A pro-transgender rights rally was hastily relocated from in front of the White House lawn Wednesday after a man reportedly lit himself on fire.
Before details had emerged about the “why” of it all, left-wing groups began blowing up social media complaining that Secret Service agents were unfairly targeting their protest, slamming agents for “squashing this rally.”
“The right to peaceably assemble is protected under the First Amendment,” the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committeetweeted to their 224,000 followers. “Squashing this rally is beyond the pale.”
The Secret Service just moved the entire #ProtectTransHealth rally off the front plaza in front of the White House without explanation. pic.twitter.com/InIgVWWbwP
— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) May 29, 2019
The right to peaceably assemble is protected under the First Amendment → Squashing this rally is beyond the pale. #ProtectTransHealthhttps://t.co/PhYTQHA6zY
— DCCC (@dccc) May 29, 2019
Given another five seconds of review, however, and the critics would have learned the abrupt change was due to someone actually lighting themselves on fire near the White House fence.
The saddest thing I’ve ever seen. A person set themselves on fire in the park at the south lawn of the Whitehouse. Please pray for their soul pic.twitter.com/OjTL0kGWa7
— patlangs (@LangsPat) May 29, 2019
The Secret Service tweeted out their reasoning at around 1 p.m.
At approximately 12:20 p.m. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave., Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting @NatlParkService and @usparkpolicepio in rendering first aid.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) May 29, 2019
ABC reports the man, who hasn't been publicly identified or officially associated with the protest, survived and has been transported to a local hospital.