‘MAGA Drag’ Events In Connecticut Draw Few Participants

MANCHESTER/NEW HAVEN, CT — A "MAGA Drag the Interstate" rally scheduled to begin in Manchester in support of President Donald Trump fizzled out Saturday, with only a handful of supporters turning out in the CTtransit parking lot off Buckland Street.

The event, based on Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again" and heavily promoted on social media, called for backers of the twice-impeached president to meet at the commuter lot at noon and drive to the Capitol in Hartford. At 1:25 p.m., a caravan of five vehicles departed the lot and entered the adjacent Interstate 84 westbound on-ramp. A Connecticut State Police car, which had been parked in a far corner of the lot for nearly two hours, followed the procession onto the highway.

The lead vehicle in the caravan had an American flag, Trump banners and the slogan "stop the steal" on a window. The term has been popularized by supporters who back Trump’s claim of election fraud.

A similar gathering had been slated to depart Saturday morning from New Haven, with supporters told to meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of Ikea on Sargent Drive. However, Ikea officials posted a message on the company's Facebook page Friday night, stating organizers "are not authorized to use the property as a meeting location." The message also emphasized, "Ikea has no political affiliation."

At the Capitol, all vehicle entry points onto the grounds were protected by barricades and Capitol police vehicles.

On Jan. 6, during certification proceedings of the presidential election, supporters of the president had gained access to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., resulting in numerous arrests and five deaths. Congress determined Trump was responsible for inciting the crowd and began impeachment proceedings against him.

Subsequently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued reports of possible armed demonstrations being planned in all 50 state capitols prior to and through the Jan. 20 inauguration of Biden.

Additional security in the nation's capital is being provided by the National Guard, with many states sending troops to supplement law enforcement. On Friday, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont authorized the deployment of an additional 200 members of the Connecticut National Guard to Washington.

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