Leftist and ‘Antifa’ activists have descended on Washington DC to oppose a ‘free speech rally’ led by right-wing figures including the ‘Proud Boys’ and Milo Yiannopoulos. Expecting clashes, police have closed roads.

The ‘Demand Free Speech’ rally kicked off on Saturday at Washington DC’s Freedom Plaza, just blocks from the White House. Trump supporters, nationalists and various other right-wing groups turned out to hear speeches from conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone and Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, as well as a gaggle of hopeful politicians courting the vote of the disaffected right.

Police are standing by near Poud Boys stage. The crowd has grown substantially since the speakers began. pic.twitter.com/j0AvvrELdK — Olivia R. Sanchez (@oliviarsanchez) July 6, 2019

Perhaps anticipating a rerun of last weekend’s violent Proud Boys/Antifa clashes in Portland, Oregon, DC police closed roads for two blocks in all directions around Freedom Plaza, and manned barricades to keep left-wing counter-protesters away from the right-wingers.

Police have widened the zone between the opposing protest groups. Appears to be more people at #AllOutDC rally than at #demandfreespeech rally pic.twitter.com/nC7z4flgck — Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) July 6, 2019

At several points throughout the afternoon, Antifa members attempted to break through the police cordon, but were shoved back by officers. Scuffles also broke out between the masked leftists and Trump supporters, and police intervened to stop some Antifa protesters vandalizing newsstands and street signs.

Antifa protesters tried to break through the police cordon at 12th Street with Pennsylvania Ave. Quick response by @DCPoliceDept. #DemandFreeSpeechpic.twitter.com/q4EAQHFSYp — Benjamin Alvarez (@BenjAlvarez1) July 6, 2019

Antifa is now pulling newstands into the street, including a @dcexaminer stand. pic.twitter.com/xgnl4T4VxF — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 6, 2019

As the crowd dispersed later on Saturday afternoon, some activists lingered in the streets, chanting slogans and arguing with police. The right-wing protesters were bussed to an afterparty, according to the event website.

Even though the #DemandFreeSpeech rally ended awhile ago, antifa are now heckling police.One BLM person asked an African American officer if the white officer was his master.#AllOutDCpic.twitter.com/BgGQ2r8xZy — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 6, 2019

The leftist protesters aseembled earlier at a rall of their own, where Black Lives Matter, LGBT and socialist speakers addressed the crowd. The rally's organizers were reluctant to grant press access, and circulated a set of media guidelines warning journalists to “avoid publishing any potentially incriminating photos or video footage.”

I asked #AllOutDC people if they saw the irony in keeping a Mexican reporter out of an event that was marketed as being inclusive.They didn't respond. pic.twitter.com/gpnu7eEnm2 — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 6, 2019

Antifa guidelines media include "Please avoid publishing any potentially incriminating photos or video footage” pic.twitter.com/v8Of9xlxt5 — Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 6, 2019

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