Two people have been arrested during a flag burning protest ahead of Donald Trump’s ‘Salute to America’ Fourth of July celebration in Washington, DC.
Political activist Gregory Lee ‘Joey’ Johnson was one of the people taken away in handcuffs during the demonstration outside of the White House two before the president’s celebration is set to kick off, someone confirmed on his Twitter account.
Johnson famously set fire to an American flag outside the 1984 RNC in protest of Ronald Reagan’s policies. He was arrested and later charged under a Texas law that made it illegal to destroy or desecrate a venerated object – including the flag.
He appealed the decision before the Supreme Court in the landmark case Texas v Johnson, which ruled that flag desecration is protected by the First Amendment as ‘symbolic speech’.
Johnson is a longtime member of the Revolutionary Communist Party – also known as RevCom – which organized Thursday’s protest outside of the White House, where the group chanted: ‘Imagine A World Without America. Fight For A World Without America!’
RevCom tweeted a photo of its members standing around a flag engulfed in a ball of flames, writing: ‘Gregory Joey Johnson, of Texas v. Johnson which established the right to burn the flag, was arrested today in front of White House for burning the U.S. flag. ‘
Johnson’s account also tweeted that another member had been arrested along with him, but that person was not identified.
Law enforcement officials have not confirmed either arrest and it is unclear whether the demonstrators were specifically arrested for burning the flag or for some other crime, such as disorderly conduct.
Hundreds of other protesters unaffiliated with the RevCom turned out for the Independence Day festivities, armed with anti-Trump signs and a giant ‘Baby Trump’ balloon.
Two people have been arrested during a flag burning protest in front of the White House ahead of Donald Trump’s ‘Salute to America’ Fourth of July celebration in Washington, DC, on Thursday
Political activist Gregory Lee ‘Joey’ Johnson was one of the people taken away in handcuffs during the demonstration outside of the White House two before the president’s celebration was set to kick off
RevCom protesters chanted: ‘Imagine A World Without America. Fight For A World Without America!’ as the flag burned
Johnson’s Twitter account confirmed that he and another demonstrator had been arrested, but that person was not identified
A protester, who has not been named, continued to shout as he was taken into police custody
He’s seen lying on the rain-soaked ground as US Secret Service Uniformed Division officers handcuffed him
Officers extinguished the burning flag after breaking up the hoard of demonstrators
Hundreds of protesters turned out for the Independence Day festivities, armed with anti-Trump signs and a giant ‘Baby Trump’ balloon
A slightly-scorched flag is seen on the ground after police broke up the RevCom protest
The protests aren’t the only thing threatening to rain on the president’s meticulously-planned, over-the-top parade.
Two hours before the scheduled kick-off, dark clouds rolled across the sky and dumped rain on thousands of revelers enjoying the marching bands and performances, sending them running for cover under umbrellas and pitched tents.
The stormy weather forced event organizers to push back Trump’s 6.30pm speech indefinitely.
This morning the National Weather Service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings for various Maryland counties and a flash flood watch effective until 8pm in DC.
Despite the grim forecast, loyal crowds still gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial to see the president’s promised ‘show of a lifetime’.
Don’t rain on my parade! Rain has started to pour on the thousands lined up on Capitol Hill for Donald Trump’s Fourth of July military parade that he boasted will be the ‘show of a lifetime’. A sculpture of Trump sitting on a toilet as the downpour began pictured above
Rain, rain go away: Fourth of July revelers decked out in red white and blue had no choice but to stand in the rain Thursday
Stormy weather: This morning the National Weather Service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings for various Maryland counties and a flash flood watch effective until 8pm in DC
Revelers sat down in in plastic rain ponchos in a feeble attempt to stay dry during Thursday’s deluge
This couple camped out on the ground and tried to keep dry under the shade of their umbrellas in the storm
Drenched: This couple took cover under an umbrella after the rain began to pound down
Just a bit of drizzle! These people didn’t let the rain stop their fun and took a smiling selfie in the storm
A Bradley Fighting Vehicle pictured drenched with rain on Thursday in the deluge
Calling his event a ‘Salute to America’ honoring the armed forces, the president tweeted Thursday morning to say he is expecting many attendees for the event which will ‘be well worth the trip and wait.’
The president wrote: ‘Looks like a lot of people already heading to SALUTE TO AMERICA at Lincoln Memorial. It will be well worth the trip and wait. See you there at 6:00 P.M. Amazing music and bands. Thank you ARMY!’
