Rumours that anti-fascist protesters prepared to burn American flags on the Gettysburg Civil War battleground website led to armed reactionary groups turning up in numbers on United States Independence Day.
Posts on social networks by supposed antifa leaders advised members to satisfy at the Pennsylvania website on 4 July.
In action, reactionary groups put together on the historical premises on Saturday – however no enemies showed up.
The holiday marks the United States declaration of independence from Britain in 1776.
The posts that appeared on social networks ahead of the Self-reliance Day celebrations apparently required individuals to flock to the website in face paint.
Activists would “be distributing free little flags to children to securely throw into the fire”, the scam call suggested.
” Let’s get together and burn flags in protest of goons and animals in blue,” one confidential Facebook post said.