With heightened and violent rhetoric from former President Donald Trump and his supporters, Washington, D.C., is on high alert and Mayor Muriel Bowser and city officials said they are determined to prevent a recurrence of the violence seen during the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
Authorities have outlined robust security measures planned from Election Day through Inauguration Day as authorities prepare for all possible outcomes.
Assistant City Administrator Chris Rodriguez briefed the D.C. Council, sharing preparations for potential large-scale unrest, regardless of the election results. He emphasized that D.C. is preparing for large crowds on Inauguration Day, no matter the victor. Chief of Police Pamela Smith also sought to reassure District residents by declaring that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is fully prepared.
Smith clarified that while peaceful protest is supported, violence or property damage will not be tolerated.
“We will not tolerate any riots,” Smith exclaimed. “Offenders will be arrested and will be held accountable.”
As the twice-impeached and 34-time criminally convicted Trump has continued to threaten bloodshed if he loses, authorities have geared up for possible disruptions. Federal and local agencies are installing layers of fencing around key landmarks, including the White House, U.S. Capitol, and Vice President Kamala Harris’s residence.
New security perimeters and bike racks mark restricted areas, and street closures are scheduled for upcoming events, including Harris’ election night gathering at Howard University.
For weeks, officials have been cautioning businesses and residents, many of whom remain scarred by incidents during the 2020 civil rights protests. The D.C. police chief assured the public that no credible threats exist now, yet the extensive security measures underscore a “better safe than sorry” approach.
Private security firms are seeing increased demand as businesses, especially near the White House, shore up entrances and prepare contingency plans.
Eric J. Jones of the Apartment and Office Building Association noted that “it’s just fear” driving preparations, with businesses preferring to over-prepare. As a result, some storefronts downtown have been boarded up despite officials’ reassurances that there’s no need.
Scott Michelman, the head of the ACLU’s D.C. branch, contacted local and federal law enforcement to encourage cooperation in defending free speech rights during protests. Michelman cited past demonstrations as reminders of the importance of preserving lawful protest, expressing hope that authorities will avoid heavy-handed tactics that could infringe on constitutional rights.
“Washington, D.C. is a special location for the public expression of views,” Michelman wrote. “The ACLU-D.C. believes we all share a strong interest in ensuring, during what might be a tense period, that people can exercise their constitutional right to express themselves here in the District.”