Elrich Urges Residents To Steer Clear Of Pro-Trump Rallies In DC

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) is urging residents to steer clear of the Pro-Trump demonstrations in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

Thousands of President Trump's supporters are descending on the nation's capital in a last-ditch effort to keep the Republican commander-in-chief in the White House. For weeks, the president and his supporters have peddled baseless claims of election fraud. Their efforts come to a head on Wednesday, the same day Congress is scheduled to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

"The right to protest is a fundamental right of every American. I have personally exercised this right for decades," Elrich said. "But this week I am joining (D.C.) Mayor Bowser and other regional leaders in urging our residents to avoid demonstrations by protestors supporting President Trump's erroneous claims that the election was fraudulent. These are not ordinary times, and these will not be ordinary protests."

Elrich expressed concerns that the rally could turn violent, which may put residents in harm's way.

"There is talk of disrupting the counting of votes in Congress, which would require extreme actions. This could create a volatile situation that may get out of hand, and we do not want people putting themselves in harm's way," he said. "Let Congress do its job, let the police protect Congress against whatever threats may evolve, and let's do our part to make sure that the task confronting the police is as simple as possible. And let us hope that peace and human decency prevail at the end of the day. Please stay away, and please stay safe."