ST. PAUL, Minn. — The worst fears of authorities about weekend protest mobs and perhaps violence at the state Capitol failed to materialize. Only a dozen protesters showed up. Some handheld signs protesting the presidential election and government integrity, but no speeches. There was one putsized U.S. flag. The only visible weapon was one protester’s rifle. At one point a counter-protester was playing calliope music loudly and shouting obscenities. A State Patrol trooper asked him to stop. He left. Journalists outnumbered protesters, and police outnumbered journalists. There was no need for an armored vehicle parked at the Capitol step, nor for dozens of state troopers and conservation officers who ringed the Capitol in riot gear. The rally organizer, Becky Strohmeier told reporter that there was never any danger of violence at what she had promoted as Freedom Fest. Strohmeier said a religiously themed rally, also small, was planned at the Capitol for Sunday
Earlier: Angst over new protests toned down
What’s ahead
Rally organizer Becky Strohmeier said there will. Be more rallies in th days ahead regarding the November election, even beyond Joe Biden’s inauguration Wednesday. “I imagine we’ll keep gathering because at this point we’re all being censored, and we’re losing outlets to communicate with each other. So it might turn from rallies and protests to just like a town square gathering. This could be our new town square,” she said. The legitimacy of the election, however, is only one issue, she said.