Nearly 100 people stood outside the Ohio Statehouse today, joining thousands of other Americans gathered at state capitols across the country. Here鈥檚 why one group of demonstrators decided to attend.
Over 40 members of the Ohio Boogaloo Bois, a decentralized, armed libertarian organization, gathered at the Ohio State Capitol for what they called a rally for unity. Among the group was a man dressed in tactical gear, sunglasses and a luau necklace. The man, who opted not to give his name, says the goal of the day was to bring different political factions together.
鈥淲e hope to get all these groups out here, and get them on the same page, and not fighting each other and unite as Americans,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ll we are about, period, is uniting everybody in America and get everybody on the same page.鈥�
Many Boogaloo Bois attended, as well as a small mix of militia members, Trump supporters, Democrats and members of the Downtowners鈥揳 Columbus Black Lives Matter organization.
Among them was Timela who opted not to give her last name, an activist and member of the Downtowners. She says she attended the rally for solidarity and though things were calm, she鈥檚 wary of her safety鈥揳nd the long-term goals of the Boogaloo movement.
鈥淚鈥檓 not safe with the Boogs, just like I鈥檓 not safe with the Proud Boys. Because they say they鈥檙e fighting for everybody as in everybody,鈥� she said. 鈥淚nstead, they鈥檙e not fighting for to get justice, to get solidarity, to get unity. They鈥檙e not fighting for that instead they鈥檙e just fighting just to be fighting so their cause is not the same.鈥�
Although things became loud and tensions escalated throughout the day, the demonstration remained peaceful.
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