Supporters of the former American President Donald Trump have gathered for a demonstration in front of the Capitol in Washington.

According to initial impressions, fewer people came than expected on Saturday afternoon (local time).

At the same time, numerous counter-demonstrators took to the streets.

"It's pretty much what we expected," Washington police chief Robert Contee told CNN.

So far everything has been peaceful.

The police were there with a large number of people out of fear of riots.

The area around the congress headquarters was cordoned off as a precaution.

According to their own statements, the Capitol police have prepared for various scenarios and also prepared for possible violence.

The demonstration is intended to support defendants who will have to stand trial because of the storming of the Capitol on January 6th.

The rally is organized by a former member of Trump's campaign team, Matt Braynard.

Trump had to face impeachment proceedings

Trump supporters had violently stormed the Congress headquarters in the American capital on January 6th.

Five people were killed, including a police officer.

The unprecedented attack on the heart of American democracy caused a shock, both nationally and internationally.

Trump had to face impeachment proceedings for the attack because he had previously incited his supporters at a rally.

At the end of the trial, the Republican was acquitted.

The background to the attack is being further investigated in Congress.

The Capitol Police came under fire after the attack because the parliament's security forces were unable to fend off Trump supporters.

Before the demonstration on Saturday, the unit was now convinced that it was prepared for all eventualities.

A senior Capitol Police officer Sean Gallagher said security preparations had been going on for several weeks.

Emergency forces from other units, such as the capital city police and the national guard, are ready to provide support.

"Our officials are prepared," stressed Gallagher.

There is hope that the event will remain peaceful over the weekend.

"But our schedules are scalable so that we are ready to handle whatever happens."

Barrier re-erected

A fence was temporarily rebuilt around the Capitol with a view to the demo to protect the congress headquarters.

The fence was erected after the attack in January and only dismantled in July.

According to the Department of Defense, a hundred members of the National Guard stand by in case the Capitol Police should request assistance.

The new Capitol Police chief Tom Manger, who only took up his post in July, said there were indications of possible threats surrounding the demonstration.

It is difficult to say whether these are credible, but there was similar online talk before the violent storming of the Capitol in early January.

“So we don't take any chances.” All hints would be taken seriously.

Anything else would be foolish, he insisted.

Manger said the police had prepared for a wide variety of scenarios and made sure that there were sufficient forces and equipment.

If there should be violence, the most likely scenario from his point of view is that there could be clashes with counter-demonstrators.

But everything is done to avoid that.

Three groups were planning counter-demonstrations, Manger said.

According to the police, the organizers have registered 700 participants for the demo.

How many would actually come in the end is unclear.

Heated mood

The rally organizer, Matt Braynard, said Friday that he and his fellow campaigners consistently oppose violence. Anyone who used violence or damaged property in the attack on the Capitol had to answer for it. However, his group campaigns for those who are accused of neither physical assault nor damage to property, but who are treated with disproportionate severity by the law enforcement authorities and held as "political prisoners".

A few days ago, Trump himself had also shown public solidarity with those who were “so unfairly persecuted” in connection with January 6th. Critics saw it as an attempt to fuel the mood. Braynard asserted that the protest was not about party politics, but solely about civil rights. At the rally, family members of detainees should have their say, "and we will sing a few songs".