A photograph taken on July 4, during the U.S. Independence Day celebrations, quickly went viral online, sparking significant reactions. The image shows a Black woman seated on a subway train, surrounded by dozens of masked men. The men are dressed in matching white masks, sunglasses, blue tops, and khaki pants. The photo was captured by Reuters photographer Cheney Orr.
These men are reportedly affiliated with the Patriot Front, a white supremacist group. They participated in a march in downtown Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, and were later seen using the subway to travel. Participants shouted slogans like "Reclaim America" while waving American flags and Confederate flags.
The march took place near the U.S. Capitol, Union Station, and the Eastern Market area. The Washington D.C. police reported no significant clashes or arrests, stating they managed the gathering within the bounds of free expression.
The photo was shared widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit shortly after its release. Actor Wendell Pierce described it as "a photo worthy of a Pulitzer Prize," while other users referred to it as a scene that would be remembered in history, symbolizing contemporary American society. Some compared the image of the Black woman to Rosa Parks, a symbol of the American civil rights movement.
The Patriot Front was formed after the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville and is classified by American civil rights organizations as a prominent far-right and white supremacist group.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum commented on the march, stating, "While I cannot agree with the values they espouse, the fundamental principle of America is that democracy complicates free expression. Personally, I find it offensive and unacceptable, but free expression is permitted in America across all domains."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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