WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
Trump supporters flocked to Freedom Plaza on Saturday for the "Stop the Steal" march to show their opposition to the results of the 2020 election. Throughout the day and into the evening, fights broke out between the Proud Boys, a far right extremist group, and Antifa/Black Lives Matter radicals.
The Proud Boys originally showed up and talked with fellow Trump supporters. Eventually it became evident that they were looking for people on the "other side" – whether it be Black Lives Matter or Antifa extremists – to clash with. The leftist groups were identified by their typical regalia of helmets, face shields, face masks and all black clothing. They too had showed up ready for a bawl.
Both sides were angry and ready for a fight. As police did their best to keep the two sides from coming into contact with one another, the angrier both sides got. The Proud Boys and the Antifa/BLM thugs had one thing in common: they weren't happy police were keeping them from attacking their opponents.
Townhall's own Julio Rosas was on the scene, where he captured numerous instances of fights taking place between the two groups and police moving in to arrest people:
Fight breaks out between a group of Proud Boys and a random person in D.C.
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 12, 2020
Police move in to break up the fight and make arrests. pic.twitter.com/mgZu1pGjHW
Another fight breaks out between Proud Boys and Antifa in D.C.
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 12, 2020
Police move in and pepper spray everyone. pic.twitter.com/B8SOvOXE8Y
More fights breaking out between Proud Boys and Antifa in D.C. pic.twitter.com/YV5WCnR6cc
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 13, 2020
Police did their best to keep the two groups from making contact. Both the Proud Boys and Antifa/BLM did their best to circumvent police blockades to no avail.
D.C. police are trying to keep the Proud Boys and Antifa separate to prevent fighting. pic.twitter.com/V7d3qnwiIb
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 13, 2020
D.C. police bull rush the antifa group after separating them from the Proud Boys. pic.twitter.com/ME0mLT87S5
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 13, 2020
At times, it’s just an all out brawl between the Proud Boys, Antifa, and D.C. police. Lots of pepper spray is being used. pic.twitter.com/yYSkTAfRcq
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 13, 2020
Some of the Proud Boys took issues with the police also pushing them back:
Some of the Proud Boys are trying to resist the D.C. police’s attempts to push them away from the Antifa group. pic.twitter.com/YJQzni2fIx
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 13, 2020
According to Rosas and the Daily Caller's Shelby Talcott, a fight broke out where multiple people, including a police officer went down. A member of the Proud Boys was allegedly stabbed.
Proud Boys sitting outside of Harry’s cheer as more members come down the street with a large BLM banner pic.twitter.com/VGYxqBt1As
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) December 13, 2020
The Proud Boys allegedly stole a BLM banner from a nearby church. They took the flag, set it on fire and cheered as it burned, the Daily Caller reported.
The Proud Boys and Trump supporters burn the BLM banner while chanting and cheering in downtown DC: pic.twitter.com/L16azBBhbr
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) December 13, 2020
Proud Boys cheer upon realizing that the group carrying another BLM flag are actually more Proud Boys. Police just arrived to the area as well. pic.twitter.com/mvb9Jdmd7s
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) December 13, 2020
Another huge fight just broke out and multiple people went down, including a police officer. People are claiming that someone has been stabbed — Have not confirmed this, but an ambulance did just arrive. pic.twitter.com/P6xO1ptDov
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) December 13, 2020
Looks as though a Proud Boy was stabbed near Harry’s. pic.twitter.com/PYZjM20cNj
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 13, 2020
Adam Gray, a photographer for a British news group, captured the moment one of the Proud Boys was stabbed:
A member of the #ProudBoys is stabbed during violent running street fights in #WashingtonDC tonight #DC #DCProtests @SWNS pic.twitter.com/ON8xRllLUf
— Adam Gray (@agrayphoto) December 13, 2020
According to Talcott, multiple people were stabbed throughout the night. Proud Boys took a knee and had a moment of silence for those who were attacked.
There’s been more than one stabbing tonight, according to a police officer out here.
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) December 13, 2020
PB just took a knee and a moment of silence for those stabbed before getting up and telling police to let them through (police are not) pic.twitter.com/gxI29LZsbe
Although Proud Boys continued to hunt down members of Antifa and BLM, they were unsuccessful in continuing their physical altercations. The reason was because of the heavy police presence in the area.
The night concluded with 23 arrests and four people being stabbed, the New York Times reported. Two police officers received injuries as a result of the brawls and were taken to nearby hospitals.