Counterprotesters outnumber far-right extremists at DC rally

Far-right extremists held a rally against what they perceive to be anti-conservative bias on social media in Washington, D.C., but were outnumbered by counterprotesters nearly 2-to-1 according to USA Today. 

Proud Boys, which describes itself as a “chauvinistic men’s group” and has ties to white nationalism, reportedly put on the “Demand Free Speech” rally in Washington’s Freedom Plaza and Pershing Park on Saturday.

About 250 supporters attended, according to the newspaper. The large number of counterprotesters included about 50 anti-fascist, or antifa, protesters.{mosads}

At least 100 police officers manned barricades, keeping the two sides separate. There were no violent clashes between the two groups. 

At a Proud Boys rally in Portland, Oregon, last weekend, there was violence between far-right and anti-fascist groups, which, according to police, resulted in three hospitalizations. 

According to CBS News, figures scheduled to speak at Saturday’s rally included former Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos and former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone.

Yiannopoulos and the Proud Boys have been banned from Facebook. 

Crowd at Demand Free Speech rally is diminishing, but speakers are going strong. “We are not crazy, we are bold,” they say. pic.twitter.com/mlGbBlY5Dx

— Olivia R. Sanchez (@oliviarsanchez) July 6, 2019