man arrested nearby was found to be in possession of a large knife.[35][36] Another arrested 15 minutes after the rally, a US Customs and Border Protection officer, was found to be in possession of a gun but was not prosecuted.[5][36][39]

The rally was noted for its contradictory statements.[40][41]

The event saw heightened security presence by the U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies.[34]

Events elsewhere[]

Both during and after the September 18 rally, Look Ahead America had rallies in 17 other states.[42][27][43] Two were held on the same day as the rally: Charlotte, North Carolina and Seattle, Washington.[44][45] The 15 other state rallies occurred in Arizona,[46] California, Colorado,[47] Georgia,[48] Iowa, Kansas,[49] Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina,[50] Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming.[51]

2022 Candlelight Vigils[]

On the 1 year anniversary of the January 6 incident, Look Ahead America organized 35 candlelight vigils taking place across 12 States and Washington, D.C.[52][53][54] Among these locations were:

  • Nogales, Phoenix, Prescott, Yuma, and Queen Creek Arizona[53][55][56]
  • St. Augustine, Clearwater, Fort Lauderdale, Largo, Lakeland, Milton, and Vero Beach Florida[57][58][59]
  • Jefferson and Woodstock Georgia[60]
  • Columbus, North Carolina[61]
  • Aiken, South Carolina[62]
  • Washington, D.C.[63]

Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt, was present at the vigil in Washington, D.C. Braynard compared the events of January 6, 2021 to that of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. No individuals were arrested or injured at this event.[64][65]

Reactions[]

Ahead of the event, Braynard criticized the security measures established in response to the event, saying they were designed to discourage and deter participants.[28] In response to the planned rally, former U.S. President Donald Trump called it a "setup" for Republican voters, saying, "If people don't show up they'll say, 'Oh, it's a lack of spirit.' And if people do show up they'll be harassed."[66] For the most part, Congressional Republicans had distanced themselves from the demonstration, saying little if anything about it.[67][68] On social media, far-right groups, such as the Proud Boys, and certain allies of such groups, had been urging their members and others not to attend the event.[5][28]

According to Mother Jones, extremism experts criticized the media for exaggerating the potential for violence at the rally prior to it taking place.[69]

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) described security at the event as more "well-prepared" in contrast to the 2021 Capitol attack.[34]

Notes[]

