Since Donald Trump’s loss in the presidential election — and even before — right-wing supporters of the outgoing president have been drawn to the majority-Democrat city for rallies, where they have parroted his skepticism over the novel coronavirus pandemic, flouted public safety regulations, and repeated claims of voter fraud that have been discredited at every turn. The latest events have led to violent confrontations between extremist groups, counter-protesters, and police, culminating with a riot inside the U.S. Capitol.
Each time Trump’s supporters come to town, restaurants are left to either close or stay open and attempt to enforce safety protocols on hostile customers. Here are the stories to come out of their visits so far.