July 4 2020 Gettysburg hoax

In the summer of 2020, an image was spread around social media supposedly calling for a flag burning at Gettysburg National Cemetery organized by "Antifa." This hoax event prompted online right-wing sympathizers to organize counter-protests in the Gettysburg area.

4 July Gettysburg Hoax
Part of George Floyd protests
Date	4 July 2020
Location	Gettysburg National Cemetery 39.8203° N, 77.2318° W
Caused by	A social media hoax threatening a flag burning performed by Antifa
Resulted in	Social media fact checking called into question and foreign influence alleged in domestic U.S. politics by members of U.S. Congress
Parties to the civil conflict
Trent Somes Iron Horsemen boogaloo movement Supporters of Donald J. Trump Ku Klux Klan (unconfirmed) 16 Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies, namely the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Pennsylvania State Police
Number
1 ~50 (surrounding Somes) ~500 (present at Gettysburg) 100 troopers dozens of others from various agencies
Casualties
Injuries	0
Detained	0 (Somes removed from park)

Though the event propagated by the spoof page "Left Behind USA" at Gettysburg was removed from social media and discredited by authorities, it prompted an estimated 500 counter-protestors to show up to the Gettysburg area, many of them armed.[1][2] Trent Somes, who was visiting a grave in the cemetery wearing a black lives matter shirt, not protesting, was surrounded and aggressively questioned by around 50 counter-protestors while exiting the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Somes was removed from the cemetery by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the National Park Service. Jason Martz, acting public affairs officer for Gettysburg National Military Park, told The Washington Post “For his own safety, federal law enforcement made the decision to remove him, and he was escorted out of the cemetery." Somes filmed part of the encounter, including his interaction with police, and posted the video on his personal YouTube and Facebook accounts where it was spread around social media platforms. The Washington Post published the initial story in an investigative report on the hoax and the incident, where Somes was quoted and the video linked.[3][4] The altercation received widespread, international media attention.

See Also

George Floyd protests

Progressive Christianity

White fragility

References

1. Matthews, David. "Right-wing militias patrol Gettysburg over flag-burning rumors". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
2. "Rumors Swirl About Antifa, Gettysburg, and July Fourth ... Again". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
3. Somes, Trent (5 July 2020). "Man wearing Black Lives Matter shirt surrounded by crowd in Gettysburg". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
4. Boburg, Shawn; Bennett, Dalton (2020-07-04). "Militias flocked to Gettysburg to foil a supposed antifa flag burning, an apparent hoax created on social media". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
5. "Welcome Trent Somes!". www.firstumchanover.org. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
6. "W&J student, businessman seeking city council seats". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
7. Boburg, Shawn (17 July 2020). "The troll: A fake flag burning at Gettysburg was only his latest hoax". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
8. "House Democrats seek information from CIA and FBI on antifa rumors". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
9. Zakrzewski, Cat (6 July 2020). "The Technology 202: The Gettysburg gathering highlights the offline dangers of social media hoaxes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
10. Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (10 July 2020). "From vehicle rammings to verbal tirades, videos capture a spike in racist attacks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
11. "Pastor Trent delivers master class in nonviolent communication and bests armed mob, single-handed". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2020-07-21.