March occurs as Trump condemns ‘communist menace’ in Independence Day speech
Hundreds of masked members of Patriot Front, which The Guardian describes as a neo-fascist, white supremacist organization, marched through Washington DC on July 4 carrying Confederate flags and chanting “Reclaim America!” The group, appearing to be led by founder Thomas Rousseau, assembled at Union Station before marching toward Capitol Hill, according to The Guardian, which cited WTOP. Images published by Reuters showed masked members riding the DC Metro as other riders looked on warily.
The demonstration occurred on the 250th anniversary of US independence, the same day President Trump delivered what The Guardian described as a “deeply partisan” speech condemning a “communist menace” to kick off celebrations. The White House did not respond to The Guardian’s request for comment on whether Trump condemns the march.
Patriot Front was founded in 2017 after the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Guardian, which describes the group as a neo-fascist, white supremacist organization, reported that those connected to white supremacy organizations have been widely embraced by the Trump administration.
In 2022, Morgan Moon, an investigative researcher with the ADL Center on Extremism, told The Guardian that Patriot Front’s fundraising and mobilizing efforts resembled those of a media production company. “No other white supremacist group operating in the US today is able to match Patriot Front’s ability to produce media, ability to mobilize across the country and ability to finance,” Moon said. “That’s what makes them a particular concern.”
Most recently, Patriot Front’s leader claimed to be part of relief efforts following deadly flooding in central Texas last year, The Guardian reported. Members of Patriot Front were last seen marching during the Memorial Day weekend at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, local affiliate 13News Now reported, as cited by The Guardian.
During Saturday’s march, counter-protesters confronted the group. In a video, a man with a bullhorn shouted at Patriot Front members: “Every single one of you justifies the fucking right to abortion.”
The DC Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement to Politico that it was “tracking first amendment activities that occurred this morning in the Eastern Market neighborhood,” adding: “MPD recognizes the rights of individuals to peacefully express their views and remains committed to maintaining public safety and security for DC residents and visitors.”