Trump is scheduled to speak in front of a ticket-only, VIP crowd of Republican donors, administration and campaign officials, family members and supporters.
Under White House direction, the Pentagon was arranging for an Air Force B-2 stealth bomber and other warplanes to conduct flyovers.
There will be Navy F-35 and F-18 fighter jets, the Navy Blue Angels aerobatics team, Army and Coast Guard helicopters and Marine V-22 Ospreys.
Over it: This woman took cover in her red MAGA hat and blue Trump flag
The rain may affect the parade, but it seems Trump’s televised speech will proceed as scheduled at 6pm
Revelers took cover under umbrellas and hats as the rain hit the Lincoln memorial
The show must go on! The Marine Silent Drill Team pictured performing in the rain on Thursday
Storm’s brewin! The sky turned an eerie shade Thursday afternoon amid the Fourth of July festivities
Two Bradley fighting vehicles were also in place Wednesday at the Lincoln Memorial, where Trump will speak.
In addition, two 60-ton Army Abrams battle tanks were sent to Washington by rail to be positioned on or near the National Mall, to the dismay of District of Columbia officials.
And soldiers have been pictured working on an armored tanks in front of the Lincoln Memorial as other military vehicles have been pictured around the Capitol.
The presidential Air Force One and Marine One aircraft are also slated to make aerial appearances.
US Army soldiers walk by an armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Not since 1951, when President Harry Truman spoke before a large gathering on the Washington Monument grounds to mark the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, has a commander in chief made an Independence Day speech to a sizable crowd on the Mall
Protester Jim Girvan moves a Baby Trump balloon into position before Independence Day celebrations, as those opposed to the president are ready to make their voices heard on Fourth of July
A Trump supporter stands alongside people gathered for the Independence Day parade ahead of the president’s speech
Supporters of Trump join others to watch ‘America’s Independence Day Parade’ along Constitution Avenue
People move a statue depicting U.S. President Donald Trump sitting on a golden toilet. Anti-war group Code Pink said, as part of its protest of the president’s politicization of July Fourth, it would bring the Trump Baby Blimp ballon and this 16-foot statue
Miss Maryland, Mariela Pepin, rides in an open-top vehicle during Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations in D.C
Crowds have lined the streets of DC for Trump’s Fourth of July military parade after the president promised ‘show of a lifetime’ with tanks parked by the Lincoln Memorial, marching bands, loyal fans and protesters with the president’s ‘baby blimp’
In a sweltering capital threatened by storms, the traditional Fourth of July parade Thursday served as a warm-up act to a distinctly nontraditional evening event at the Lincoln Memorial, where President Donald Trump made plans to command the stage against the backdrop of a show of military muscle.
It’s been nearly seven decades since a president spoke there on Independence Day.
Trump tweeted Thursday to say he is expecting big crowds in DC ahead of his military spectacular
The U.S. was at war in Korea when Harry Truman addressed a large gathering on the Washington Monument grounds, marking the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Military chiefs are rumored to be concerned the July Fourth extravaganza could turn out to be an overtly political affair, putting them in violation of Defense Department policy.
On Tuesday Trump had said ‘the Pentagon and our great Military Leaders are thrilled’ to participate.
Thursday’s celebration has also been shadowed by questions about how much it will cost taxpayers.
But the president has insisted that the event will cost very little given that the military already owns the tanks and planes.
‘We own the planes, we have the pilots, the airport is right next door (Andrews), all we need is the fuel,’ he said, referring to Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews, home for some of the planes that are to fly over the Mall on Thursday. ‘We own the tanks and all. Fireworks are donated by two of the greats.’
