Libertarian activist and radio host Adam Kokesh is hoping to get 1,000 people to march on Washington on July 4  armed with loaded rifles. The plan, launched with a Facebook group today, is to gather on the Virginia side of the Potomac, where gun laws are lax, and then march across the bridge with loaded rifles slung over their shoulders into the District, where openly carrying weapons is generally prohibited.

This will be a non-violent event, the Facebook group warns, unless the government chooses to make it violent. Already, over 200 people have said theyll attend the march. Heres the message:

On the morning of July 4, 2013, Independence Day, we will muster at the National Cemetery & at noon we will step off to march across the Memorial Bridge, down Independence Avenue, around the Capitol, the Supreme Court, & the White House, then peacefully return to Virginia across the Memorial Bridge. This is an act of civil disobedience, not a permitted event. We will march with rifles loaded & slung across our backs to put the government on notice that we will not be intimidated & cower in submission to tyranny. We are marching to mark the high water mark of government & to turn the tide. This will be a non-violent event, unless the government chooses to make it violent. Should we meet physical resistance, we will peacefully turn back, having shown that free people are not welcome in Washington, & returning with the resolve that the politicians, bureaucrats, & enforcers of the federal government will not be welcome in the land of the free.

Kokesh is a former Marine who was discharged in 2007 after violating the militarys code against engaging in political activity while in uniform. Kokesh was highly active in the antiwar movement....

Corporal Kokesh is not competent to lead a batallion-sized infantry force. A hastily-assembled crowd of rifle bearers does not constitute a “well-regulated militia” cited in the Bill of Rights. A formation this size requires evidence of military discipline and order. In any event an expedition across state lines such as this would be properly repelled by cannon fire.

Six years after the end of World War I Congress enacted a bill that would reward veterans of the conflict a cash bonus for their service. However, the legislation stipulated that the veterans would not collect their bonus until 1945.

Tanks and cavalry prepare to
evacuate the Bonus Army
July 28, 1932
This delayed gratification was acceptable to the World War I veterans during the prosperous ‘20s but the onslaught of the Great Depression changed their attitude. Out of work, destitute, and with families to feed, the veterans organized a march on Washington in May of 1932 to force Congress to immediately pay their bonus. An estimated 15,000 made their way to the nation’s capital and dubbed themselves the “Bonus Expeditionary Force.”

Using scrap wood, iron and any other loose materials they could find, the veterans set up ramshackle camps throughout the city. The largest housed an estimated 10,000 people. They waited in vain for Congress to act. On June 17 the Senate voted against the House-passed bill that would have given the Bonus Marchers immediate payment of their benefit.

Having no other place to go, the majority of the Bonus Army remained encamped in the city, despite the fact that Congress had adjourned for the summer. Finally, President Hoover ordered the Army to forcibly remove the veterans. On July 28 a force of tanks and cavalry under the command of General Douglas MacArthur stormed the camps and drove the veterans out. Their makeshift houses were then set ablaze.

If they do this, they had better go to lengths to establish a “parade” atmosphere, and have cameras all over the place. Simulcast live over the Internet.

By this I mean marching in files, carrying flags, playing music, especially with instruments including fifes and drums, some wearing patriotic outfits and uniformed military veterans.

Especially go to lengths to look orderly, not like a rabble.

A particularly effective technique is on command to sing patriotic songs not usually associated with marching, like “God Bless America”, so handouts with song lyrics are a big plus. The “patriotic chorus effect” makes it extremely hard for riot police to attack. And is extremely bad p.r. if they do.

It also interferes with biased news reports that have audio.

I would suggest keeping in reserve a large crucifix, a cross with crucified Jesus on it, that should be hoisted if attacked. That is kind of a protest “nuclear weapon” so should be used sparingly.

Imagine the effect of pictures of a protestor carrying a crucifix getting a beat down or arrested by the police. While the socialists would be more than happy to do so, the reaction would be incredible and nationwide.

Arlington National Cemetary is federal land, not Virginias... And since the D.C. and Virginia line runs along the West shoreline of the Potomac River, there is some land on the Virginia side of the Potomac River that is actually part of D.C. due to a small watercourse that makes it an island.

Its the area on the West side of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, and it includes the George Washington Parkway between the Roosevelt Bridge and the 14th Street Bridge. So D.C. gun law may be applied there from what Ive heard.

63
posted on 05/04/2013 6:17:27 PM PDT
by deks
("...the battle...liberty against the overreach of the federal government" Ken Cuccinelli)

Thanks for the well researched post on what appears to be a well connected left wing activist at work. Whatever he is trying to do with his crazy rifle carrying protest, it isn’t remotely related to supporting and encouraging conservative, patriotic causes.

And a leftist too. Note that Salon is already using his plan to tar conservatives, and gun owners:

"A gun activist..."

"He started an anti-government radio show as the Tea Party picked up steam..."

"but the protest may strike a chord with gun fanatics, who stage open carry protests across the country to fight gun control laws"

Needless to say Alex Seitz-Wald at Salon neglects to point out that "open carry" events are done in places where open carry is legal, and they are less protests than simple demonstrations of a legal activity. Kind of like people walking in a permitted, legal parade to support some cause, or a group of bicyclists going riding together.

And Seitz-Wald tries to associate Kokesh with the Tea Party, and gun owners, even though both groups may well reject him.

In the ones that you mentioned, the Government was on their side. We were defeated politically, not battlewise. In this case, the Government will not hesitate to jump on us with both feet and we will face the full might of the Government of the United States, however corrupt it may be.

Should armed Americans ever march on DC, the numbers will be closer to 1 million and more. The political ruling class will be evacuating the halls of power as rapidly as their self-important little legs will carry them, for they will know that they have finally gone over the edge.

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