Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – Hundreds of people rallied on the National Mall on Saturday wearing BLEXIT shirts and Make American Great Again (MAGA) hats to show their support for law enforcement and their departure as black Americans from the Democratic Party.
The rally was held on the ellipse between the Washington Monument and the White House on Oct. 10 where the BLEXIT movement’s founder, conservative Candace Owens, addressed the crowd, ABC News reported.
“Black Lives Matter has been lying about our police officers in this nation. And minorities are dying because of this vicious media lie. That police officers are somehow an existential threat to Latinos and black Americans,” Owens told a cheering crowd clad in bright turquoise shirts that said “BLEXIT” and “Back the Blue.”
The BLEXIT Foundation was co-founded by Brandon Tatum, a well-known former Tucson police officer who is now an advocate for policing and President Trump.
The event drew participants from the Washington area as well as across the nation, the DCist reported.
Brandon Tatum leading "Back The Blue" rally by #Blexit group pic.twitter.com/CTw7vwfTFz
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) October 10, 2020
President Donald Trump held an event for the participants on the South Lawn of the White House after the rally.
The rally took place at the Ellipse, just south of the White House.
President Trump invited the entire BLEXIT rally to attend his 2pm "Law and Order" speech, so the group marched to the White House around 11am. pic.twitter.com/Ex1mIGXStF
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 10, 2020
In his first public appearance since being cleared by doctors, President Trump gave a 17-minute campaign-style speech to the assembled supporters, the DCist reported.
During the #Blexit rally at the White House, the crowd chants "We love you" and President @realDonaldTrump replies
"I love you too" #Trump2020 🇺🇸🦅 pic.twitter.com/7e1qlp89T5
— llermo (@ras_101) October 11, 2020
The event was dubbed a “peaceful protest for law and order” since DC Mayor Muriel Bowser still has a lid on most every other group activity that isn’t a protest, Newsweek reported.
President Trump told the assembled black and Latino supporters on the South Lawn that “you have to have police support you.”
He said that former Vice President Joe Biden had done people of color no favors during his 47 years in office, Newsweek reported.
“Sleepy Joe Biden, he’s betrayed black and Latino Americans, if you think he can run this country you’re wrong,” the President said on Saturday. “For half a century. We’ve got to vote these people into oblivion, got to get rid of them, so bad for our country.”
“Black and Latino Americans are rejecting the radical socialist left and embracing our pro-jobs, pro-worker, pro-police—we have to have law and order—and pro-American agenda. I want to thank the BLEXIT Foundation for organizing this event,” he continued.
“In order to protect the lives of black Americans and all Americans, you have to have your police support you,” President Trump explained. “If the left gains power they will launch a nationwide crusade against law enforcement, which they’re already doing.”
BLEXIT organizers declared the event a success but found themselves targeted by the mainstream media for helping some of the attendees get to DC for the march.
"One thing that made me jump to this side is I learned the history of the Democratic party" says Lamont, who flew in from Tampa Bay to be at the "Back The Blue" rally hosted by #Blexit group pic.twitter.com/7BlsyB0fGc
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) October 10, 2020
ABC News obtained emails that showed the BLEXIT Foundation had offered to assist with travel costs for the some of the attendees.
The scene at the #BLEXIT #BackTheBlue rally in DC pic.twitter.com/qTC6di6Scx
— Lisa Bennatan (@LisaBennatan) October 10, 2020
Large crowd marching for "Back the blue" rally in DC by #Blexit group pic.twitter.com/oS2Pf5icCA
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) October 10, 2020
After the President’s address at the White House, hundreds of MAGA hat-clad black, white, and Latino supporters waving Thin Blue Line and American flags marched to Black Lives Matter Plaza nearby to continue their Back the Blue rally.
I am so undone right now. @TheAcumenGroup1 students out covering #Blexit rally ended up walking into an anti-Trump protest as it turned ugly. All are safely back with me, but they've had their first experience of "being in the trenches." pic.twitter.com/386TaG4qiY
— Dr. Shan Sherman (@DrShantella) October 10, 2020
Anti-police protesters were set up nearby the BLEXIT Back the Blue march and burned MAGA hats on the sidewalk while calling the police supporters “white supremacists,” video showed.
Holly Matkin
