It's pretty well accepted that conspiracy theorists are largely paranoid people, but the latest conspiracy theory that's making the rounds is a stretch, even for them.
This Saturday, the far-right will congregate for the "Justice for J6" rally.
The event, which is expected to call former President Donald Trump's supporters to action after their botched siege of the United States Capitol on January 6, is spearheaded by Matt Braynard, who previously worked as a Trump campaign operative.
But despite the fact that the rally was created, sponsored, and endorsed by the most extreme members of the far-right, conspiracy theorists are suggesting that the event is a secret government plot to arrest more people involved with the earlier Capitol attack.
The users who frequent far-right Facebook groups and extremist forums such as TheDonald and 4chan are urging others to stay far away from the event.
Although there is not a single shred of evidence that the federal government organized the event, paranoia and accusations have compromised these groups and their ability to organize openly.
Consider the following post, as noted by NBC News, from a user on TheDonald who suggested the event might be a "false flag":
"Now explain how we're supposed to protest without the FBI busting down your door and you ending up in a DC jail with no court date. I was at the Capitol on J6."
"Any protest after J6 is primed to be a false flag. And you can't talk about that 'next level' here either without the feds busting down your door."
Braynard, the event's organizer, has attempted to push back against this narrative, arguing voices on both sides of the aisle have a stake in disbanding the event.
"There are voices on the left and the right trying to discourage patriotic Americans from believing that the election system cannot be fixed, that voting doesn't matter, and that public demonstrations like ours are 'false flag attacks' and are futile."
The news garnered laughs on social media, prompting many to observe extremists are "scared" and rightfully so.
It hasn\u2019t even happened yet, but it\u2019s already a #FalseFlag op? I\u2026https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1438218890388049930\u00a0\u2026— Kavita Jain (@Kavita Jain) 1631755402
No! Please come! We need to know who you are!https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1438218890388049930\u00a0\u2026— Charles Evans Boomer 1950 (@Charles Evans Boomer 1950) 1631748891
They're scared because they know it won't be another Jan.6th This time the police are armed and ready if Trump's people want to attempt an insurrection againhttps://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/paranoia-accusations-cloud-efforts-launch-justice-january-6-rally-rcna2034\u00a0\u2026— Steve Silver (@Steve Silver) 1631757890
They're conspiracy theorizing their way out of their own rally https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/paranoia-accusations-cloud-efforts-launch-justice-january-6-rally-rcna2034\u00a0\u2026— Ani Sangye \ud83d\udc9b\u2696\ud83d\udc9b (@Ani Sangye \ud83d\udc9b\u2696\ud83d\udc9b) 1631770873
I'd be paranoid, too, if I behaved like them. It's unfathomable the right-wing are unashamed of their behavior since 2016. They had already been loopy, in my opinion, making me vow never to vote for one of them since the '90s. B/C of Trump, they're hopeless.\nwhite nationalisthttps://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1438218890388049930\u00a0\u2026— 21st Century Ed (@21st Century Ed) 1631749903
Paranoia?? If they lose that ,they lose everything--- not that I am complaining.... \nI hope that the full force of the government awaits any who try a repeat of January 6th.https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1438218890388049930\u00a0\u2026— Kevin G Shinnick (@Kevin G Shinnick) 1631749988
Paranoia and accusations cloud efforts to launch 'Justice for January 6' rally . Just as likely, they realize no one is coming and need to cover their asses.\nhttps://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/paranoia-accusations-cloud-efforts-launch-justice-january-6-rally-rcna2034\u00a0\u2026 via @nbcnews— Buffalo David, The StarGezzer \u2728\ud83d\udd2d (@Buffalo David, The StarGezzer \u2728\ud83d\udd2d) 1631745985
Well then, I don't know, put tin foil on your heads?\nhttps://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/paranoia-accusations-cloud-efforts-launch-justice-january-6-rally-rcna2034\u00a0\u2026— Kathryn Lenten (@Kathryn Lenten) 1631752398
MAGA? Paranoid??? Nah\u2026https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/paranoia-accusations-cloud-efforts-launch-justice-january-6-rally-rcna2034\u00a0\u2026— Nick Knudsen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Nick Knudsen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1631803522
It\u2019s a \u201creal\u201d flag operation not a \u201cfalse\u201d one. If you show up to take down the govt. because you\u2019re a whiny, crying baby who didn\u2019t get their way then you will be arrested if you cause violence. It\u2019s called \u201csedition\u201d.https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/paranoia-accusations-cloud-efforts-launch-justice-january-6-rally-rcna2034\u00a0\u2026— R. Pola (@R. Pola) 1631785212
Earlier this week, Capitol security officials advised lawmakers and their staff to avoid the Capitol ahead of the rally to avoid a repeat of January 6.
A memo from House Sergeant at Arms William Walker encouraged lawmakers and staff to steer clear "Unless required to be onsite."
The memo states in the event someone must go to the Capitol, they should park in underground garages and access parts of the building using the underground tunnel system.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said it expects about 700 people to attend the rally.
According to to Melissa Smislova, the agency's deputy undersecretary for intelligence enterprise readiness, DHS tracked "publicly available information on protesters, U.S. Park Police permit applications for large gatherings and hotel reservations across the U.S." to get an idea of how many people to expect.
