RICHMOND, Virginia — It was still dark by the Virginia Capitol House when Second Amendment Rights supporters — and militias — started to arrive in the early hours of Monday morning for a pro-gun rally.

By 8:30 a.m. there were thousands of people, some armed and standing outside the Capitol grounds, where Gov. Ralph Northam banned weapons during Monday’s rally. People carried flags and signs reading “Don’t tread on me” and “We will not comply.”

The rally had been organized by Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), a pro-gun non-profit, and was originally billed as an open carry affair and an opportunity to speak up against gun control legislation.

But in recent weeks, what began as a straightforward pro-gun rally started looking like a mixed buffet of right-wing ideologies. Infowars host Alex Jones had said he was planning to attend, and on Sunday evening held a small protest by the Capitol, joined by the Proud Boys, a right-wing group known for violent clashes. Members of the American Guard, a white nationalist group, were also reported to be there. Right-wing activist Joey Gibson, who runs Pacific Northwest-based group Patriot Prayer, tweeted that he was planning to attend Monday’s rally.

But most concerning of all were reports earlier this week that members of a hardcore neo-Nazi group called The Base may have been planning to attend the rally — and use it as an opportunity to further their own agenda of creating chaos through violence, to start the “boogaloo,” a term they use to refer to the coming civil war. Local and federal law enforcement rounded up at least alleged seven members of The Base in the last week, at least three of whom were found with large amounts of ammo, improvised weapons, and had discussed firing on rally-goers from overhead, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“Everyone’s looking back at Charlottesville with trepidation about today’s event,” said Jimmy Frost, 55, who took a bus up from Virginia Beach this morning with other attendees. “But I think in that case both sides went looking for a fight.”

Frost said he hopes the turnout will send a clear message to Virginia Democrats who are backing gun control. “Just like sending a carrier to the Middle East, this is a show of force.”

Gesturing at the maze of barriers set up around the Capitol, Frost added: these fences and all this mess will be Ralph Northam’s legacy.”

VCDL had warned the state that as many as 100,000 people could show up. A Facebook page for the event had 5,000 attending — and the group had helped coordinate at least 60 buses to shuttle attendees into Richmond from different parts of Virginia.

Gov. Northam declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and banned guns from the Capitol grounds, irking the pro-gun protesters who felt they were being punished for wanting to exercise their rights. Some online have been discussing convening elsewhere in the city, where the ban doesn’t apply.

"We are law-abiding citizens," said Justin Dorton, 33, who drove up from North Carolina for the rally. He wore a sticker reading "Guns Save Lives" and carried an AR-15. "People have planned this for a long time. The escalation was by the governor."

At a dinner for militia groups on Sunday evening, speakers lambasted the governor but ultimately stressed that keeping cool heads and holding a peaceful event would work in their best interest. “If we have a nice time and have fun, the governor’s credibility will be destroyed,” said VCDL executive member Greg Trojan. “Don’t let the evil bastard win.”

Cover: People line up outside the capitol before a pro gun rally, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)