  1. ^ The fencing had been raised in the aftermath of the Capitol attack, and subsequently removed in July.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c LeBlanc, Paul (September 15, 2021). "Here's everything we know about the September 18 right-wing rally in DC". CNN. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "Justice for J6 Rally in DC This Weekend: What to Know". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "Justice for J6: What to know about Saturday's rally for those arrested in the Capitol riots". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  4. ^ Kevin Johnson; Bart Jansen; Savannah Behrmann; David Jackson. "Rally for Capitol riot suspects draws small crowd of protestors amid heavy security". USA TODAY.
  5. ^ a b c Deliso, Meredith (September 18, 2021). "'Justice for J6' updates: Sparse crowd met with massive police presence at right-wing rally". ABC News. Retrieved September 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Reeves, Jay; Mascaro, Lisa; Woodward, Calvin (January 11, 2021). "Capitol assault a more sinister attack than first appeared". Associated Press. Retrieved January 12, 2021. Under battle flags bearing Donald Trump's name, the Capitol's attackers pinned a bloodied police officer in a doorway, his twisted face and screams captured on video. They mortally wounded another officer with a blunt weapon and body-slammed a third over a railing into the crowd. 'Hang Mike Pence!' the rioters chanted as they pressed inside, beating police with pipes. They demanded House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's whereabouts, too. They hunted any and all lawmakers: 'Where are they?' Outside, makeshift gallows stood, complete with sturdy wooden steps and the noose. Guns and pipe bombs had been stashed in the vicinity. ... The mob got stirring encouragement from Trump and more explicit marching orders from the president's men. 'Fight like hell,' Trump exhorted his partisans at the staging rally. 'Let's have trial by combat,' implored his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, whose attempt to throw out election results in trial by courtroom failed. It's time to 'start taking down names and kicking ass', said Republican Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama. Criminals pardoned by Trump, among them Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, came forward at rallies on the eve of the attack to tell the crowds they were fighting a battle between good and evil
  7. ^ Fischer, Jordan (January 26, 2021). "Sedition investigations could 'bear fruit soon' in Capitol riot cases, FBI says". WUSA.
  8. ^ "Capitol Violence". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Reilly, Ryan J. (January 5, 2022). "The FBI's Secret Weapon In The Capitol Attack Manhunt". HuffPost. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  10. ^ Harrington, Rebecca; Hall, Madison; Gould, Skye; Haroun, Azmi; Shamsian, Jacob; Ardrey, Taylor (December 14, 2021). "727 people have been charged in the Capitol insurrection so far. This searchable table shows them all". Insider. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  11. ^ Alexander, Keith L. (December 31, 2021). "Prosecutors break down charges, convictions for 725 arrested so far in Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol". Washington Post. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Fischer, Ford (June 19, 2021). "ACTIVISTS HOLD "RALLY AGAINST POLITICAL PERSECUTION" FOR JANUARY 6 DEFENDANTS AT DOJ IN DC". News2Share. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "LAA Announces Rally Against Political Persecution on June 19 at the DoJ". May 27, 2021.
  14. ^ cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/07/17/look-ahead-america-dc-rally/%7Ctitle=Protesters[permanent dead link] rally at D.C. jail against Jan. 6 riot arrests|publisher=The Washington Post|last1=Elwood|first1=Karina|date=July 17, 2021|access-date=October 25, 2021|
  15. ^ "With #RallyAgainstPoliticalPersecution a success, a second rally planned". June 24, 2021.
  16. ^ Mimms, Sarah (August 16, 2021). "A Short-Lived Trump Campaign Staffer Is Now At The Head Of The Far Right's Jan. 6 Counternarrative". Buzzfeed News. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "Rep Paul Gosar to address the Rally Against Political Persecution". June 17, 2021.
  18. ^ "Arizona Rally to #FreePoliticalPrisoners".
  19. ^ "PATRIOTS RALLY FOR DC POLITICAL PRISONERS IN NORTH ATLANTA". The Georgia Record. July 17, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  20. ^ "LAA Announces Satellite Rallies to #FreePoliticalPrisoners". July 12, 2021.
  21. ^ "LAA Ten-State Rally to #FreePoliticalPrisoners: An Important First Step". July 19, 2021.
  22. ^ a b Zanona, Melanie; Wild, Whitney (August 27, 2021). "Renewed fears of political violence grip Capitol Hill ahead of right-wing rally". CNN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  23. ^ a b LeBlanc, Paul (September 6, 2021). "Ex-FBI official says law enforcement needs to take upcoming right-wing rally in DC 'very seriously'". CNN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  24. ^ "LAA, CAPP File Formal Complaint with UN Human Rights Committee, Demand Sanctions Against Key Biden Administration Officials". August 27, 2021.
  25. ^ Tillman, Zoe (September 18, 2021). ""Justice For J6" Says They're Rallying For Nonviolent Offenders. Most Alleged Capitol Rioters In Jail Are Charged With Violent Crimes". Buzzfeed News. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  26. ^ Schnell, Mychael (September 14, 2021). "Sept. 18 rally organizer asks attendees not to wear pro-Trump clothing". The Hill. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Rally for #JusticeforJ6 at the US Capitol".
  28. ^ a b c Jansen, Bart; Carless, Will; Johnson, Kevin; Rouan, Rick (September 17, 2021). "'Might just be me and a bullhorn': Meet the unlikely organizer of the Justice for J6 rally in DC". USA Today. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  29. ^ Sands, Geneva (September 16, 2021). "DHS warns of potential for violence surrounding the 'Justice for J6' rally in intelligence brief". CNN. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  30. ^ Gonzalez, Oriana (September 13, 2021). "Police to reinstall fence around U.S. Capitol ahead of pro-Capitol riot rally". Axios. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
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  32. ^ Rupar, Aaron (September 17, 2021). "The Justice for J6 rally is Trump supporters' latest attempt at revisionist history". Vox. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  33. ^ Jones, Perris (September 18, 2021). "4 arrested during protests, confrontations around Justice for J6 rally on Capitol Hill". FOX 5. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  34. ^ a b c Hernandez, Joe (September 18, 2021). "Hundreds Rally In Support Of Capitol Riot Suspects Amid Heightened Police Presence". NPR. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
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  36. ^ a b c d Sophia Barnes, Associated Press (September 18, 2021). "Crowd Rallies in DC to Support Jan. 6 Defendants; Capitol Police Arrest 4". NBC 4 Washington. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  37. ^ "#JusticeforJ6 Rally Live at the US Capitol".
  38. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "LIVE: The #JusticeforJ6 Rally at the US Capitol". YouTube.
  39. ^ "Federal officer carrying gun at J6 rally won't be charged and officials won't say why". Independent.co.uk. September 21, 2021.
  40. ^ "Capitol rally 'Justice for J6' seeks to sanitise the insurrection". Independent.co.uk. September 18, 2021.
  41. ^ "'Free the political prisoners' and 'lock her up': The Justice for J6 rally was many things to many people".
  42. ^ Stephanie Dube Dwilson (September 18, 2021). "Justice for J6 Rally Time, Locations & Map: Where Will the Protests Be?". Heavy. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  43. ^ Emily Zantow (September 10, 2021). "U.S. Capitol rally organizers look to expand protests to 13 state capitals". The Washington Times. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
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  47. ^ Michael Roberts (September 24, 2021). "Denver's Justice for J6 Rally: A Preview". Westword. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
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  49. ^ Tim Carpenter (October 2, 2021). "Tiny rally at Kansas Capitol seeks big change in treatment of Jan. 6 'political prisoners'". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
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  69. ^ Breland, Ali (September 17, 2021). "Extremism experts: The media is overhyping potential violence at tomorrow's "Justice for J6" rally". Mother Jones. Retrieved October 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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