On April 5^th, the Left of Center [LoC] crowds held a plethora of events called “Hands Off” across the nation. The Loudoun County Democrats held their version of it on the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds. The well-attended, 2-hour event was surprisingly violence free, even in the face of a small group of people expressing opposing views. While the event in Loudoun was violence free, it was definitely not “civil,” as the rage against the opposing views was incredibly intense.  Reading the signage held by the protestors, it would have been better, to have been held on April 1^st given the “foolish” nature of their narrative.

The Right of Center [RoC] held a small counter protest and expressed their opposing view. 

I was one of those opposing views. 

While most of the RoC crowd held signs and wore MAGA hats, I came with a substantially different visual, a massive 26’ long parade float with TRUMP plastered on both sides in 7’ tall lettering, tons of flags, and “The President’s March” blasting from multiple speakers. The LoC’s crowd response, borrowing an American Express phrase, was “priceless.”  

During the two-hour event, I drove a loop, back and forth in front of the LoC crowd at least 12 times. It was a huge lesson in how members of the LoC are triggered and a shocking example of their unhinged rage against anything that challenges their preexisting precepts.

To give the LoC crowd credit, my vehicle was not keyed, I was not spit upon, no rocks were thrown, I was not physically attacked, nor threatened [for the most part], so in the absence of those physical expressions of dissent, I felt safe [also, in part, due to the 2^nd amendment beliefs]. 

Beyond the physical, there was the emotional rage. Having been at a plethora of opposition events and political demonstrations across the globe, I have never seen as much pure rage and hatred as I did in the two hours of commuting next to the event. For a group that espoused “Hate Has No Home Here,” hate spewed forth with such volume and intensity, it would give Mount Vesuvius a challenge. 

The composition of the crowd was interesting as well. Noticeably absent were any statistically significant numbers of ethnic backgrounds which comprise the population of Loudoun.  By far, the largest people group represented were white women, and more specifically middle-aged white women. The LoC pride themselves on their diversity, and yet, on the belated April Fool’s Day event, it was notably absent. 

The signage was equally interesting. I think most of the LoC crowd are ignorant of what the term “Nazi” means; what fascism means; what stealing means; what is an impeachable offense is; what bigotry is; and a host of other terms. One can only assume it is a product of our state sponsored monopoly on education. Equally, when a speaker, [in this event, two speakers] raises one hand as a gesture, it does not imply a “Heil Hitler” salute. 

The intensity of their hatred was most visible in their faces. What I would assume would be a normal complexion, voice of someone ordering a Happy Meal for their child transforms into a vein throbbing, blood red complexion and their incoherent screaming was of blood curdling proportions. Most of their narratives contained terms which make the proverbial sailor blush. It was the pinnacle of hatred and insanity.

In the end, it is clear, the LoC hates, they hate with intensity, and they hate with an incoherent vitriol, which is easily triggered by a different optic, in this case, a simple parade float.  My takeaway, from the above experience, is the hope that Trump continues to fund mental health services, as those dollars are much needed by the LoC crowd. 

Warner Workman is a retired intelligence officer and descendant of a colonial patriot.