As President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration draws near, Washington, D.C. braces for potential unrest. Among the anticipated thousands of protestors are followers of anti-Israel, socialist groups known for their involvement in unlawful demonstrations over the past year.
These groups, namely the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition and the People's Forum, have a history of organizing rallies that have resulted in congressional investigations due to their violent nature.
According to Conservative Daily News, these groups have been under scrutiny since last June and July when their rallies led to the defacement of American monuments, an American flag being set ablaze, and violent confrontations with law enforcement. As early as November, they began publicizing their plans to "fight back" against Trump's second term in office. Malcolm X Park has been announced as one of the locations for their protest, ominously titled "We Fight Back."
Ryan Mauro, an investigative researcher at the Capital Research Center, warns of the potential for violence at these protests. "They are operatives of a Chinalinked, pro-Iran, pro-terrorism, anti-American network. Anywhere they coalesce has a significant chance of violence, particularly towards police, and property destruction," Mauro stated.
The People's Forum's website outlines their opposition to Trump's "ultra-right, billionaire agenda" and calls for a nationwide mobilization on Inauguration Day. The site reads, "We can defeat the Trump program by building a massive movement against the ruling class and the political system that gives everything to billionaires while impoverishing an ever larger section of the population."
Last year, the House Natural Resources Committee demanded information from the Peoples Forum and ANSWER about their activities, citing a "total disregard for public gathering permit requirements" following their July protest. The investigation remains ongoing.
The National Park Service (NPS) revoked the permit it had issued to the ANSWER Coalition to protest in Columbus Circle and other Washington locations on July 24 after the gathering descended into chaos. Anti-Israel activists vandalized the area, scrawling graffiti such as "Hamas is comin" and destroying an American flag. The NPS estimated the damages from the vandalism to be over $11,000.
The NPS has not yet responded to inquiries about whether it has issued permits to the Peoples Forum or ANSWER to protest in Washington on Inauguration Day. The U.S. Capitol Police stated in an email that it "does not have any permitted demonstrations on Capitol Grounds on January 20."
Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger revealed in a press conference that the organizers of the "We Fight Back" protest expect about 10,000 participants in downtown Washington. Authorities also anticipate about a quarter of a million ticketed guests at Trumps swearing-in at the Capitol and 25,000 law enforcement and military officers guarding the ceremony.
The Peoples Forum and ANSWER have not responded to requests for comment about whether they intend to keep demonstrations lawful. In the past, these groups have organized an anti-Israel rally in front of the White House that featured symbols, slogans, and merchandise praising terrorist groups and communism. Protesters vandalized public monuments but managed to evade arrest.
Manolo De Los Santos, the Executive Director of the Peoples Forum, publicly praised Hamas following its invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,100 people. This marked the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The organization assembled a rally in support, which ANSWER joined, at New York Citys Times Square.
De Los Santos stated, "We are supporting the Palestinian people who are resisting an illegal occupation and apartheid imposed by the Israeli government," ahead of the rally.
As Washington prepares for the inauguration, the ANSWER Coalition has announced that more than 70 protests will take place across the country on Inauguration Day. The city remains on high alert, with the potential for violence looming as these groups prepare to make their opposition to the incoming administration known.
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