"White Masks" Appear in Washington Streets: Who Are They?

The Patriot Front organization announced on social media platforms that it had arrived in the U.S. capital accompanied by approximately 400 members. News agency photographers documented hundreds of individuals wearing Patriot Front attire while riding Washington’s metro trains.

Videos shared across various social media outlets showed the group marching to the beat of drums near the Capitol building. They wore khaki pants, blue shirts and caps, white face masks, and sunglasses.

Many carried the group’s flag alongside different versions of the American flag, chanting slogans such as "Restore America."

A spokesperson for the Washington police stated that security authorities were monitoring the activities of the Patriot Front. The spokesperson added that no reports had been received regarding arrests, complaints, or requests for assistance related to the group's march.

The spokesperson said, "The Metropolitan Police acknowledges individuals’ rights to peacefully express their opinions and remains committed to maintaining public safety and security for the residents and visitors of the capital."

Origins and Identity of the White Masks

The Patriot Front, recognized for its distinctive clothing, masks, and surprise demonstrations, was established in 2017 following the violent "Unite the Right" protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. It split from the white supremacist group Vanguard America, which was central to those events.

A statement on the Patriot Front’s official website declares, "Democracy has failed this great nation, and a radical reset is needed to return to the traditions and values of our ancestors," referring to them as "European settlers."

John Cohen, who held various counterterrorism and intelligence positions at the Department of Homeland Security during the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, said Patriot Front attempts to present itself as a mainstream movement while promoting "ideological belief systems advocating white supremacy and anti-immigrant views."

According to Cohen’s remarks cited by Reuters, "Their ability to participate in public demonstrations during Independence Day and other national holidays starkly illustrates the challenges the country currently faces regarding white supremacy."

Symbolism and Activities of the Group

Luke Baumgartner, a researcher in the Extremism Program at George Washington University, noted that although the group’s symbolism tries to evoke patriotism through the red, white, and blue colors of the American flag, its emblem employs symbols similar to those used by fascist movements in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

Baumgartner added, "At its core, it is indeed an organization that believes in white supremacy. It primarily conducts campaigns through public appearances, whether sudden marches, leaflet distributions, protests, or highway banner drops, attempting to spread the message that America is a country for white people only."