Right-Wing J6 Rally Collapses Under Weight of Right-Wing Conspiracies - Rolling Stone
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The lackluster attendance may be connected to conspiracy theories that the event was a "false flag" or "honeypot" for federal agents to entrap and arrest attendees
By Peter Wade
People arrive to attend a rally near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. The rally was planned by allies of former President Donald Trump and aimed at supporting the so-called "political prisoners" of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Alex Brandon/AP Images
A rally for supporters of the "Big Lie" is looking like a big flop.
Reports from the start of the "Justice for J6" rally Saturday show an event much smaller than the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Video from on-scene reporters appears to show more members of the media in attendance than Trump-supporting protesters. Although Capitol Police expected as many as 1,000 attendees, and organizers obtained permits for a group of 700, the final turnout looks like it will be much lower, according to reports on the ground.
Crowd of over a hundred out for the Justice for J6 rally as speeches begin, with even more press out covering here in Union Square pic.twitter.com/8YpSSNMcEp
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 18, 2021
Capitol police expected up to 1,000 people to attend the "Justice for J6" rally.
But @jeffpeguescbs reports that far less showed up, and that there are more media and police present than rally attendees https://t.co/dhLq5MOn9Epic.twitter.com/sW31VFeUiT
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 18, 2021
The rally is organized by a nonprofit, "Look Ahead America," that is led by a former Trump campaign aid Matt Braynard. The group's mission is "standing up for patriotic Americans who have been forgotten by our government," according to its website, which means "training citizens to lobby their state and local governments for America First causes" in addition to "ensuring voter integrity." Because of the event's connection to January 6th, the FBI warned that attendees "may seek to engage in violence" but said there were no indications of a "specific or credible plot associated with the event."
The lack of attendance could be connected with conspiracy theories about the rally pushed by Trump and other right-wingers. Users on extremist forums on platforms like TheDonald and 4chan, NBC News reported, were warning potential attendees that they believed the event was a "false flag" or "honeypot" where federal agents will entrap Trump supporters into committing violence.
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In an interview with The Federalist on Thursday, the former president echoed conspiracy theories that the event was a "setup." "On Saturday, that's a setup," Trump said. "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."
But immediately afterward, the former president also issued a statement saying: "Our hearts and minds are with the people being persecuted so unfairly relating to the January 6th protest concerning the Rigged Presidential Election. In addition to everything else, it has proven conclusively that we are a two-tiered system of justice. In the end, however, JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!"
It's probable that Trump was covering his ass here, setting himself up for credit had turnout been huge while also being able to distance himself from the event in case it fails. After all, few things are more Trumpian than taking credit for others' success and refusing accountability for his own failures.
According to Capitol Police, approximately 400 to 450 people, including the media, were inside the protest area during today's event.
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Four or five hundred big losers showed for Trump's Justice For January 6th Rally in DC on Saturday...
So, everyone got all worked up over nothing.
Typical.
The lefties are disappointed they couldn't have another riot to crow about.
Just goes to show that the January 6 event was a one off anomaly.
Disappointed? I would think that a majority of sane Americans are happy that many 1-6 phony patriots have run out of vicarious testosterone.
like the Q slut that caught a slug...
they gots them pills at walmart...
Could Trumpism finally be running out of gas?
Like a 72 Grand Marquis out on the interstate.
There is one simple reason that the crowd was so small. Trump did not promote it or even endorse its existence. Nor did any of the big names of the conspiracy nonsense factories that encompass the political right. That is all there is to it as to why it was a flop. Which by the way has been predicted for weeks. I saw articles saying it was a dud about a week ago and predicted such here at the time.
I see people today saying this failure proves Trump has lost some power among the wacko patriots.
Nonsense.
He's lost more 'power' than you think.
He told them to get vaccinated and they lost their minds.
Only a fool would go there. 400-450 people went and at least a quarter were undercover law enforcement so 300 plus civilians and each one now has a FBI file and no doubt they and their family and friends will be investigated "as a precaution".
Don;t forget that more than likely many of those "attendees" were probably undercover FBI agents. I'm sure they were quite bored the entire day.
Liberals simply found yet another way to waste taxpayer dollars in the form of police coverage, undercover agents and fencing, all for nothing.
There were also reports of more media than attendees.
Leftists got played....yet again;
What a stupid comment.
How so, and don't use feelings to give your answer?
J Edgar Hoover had a file on me in high school...
Because it turns out Americans wants violent January 6th insurrectionists to be prosecuted to the extent of the law and to rot in prison.
Your post made absolutely no sense related to my comment. She stated 2.2.2 was a "stupid comment".
Now, without feelings, how was that comment "stupid".
BTW,,,
How is it now that the party of slavery, Jim Crowe, anti civil rights, Antifa facists and BLM radicals are now known simply as the Democratic party?
Wait...that's what they were referred to during all of these points in history.