Hundreds of masked members of the white nationalist Patriot Front group marched through the streets of Washington on Saturday, during celebrations of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
Dressed in blue shirts, khaki pants, caps, and with their faces concealed by white masks and sunglasses, the protesters marched near Union Station and the Capitol, waving Confederate flags and modified versions of the American flag. They chanted slogans such as "Reclaim America."
The Patriot Front group claimed to have mobilized approximately 400 participants for the demonstration. The Washington Metropolitan Police Department reported monitoring the gathering without reporting any incidents or making any arrests, while reiterating its commitment to ensuring both public safety and respect for the right to freedom of expression.
Founded in 2017 in the wake of the Charlottesville violence, Patriot Front is considered a white supremacist organization by several agencies specializing in combating extremism. The group uses patriotic symbols and public demonstrations to promote a white nationalist and anti-immigrant ideology.
The parade took place a few hours before the official July 4th festivities in the American capital, which this year were marked by a significant security presence due to the celebrations of the quarter millennium of the independence of the United States.
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