Thousands of people traveled to Washington on Saturday for a pro-President Donald Trump rally, according to initial estimates.
The tagline for the event was, “It’s time for the silent majority to become the unsilent.”
The silent majority is a term used to describe a group that holds their views in private but has ample numbers to influence events, such as the 2016 election.
Straka told the crowd near the Washington Monument, “This is so important, this is so historic, and so important that we’re doing this right now.”
The political activist said he’s found conservatives to be too passive and encouraged people to become more active in politics.
Straka said he grew afraid at times after holding some of his events, including one in Baltimore, Maryland, where only 100 people showed up. “It’s that fear that grips and controls conservatives that has allowed the radical left to become the radical left,” he said.
Eight thousand attendees registered for the main rally, Kevin Hogan of The Epoch Times’ news partner NTD Television reported.
Former military members, including ex-Navy SEALs and Army Rangers in plainclothes, were doing reconnaissance to prevent any disruptions, he added.
The movement “sends destruction; it sends chaos; it sends confusion, and we don’t need that right now in society, you know, we need love,” he added later.
Black Lives Matter demonstrators arrived with megaphones to try to disrupt the event and several were arrested by U.S. Park Police after they assaulted officers, Hogan reported. A National Park Service spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email that two people had been arrested, but didn’t have their booking information.
Another spokesperson said via email on Oct. 5 that one male and two females were arrested, all for assaulting police officers.
Other attendees also spoke out about why they traveled to Washington for the march.
Alexis, a Trump supporter from California, said she traveled to Washington to support Trump.
“I wanted to be able to show my face and show that there are black conservatives who support Trump,” she told Ventura.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) told the rally that the true definition of justice is protecting the rights of individuals but that definition is being twisted by “the woke progressive.”
Other scheduled speakers included Scott Presler, a political activist, David Harris Jr., a political commentator, and Democrat Georgia Rep. Vernon Jones, who has come out in support of Trump.
Friends Read Free