Speakers and protesters, many carrying firearms, gather in Gravelly Point Park in Arlington on April 19 to support the Second Amendment. The protesters traveled from Fort Hunt to Gravelly Point Park, just across the river from the Mall and as close to the Capitol as they can get while carrying guns.
Jahi Chikwendiu-The Washington Post
Larry Sprague of Dubois, Pa., is among those who brought a firearm to Gravelly Point Park.
Jahi Chikwendiu-The Washington Post
Mike Vanderboegh, leader of a gun rights group, drew cheers from onlookers as he referenced a campaign he led to throw bricks through the windows of Democratic Party headquarters around the country to express opposition to the recently passed health-care legistlation. "This is what the other side doesn't understand!" Vanderboegh said. "We are done backing up! Done! Not one more inch!"
Jahi Chikwendiu-The Washington Post
The Patriots' Day demonstrators marched under the familiar banner of "Don't Tread on Me."
Jahi Chikwendiu-The Washington Post
Kevin Grantz, portraying George Washington, speaks at the rally. The Virginia gathering was the first armed rally in a national park since President Obama signed a law last year allowing people to carry weapons into parks.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Brett Clingerman of Lisbon, Ohio.
Jahi Chikwendiu-The Washington Post
Many protesters at Gravelly Point Park were outfits with military ties.
Jahi Chikwendiu-The Washington Post
William Temple of Brunswick, Ga., portraying Button Gwinnett, raises his "Brown Bess" musket. "This is a political event and a historic moment," said Bob Wright, a former Minuteman from New Mexico who gathered with others at Gravelly Point.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Kevin Patrick of Morgantown, W.Va., pins a yellow ribbon on his sleeve indicating he has been screened by volunteers and is following the law regarding ammunition and locks on his gun.
Dayna Smith-for The Washington Post
This rally began in Fort Hunt National Park, where it is now legal to bear arms.
Dayna Smith-for The Washington Post
Tom Fernandez of Sarasota, Fla., talks to the crowd. Fernandez has established a nationwide call tree to mobilize an armed resistance to any government order to seize firearms.
Dayna Smith-for The Washington Post
Participants respond when asked whether they are 3 percenters, referring to a hard-line pro-gun organization named after the percent of colonial Americans who fought in the Revolution.
Dayna Smith-for The Washington Post
A man calling himself Paul from Fredericksburg holds a modified American flag.
Dayna Smith-for The Washington Post
Demonstrators turn to face the flag. They give Obama little credit for signing the law that permits them to bring their guns to Fort Hunt. They also are not comforted by a broad expansion of gun rights in several states since he took office.
Dayna Smith-for The Washington Post
A man who identified himself as Dan said he came from California for the rally.
Dayna Smith-for The Washington Post
Members of Restore the Constitution pray during a planning meeting the day before the rally in a park in Arlington.
Linda Davidson-The Washington Post
Bob Wright of Restore the Constitution talks at the planning meeting the day before the rally. The Fort Hunt demonstration is one of several around the United States for what gun owners say is a call to restore their Second Amendment rights.
Linda Davidson-The Washington Post
The protesters plan to travel from Fort Hunt to Gravelly Point Park, just across the river from the Mall. It's as close to the Capitol as they can get while carrying guns.
Linda Davidson-The Washington Post
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