D.C.
authorities vow to respect Trump’s inaugural protesters — if they’re peaceful
Several hundred people — some carrying signs and shouting slogans — gather outside the Trump International Hotel in the District to protest President-elect Donald Trump on Nov. 12. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)
On the floor of an Army post two
miles south of the Capitol on Friday, soldiers moved index cards representing
groups of roving protesters around a giant map of Washington. Then they plotted
where to post police and National Guard soldiers to ensure the presidential
inauguration is not disrupted.
Planning for protesters is taking up
more bandwidth ahead of the quadrennial festivities in the District than at any
time in over a decade, since thousands sought to overshadow the second inauguration
of President George W. Bush in 2005, officials say.
The number of those who might
converge in the District this month to protest the inauguration of
President-elect Donald Trump is unclear. But dozens of groups have applied for
permits, and more than 100,000 have registered online that they plan to
participate in a march the day after the Jan. 20 inauguration.
In light of those early indications,
authorities on Friday dedicated a large share of a rare, joint news conference
with D.C. police and the Secret Service to stress that they will respect the
rights of those demonstrating. In return, the authorities said, they expect the
gatherings will remain peaceful.
D.C. Homeland Security Director
Chris Geldart brought up the issue before any reporter did so:
High school students from
throughout the city march past the U.S. Capitol to protest President-elect
Donald Trump on Nov. 15. (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post)
“To anticipate questions about
potential protester demonstrations,” Geldart said, “our goal is always to make
sure that people can come, express their rights peacefully and lawfully,
regardless of subject matter, and ensure everybody returns home safely at the
end of the day.”
Brian Ebert, special agent in charge
of the Washington Field Office for the Secret Service, added in response to
reporters’ questions that authorities would not seek to corral protesters into
designated areas.
“The Secret Service respects the
rights of the public to demonstrate and voice their views,” Ebert said. “We
expect that a lot of folks are going to come down to Washington, D.C., over the
course of the inauguration and exercise their First Amendment rights.”
Acting D.C. police chief Peter
Newsham noted that the city has peacefully managed several protests since the
election, including one that drew thousands opposed to Trump.
Asked about self-proclaimed
anarchist groups that have indicated online that they may seek to disrupt the
inauguration, Newsham said the city would be ready.
“The fact that you have some folks
who are indicating on social media that they are coming to shut down the
inauguration or the events is something that we will be prepared for,” Newsham
said.
'Women's March on Washington'
organizer emphasizes inclusivity
Play
Video2:07
'Women’s March on
Washington’ organizer Bob Bland speaks with The Washington Post's social change
reporter, Sandhya Somashekhar, about the rally planned for the day after Donald
Trump's inauguration. (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said
that, similarly to previous inaugurations, the city will host approximately
5,000 National Guard troops who will be activated and deployed by the District
as well as by governors of several states to help with crowd control.
The city also will host about 3,000
police officers from surrounding states and federal-law-enforcement agencies —
nearly doubling the number of police on duty in the city. Surrounding
counties in Maryland and Virginia may also be dispatched inside the District to
respond to non-inaugural-related 911 emergency calls on Jan. 20.
Beyond security preparations,
regional transportation officials on Friday also released a plan similar to recent
inaugurals. It will severely restrict movements across a wide swath of downtown
D.C. from Jan. 19 to Jan. 21.
Parking will be banned on public
streets across a large area of Capitol Hill and for many blocks extending in
every direction from the parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue. On
Inauguration Day, five downtown Metro stops will also be closed: Archives,
Mount Vernon Square, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian and Pentagon.
Generally, officials recommended
leaving automobiles far from downtown and taking public transportation to
within walking distance of the Mall or parade route.
Asked about recent attacks in
Europe, in which terrorists have driven trucks into crowds, Geldart said the
District would use many types of blockades to create a buffer zone.
Ebert, of the Secret Service, said
the inauguration is the 56th time the agency has designated a gathering as a
national security event. About half of those have taken place without incident
in the District.
Ebert predicted a successful one
again: “We’ve developed a comprehensive, integrated and seamless security plan
to ensure a safe environment for our protectees as well as all the general
public attending,” he said.
Aaron Davis covers D.C.
government and politics for The Post and wants to hear your story about how
D.C. works — or how it doesn’t.
Donations can be sent
to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD
21218. Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/
"The master class
has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles.
The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject
class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their
lives." Eugene Victor Debs
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