GIZMODO —
San Francisco police are preparing for a potential pro-Trump protest at Twitter’s headquarters on Monday morning, despite the fact that most Twitter employees are currently working from home due to the covid-19 pandemic. The protest, which is being organized online at the website TheDonald.win and in private Facebook groups, was sparked by President Trump’s recent ban from the social media platform.
San Francisco PD declined to give information about how many people are expected at the protest and it’s unclear whether authorities expect the kind of violence that Trump’s neo-fascist supporters are known for, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the first outlet to report the news.
“The San Francisco Police Department is aware of the possibility of a demonstration on the 1300 block of Market Street (Twitter) tomorrow, Monday January 11, 2021. SFPD has been in contact with representatives from Twitter. We will have sufficient resources available to respond to any demonstrations as well as calls for service citywide,” the police department told Techcrunch late Sunday.
“The San Francisco Police Department is committed to facilitating the public’s right to First Amendment expressions of free speech. We ask that everyone exercising their First Amendment rights be considerate, respectful, and mindful of the safety of others.”
Commenters on the pro-Trump site TheDonald.win encouraged protesters to bring megaphones, eye protection, and “BIG zip ties” to “citizen arrest violent agitators” and “ANTIFA.” Users on the site, which used to be hosted by Reddit before it was banned, also encouraged protesters to wear masks to avoid being identified.
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