Photo via Becker1999/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
December 29, 2020, 12:44 pm
A D.C. hotel that was identified for becoming a hangout for the violent right-wing group known as the “Proud Boys” has announced that it will be closed on January 6, when the group is planning what they call a “Wild Protest.”
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That Wednesday is the day that Congress will come together to formally count the Electoral College votes from the 2020 election and make Joe Biden’s win official.
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In response, Trump supporters like the Proud Boys are planning a protest in an attempt to convince Congress to throw out the democratic process and install their preferred candidate as president for another four years. This has many in D.C. on edge after a similar protest ended in at least four people critically injured via stabbings by members of the notoriously belligerent organization.
In anticipation of the “Wild Protest,” many local businesses are closing, including the Hotel Harrington, where the Proud Boys often stay, and the hotel bar Harry’s where they like to gather for post-stabbing hangouts.
“We greatly appreciate the trust our guests have placed in Hotel Harrington over the years and we wish to continue to earn that trust,” the company said in a statement Monday. “While we cannot control what happens outside of the hotel, we are taking additional steps to protect the safety of our visitors, guests and employees.”
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They further announced that the hotel will be closed to all except long-term residents on January 4-6 and will be issuing refunds to anyone who made reservations during that time.
Other hotel guests have reportedly felt “unnerved” by the increasing presence of Proud Boys, who can often be identified by their distinct uniform consisting of black polo shirts with gold trim. The group has proven themselves time and time again as eager for physical violence, often attacking protesters they believe they disagree with and gained further infamy after Donald Trump refused to condemn them, instead telling them to “stand by.”
Speaking of Trump, he has also encouraged this upcoming protest, tweeting earlier this month that it “will be wild.”
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The above tweet is featured on the official protest website. A tweet by Daily Beast reporter Will Sommer reveals that angry Trump Supporters have taken to the r/The Donald sub to vent and bash the hotel for canceling their reservations.
Though the Wild Protest will, of course, still go ahead as planned, those who are not fans of roving bands of violent right-wing men starting fights wherever they can are rather amused by this development.
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*First Published: December 29, 2020, 12:44 pm
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