Outside Saturday’s military parade in Washington, D.C., several demonstrators openly endorsed political violence as a legitimate tactic, with one protester declaring, “I fully support if they’re angry and they want to go out and they want to throw rocks.” The remarks follow a wave of anti-Trump riots in major cities including Los Angeles, where law enforcement faced rocks, federal buildings were vandalized, and a VA clinic was forced to close.
When asked if he was concerned about being linked to violent rioters, one protester replied, “I mean if they want to violate the Constitution, that’s on them. I can’t worry about that.” The implication that violence is tolerable under the guise of protest reveals a growing tolerance for lawlessness among left-wing activists.
Another protester claimed rock throwing was acceptable “as long as they don’t hurt anyone,” adding, “They have a right to be angry… to stop fascism.” These statements mirror rhetoric seen during the 2020 riots that caused billions in damage and claimed dozens of lives.
Violence erupted in Los Angeles just days before, resulting in destroyed property, attacks on law enforcement, and the shutdown of vital services. In Utah and California, fatalities occurred during or near protest events.
Despite claiming personal nonviolence, several D.C. protesters offered excuses for the chaos, blaming Republicans and President Trump. One accused Trump of deploying the National Guard “to cause a rise out of people.” Another admitted, “History has proven that sometimes aggression is needed.”
