WASHINGTON, D.C. — At least one Ohioan traveled to the nation’s capital on Saturday to take part in the “Justice for J6 rally.”
The event was organized by a former Donald Trump campaign staffer to support those arrested for storming the Capitol in January.
Nathan Reffitt, of Chesapeake, Ohio, attended the event in support of his brother, Guy Reffitt, a militia member who remains in jail after being arrested for allegedly storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 while carrying a gun and later threatening his family, according to federal court documents.
“Did you support your brother coming on the 6th?” Spectrum News asked Nathan.
“I do. I absolutely do. I believe our government has gone crazy,” he replied.
Those who showed up Saturday consider the people arrested and jailed for the Capitol attack to be political prisoners.
Nathan said his brother should not be in trouble because he got pepper sprayed on the steps of the Capitol and never made it into the building. But he also claims anyone who was violent that day should be held accountable.
“Anybody that does any damage to government property — absolutely,” Nathan told Spectrum News.
“But you don’t include your brother in that?”
“Well, he didn’t damage any equipment,” Nathan said. “He walked up the stairs with 8,000 other people.”
Between 400 and 450 people showed up to Saturday’s event, according to U.S. Capitol Police, though at least half were media.
The amount of press and police present significantly outnumbered the number of people who showed up to attend it.
Overall, it was a vastly different environment compared to what happened on Jan. 6. The massive police presence alone was a lot larger and more organized.
While Nathan’s brother is from Texas, at least 25 Ohioans have been arrested for storming the Capitol.
Saturday’s rally ended peacefully and Nathan said he’s hoping the event, despite the low attendance, will raise awareness for cases like his brother’s.
“I’m hoping that somebody opens their eyes and says we need to take this government and straighten it out because right now the government is running crazy,” Nathan said.
Critics of the rally saw it as an attempt to downplay the violence.
Over 600 people have been charged with crimes for their role in the Jan. 6 insurrection, which left five people dead and 140 police officers injured.
