Proud Boys and other Jan 6 protesters return to D.C. to celebrate President Trump
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Four years ago they were in D.C. to protest against the election of Joe Biden. Now Donald Trump is president again, and the Jan. 6 rioters have returned to D.C. to welcome him. “At one point they were seeing us as insurrectionists,” he told The Independent, “now it’s changed to we’re all going to get pardoned, you know, that label has been lifted.”.
![[The violent attack on the Capitol in protest of the results of the 2020 election.]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/09/21/Capitol_Riot_Fugitive_Arrested_44643.jpg)
That is welcome news for Virjilio and his wife, Clara, who were both in attendance that day. “I’m like, when are they gonna known down my door and take me out of my house right and throw me in jail,” Clara says, with the Capitol building behind her.
![[A member of the Proud Boys walks in DC to celebrate Trump’s inauguration]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/21/GettyImages-2194418581.jpg)
The couple believe there should be a distinction made between violent protesters and those who trespassed in the Capitol (although Virjilio insists he didn’t enter the building). “These guys are political prisoners,” she continues. “All these real criminals are being pardoned by this [Biden] administration and what happened to our J6ers?”.
![[The Proud Boys assemble to march the cold streets of D.C. to celebrate Trump’s inauguration]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/21/GettyImages-2194418566.jpg)
The Californian couple also believe that those who faced charges should receive compensation. “I don’t believe in lawsuits, but they need to get reimbursed for their time,” Virjilio says. President Trump’s unlikely political comeback has brought with it a reimagining of the attack on the Capitol‚ starting with a weak condemnation of the violence on the day, and then later referred to it as a “day of love.”.
After being criticised by most in his own party for his role in directing the riot, which was aimed at stopping certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election election, most Republicans have now joined Trump in playing down its significance.
