Jan 20th 2016, DC.
Everyone who wanted to get onto the National Mall - in order to get even remotely close to the inauguration - had to enter through one of the twelve security check-points.
I see two older men protesting, near a check-point that had been closed down for hours by Black Lives Matter protesters.
The suit and sign definitely stand out.
I decided I wanted to learn their story.
The guy in the suit is Matt from Springfield, Virginia. Matt spend 30 years in uniform as helicopter pilot for the military.
People are constantly taking photos of him, posing with him.
"My father crossed the Pacific to fight fascism, my grandfather crossed the Atlantic to fight fascism. It breaks my heart."
Do you feel like a loner here, as the old white male protester?
"Yeah, I'm 30 years older than most of the people here. But my goal is not just to go to the people who are likeminded, I'm gonna be walking the parade route and hanging around people who aren't already convinced. I think that's the point. I wore a suit, because when you’re talking to people who don't agree with you, it shows them a measure of respect. In a sense, we all wear costumes, all day long."
Someone compliments him on his cigar.
Grant joins us. He is holding a poster that someone gave him earlier in the day. Most of his townspeople of Burnsville, near St Louis Missouri, voted for Trump. He's staying here with his daughter who canvassed for Bernie Sanders.
Did you discuss politics in Burnsville?
"I wouldn't say discuss. I don't think any of them discuss anything. They're Trump voters, and that's it. He's gonna make America great again, and that's all you need to know."
Did you come here primarily to see your daughter?
"No that has nothing to do with it. I couldn't believe it. I was driving home from computer club on Tuesday night when I heard that Trump was elected. And I got sick. I walk 3 miles every morning and the next day I couldn't walk. I'm not very articulate, he can discuss fascism and such. But I vomited when I got home that night.
I sat in a chair all day and read a book and thought about it a lot. I do facebook too, and I posted a whole bunch on facebook, it makes me feel good but it doesn't do much.
The day before I got here I was listening to NPR. I don't know what my function is here - you see black lives matter, the ninjas, they're really cool - but I didn't have any of those messages. So I designed this sweatshirt. Anyway, why I'm here. They were talking about W.Bush’s autobiography the other morning on NPR, and he was saying he was riding in the inaugural parade, and he was behind thick glass, so he couldn't hear anything people were saying, but he saw the fingers. And I felt, that's me. I'm gonna go give him the finger."
Grant told me later that Matt doesn’t actually enjoy smoking, but waving a cigar around helps keep the occasional aggressives at a distance.
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More on fascism:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/08/american-authoritarianism-under-donald-trump/495263/
http://www.livescience.com/57622-fascism.html
Grant and Matt
Matt
Grant and Matt
Matt
Matt
