Members of the Patriot Front, a group identified by monitoring organizations as having a white nationalist ideology, held a march in different parts of Washington D.C. this Saturday, July 4, United States Independence Day, amid extensive security and official events in the capital.

The masked men carrying Confederate flags gathered at Union Station and were seen marching down Capitol Hill. The participants would have made calls to “reclaim the country” and “get rid of immigrants,” according to reports from witnesses and material spread on social networks.

The mobilizations occurred on a day marked by multiple events and activities in the American capital, where fireworks shows were also held as part of the celebrations for the 250 years of the Independence of the United States.

According to publications by the group itself on social networks, around 400 members participated in the mobilization. Witnesses and reports from international agencies observed hundreds of people traveling in the city's subway system wearing coordinated uniforms.

March in central areas of the capital

Images broadcast on digital platforms and messaging channels showed participants marching in formation near the Capitol and Union Station. Attendees wore khaki pants, blue shirts, light masks and dark glasses, while carrying group flags, Confederate flags and versions of the American flag.

During the tour, slogans such as “Let's recover America” were heard, as well as other messages related to the group's identity. At some moments choreography with drums was also recorded during the progress of the demonstration.

Around noon, part of the contingent used Metro trains to areas of the state of Maryland, including New Carrollton, in the northeast of the metropolitan area.

Response from authorities in Washington D.C.

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department reported that the activity was monitored under the protection of the First Amendment, with no arrests, incidents or requests for intervention related to the march being recorded so far.

The authorities indicated that the commitment to guarantee public safety during the July 4 celebrations remains, while respecting the right to free expression.

Background of the group and ideological profile

The collective, identified by research centers as a far-right and white supremacist organization, emerged in 2017 after the “Unite the Right” demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, and has been linked to public propaganda campaigns and coordinated mobilizations in different cities in the United States.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the group is characterized by its organized structure, use of uniforms and “flash mob” type actions, in addition to a discourse focused on immigration exclusion and the redefinition of national identity.

Experts in extremism point out that these groups try to project an image of a conventional political organization, although they maintain a radical ideological base. Researchers from George Washington University have highlighted that its symbology mixes American patriotic references with historical elements associated with European authoritarian movements.

4th of July Celebrations

The march occurred in parallel with the preparations for the official “Salute to America” event, held on the National Mall, which includes public activities and a fireworks show as part of the Independence Day commemorations.

In the same environment, other demonstrations by groups opposed to the federal government were also recorded, who marched towards the White House with political slogans and symbols related to the protest against the current administration.