Hundreds of members of various militia groups and organizations, many armed with pistols and rifles, gathered in the Gettysburg National Military Park on Saturday July 4. The groups, which included members with Confederate flags, converged in increasing numbers throughout the day, gathering at monuments on West Confederate Avenue and the National Cemetery.
Many of the protestors evidently came after viewing social media pages falsely stating there would be a “flag burning” in the National Cemetery on the 4th.
A similar scenario had played out on July 4, 2017.
One militia member said he had driven from near Reading to make sure no statues were taken down. Others said they were there to keep the peace, and to “defend what’s right.”
By mid-afternoon, there were large groups at both entrances of the National Cemetery and at the North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Longstreet, and Louisiana monuments along W. Confederate Ave.
The National Park Service said the protestors had not applied for permits but that they had been “cooperative with law enforcement.”
For the most part the day remained peaceful, although a video was circulated showing a person wearing a “Black lives matter” T-shirt surrounded by militia members before an official asked the group to disperse.
Park Service staff had prepared for the event in advance, coordinating local, state, and national law enforcement. Representatives of each of these agencies were present at the park on Saturday.
“There was superb collaboration and coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement,” said park superintendent Steven D. Sims.
“Gettysburg National Military Park would like to thank the many local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for the many people and resources they committed to ensure the protection and preservation of America’s hallowed ground and to protect the first amendment rights of all Americans to free speech and peaceful assembly at Gettysburg,” said Sims.