Crazytown, USA
Freedom Plaza - Washington, D.C.
Photos and words by Sean Rayford
On the edge of Freedom Plaza in the nation’s capital a street debate ensues between a small group of Trump supporters and an Antifa man, cloaked in all black, complete with face covering and goggles. It’s a muggy 90 degrees and two days removed from Fourth of July celebrations. The man in black ready for the ski slopes expresses his disdain for Barack Obama’s bombing campaigns on majority-Muslim countries while the red hats counter with conspiracy theories that Obama is a Muslim and that he murdered his gay lovers. They cackle and high five. Without a response, the Antifa dude shrugs and puts his hands up.
Welcome to the “Demand Free Speech Rally,” organized by the infamous Proud Boys, featuring a parade of right wing speakers who have been censored by social media platforms for their extremist views. Or as Greg Aselbekian claims, shouting into the microphone, channeling his possible love for 90’s hardcore, because he wore his military uniform in his profile picture on Tinder.
“THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA IS WORKING WITH EACH OTHER!” shouts Aselbekian, wearing a patriotic themed suit and MAGA hat, “All these special interest Soros people to manipulate everything. You saw the crowd at the Salute to America thing. There was an article from "Always Broadcasting Crap," aka ABC News, there was an article saying Trump's parade only featured soggy tanks and small crowds. What kind of blind Stevie Wonder man was looking at that rally? I don't know, but it's just sad that people got to do this. But you know what the scary part is? The fake news media is doing exactly what the Nazis did. The censorship, they are using kids to politicize things. Wanting to censor opposing views. They want to take away our second amendment rights to protect our self from those fascists over there that wanna shoot me and you and kill everybody. It's absolutely insane! So to wrap things up, this is the greatest country in the world. That flag represents so much freedom, so many sacrifices that veterans have died for this country. They gave their blood for this country. They fought World War I, World War II, Vietnam, they fight in Iraq still to this day in the Middle East and you have people burning the flag. Get the hell out of this country if you don't like. And to close things off, President Trump, sign the executive order to keep the free speech on college campuses. President Trump is the one that is protecting our free speech. So, Donald Trump, if you are listening, thank you so much for protecting my voice and their voices and everything you do. And boy I'm gonna tell you this Mr. President, I can't wait to vote for you again."
Proud Boys Enrique Tarrio, left, and Joe Biggs.
About the author: Sean Rayford is a South Carolina photojournalist currently working with The New York Times, Getty Images, The Washington Post, NPR, AP and more.