WASHINGTON, DC — It may have only drawn an estimated 25 rallygoers, but D.C. residents opened up their wallets big time for “Unite the Right,” according to a report.
The Washington Post reports that the District spent a staggering $2.6 million on policing and other costs related to the white supremacist rally even though almost no one showed up. The handful of rallygoers enjoyed a special police escort and, reportedly, their own Metro train car.
The Post reports that the city will ask the federal government to reimburse the costs, as Congress budgets money to help D.C. pay for expenses related to large protests — a cost D.C. has to deal with that most other cities do not.
Unite the Right 2 was held on the anniversary of the original gathering in Charlottesville, Virginia, a violent demonstration that culminated in a suspected white supremacist allegedly plowing a car into a group of left-wing protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring others.
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Jason Kessler, who organized both rallies, spoke briefly Sunday to the media, noting the lower-than expected attendance, which he blamed on infighting within white nationalist groups for what he viewed as a disappointing turnout dampened even more by rain. Kessler said some white supremacist leaders told their followers not to attend. He specifically called out “neo-Nazi tough guys” who were sitting “in their mama’s basement right now.” Many of the white nationalists who did go were plunked in the heads with water bottles as they marched, even as they were escorted by police.
David Duke, the former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, was expected to speak at the rally. But by all accounts he didn’t attend.
Critics of both D.C. and Virginia authorities say that authorities essentially rolled out the red carpet for white supremacists. Authorities say they were simply trying to prevent the demonstration from descending into violence and chaos by keeping the group separated from protesters.
A group of anti-fascists commonly known as Antifa clashed with police in the area near Lafayette Park, where the demonstration was held. No one was injured and only one person was arrested, the Post reports.
Kessler reportedly was pleased with the personal police escort, praising the police department and suggesting that he may have more events in the D.C. area.
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PHOTO: Jason Kessler, who organized the Unite the Right 2 rally, speaks to the media in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, after other white nationalists failed to show for his rally. Thousands of protesters demonstrate against the ‘white civil rights’ rally, which was planned by Kessler, the organizer of last year’s deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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