Thunderstorms have threatened the celebrations with periods of ‘torrential rain’ forecast by the National Weather Service
Trump altered the lineup by adding his speech, moving the fireworks closer to the Lincoln Memorial and summoning the tanks and warplanes. He sounded a defensive note Wednesday, tweeting the cost ‘will be very little compared to what it is worth’
In a message marking the 243rd anniversary of the Founding Fathers’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Trump called the document a milestone that ‘cast off the shackles of tyranny’
Under White House direction, the Pentagon was arranging for an Air Force B-2 stealth bomber and other warplanes to conduct flyovers. Soldiers work on an armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle on display in front of the Lincoln Memorial
There will be Navy F-35 and F-18 fighter jets, the Navy Blue Angels aerobatics team, Army and Coast Guard helicopters and Marine V-22 Ospreys
A crowd watches Independence Day celebrations in Washington. Trump set himself up to be the first president in nearly seven decades to address a crowd at the National Mall on Independence Day
In February, Trump tweeted for the public to ‘HOLD THE DATE!’ for this Fourth of July and the president’s supporters have welcomed his stamp on the holiday
A participant in the the Independence Day parade holds an American flag and a picture of President Donald Trump
People prepare a balloon for the Independence Day parade. The president has insisted the event will cost very little given that the military already owns the tanks and planes
A jump rope team participates in ‘America’s Independence Day Parade’. The traditional Fourth of July parade Thursday served as a warm-up act to a distinctly nontraditional evening event at the Lincoln Memorial
Trump’s original tweet with his ‘Aircraft One’ mistake pictured above
After he received a flood of comments calling him out for his blunder, he deleted the flub tweet and tweeted this correction calling it Air Force One
Protesters unimpressed by his ‘Salute to America’ program inflated a roly-poly balloon depicting Trump as an angry, diaper-clad baby.
In the shadow of the Washington Monument, the anti-war organization Codepink erected a 20-foot tall ‘Trump baby’ balloon to protest what it called the president’s co-opting of Independence Day.
But the president’s supporters welcomed Trump’s stamp on the holiday.
Rachel McKenna, a Trump supporter from McKinney, Texas, said her relatives have served in the military and she thought it was important to say ‘We love you guys, we appreciate everything you do, and I love the fact I can see that,’ as she pointed to the Bradley fighting vehicle positioned near the Lincoln Memorial.
‘I’ve never ever seen one,’ she said. ‘I just think it’s so cool.’
He was savagely mocked on Twitter Thursday morning for tweeting ‘Aircraft One’ instead of ‘Air Force One’ while touting the elaborate military parade plans.
The president tweeted that people would come from far and wide for the celebration ‘culminating with large scale flyovers of the most modern and advanced aircraft anywhere in the World. Perhaps even Aircraft One will do a low & loud sprint over the crowd’.
The president’s aircraft is known as Air Force One when he’s on it, not Aircraft One.
Twitter users eviscerated the president for the slip-up, joking that Aircraft One is the unofficial name of Putin’s jet.
Trump then deleted his flub tweet and posted a new one, this time calling the aircraft Air Force One.
In a message marking the 243rd anniversary of the Founding Fathers’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Trump called the document a milestone that ‘cast off the shackles of tyranny’.
A US Marine Corps unit participates in ‘America’s Independence Day Parade’ along Constitution Avenue
People carry U.S. flags as they take part in a parade during Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations in Washington, D.C
US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps participate in ‘America’s Independence Day Parade’ along Constitution Avenue
Independence Day revellers pose in front of a Humvee parked on a street in Washington, DC
Trump originally wanted a parade with military tanks and other machinery rolling through downtown Washington ever since he was enthralled by a two-hour procession of French military tanks and fighter jets in Paris on Bastille Day in July 2017
A supporter of President Donald Trump makes her way through a security checkpoint before Independence Day celebrations
A supporter of Trump joins others to watch ‘America’s Independence Day Parade’. Washington has held an Independence Day celebration for decades, featuring a parade along Constitution Avenue, a concert on the Capitol lawn with music by the National Symphony Orchestra and fireworks beginning at dusk near the Washington Monument
Trump originally wanted a parade with military tanks and other machinery rolling through downtown Washington ever since he was enthralled by a two-hour procession of French military tanks and fighter jets in Paris on Bastille Day in July 2017.
Later that year Trump said he’d have a similar parade in Washington on the Fourth of July, 2018, and would ‘top’ the Paris show. The event ended up being pushed to Veterans Day, which conflicted with one of Trump’s trips abroad, before it was scuttled after cost estimates exceeding $90 million were made public.
In February, Trump tweeted for the public to ‘HOLD THE DATE!’ for this Fourth of July.
Washington has held an Independence Day celebration for decades, featuring a parade along Constitution Avenue, a concert on the Capitol lawn with music by the National Symphony Orchestra and fireworks beginning at dusk near the Washington Monument.
Trump altered the lineup by adding his speech, moving the fireworks closer to the Lincoln Memorial and summoning the tanks and warplanes.