WASHINGTON (AP) – Throughout downtown Washington, the main sound of several blocks was the chest of forklifts unloading more fences.
On Wednesday there were no cars or scooters and apparently there were no tourists, there were only a few occasional runners and several construction crews at work. The U.S. Capitol, which proved to be such a soft target last week, was only visible through high, black fence lines.
Two blocks from the White House, a group of National Guard uniformed troops got off a tourist bus and headed for a hotel as a state of closure descended on Washington that will last until the Jan. 20 inauguration. The number of National Guard soldiers arriving in Washington to help security forces increase security has risen to about 26,000, officials said Thursday.
“Obviously we’re in unfamiliar waters,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
Last week’s “violent uprising” at the Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump “has impacted the way we approach working with our federal partners in planning the 59th inauguration,” Bowser said. Wednesday.
The FBI has warned that armed protests by violent supporters of Trump were being planned in the 50 state capitals and in Washington during the days leading up to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Between the pandemic and the security threat, Bowser is asking people not to come to the District of Columbia for the inauguration. And at Bowser’s request, a statement of special national security events was moved to Jan. 13, a distinction he said “establishes a completely different command and control structure” for security.
NSSE status is normal for a presidential inauguration and other important events such as an international summit or the Super Bowl. But it is rare to start closing in advance of the event.
Police vehicles sealed a huge strip of downtown DC on Wednesday, causing immediate traffic savings. As of Wednesday, Bowser said, anyone on the opening perimeter could be arrested and questioned. From Friday, all parking garages in the restricted area of the center will be sealed during the opening. Bowser is urging DC residents to completely avoid the downtown area and the city announced that 13 subway stations within the security perimeter will be closed for several days.
Bowser is also being pushed to deny accommodation options to potentially violent protesters. Local affiliates of Black Lives Matter and Shutdown DC issued a joint statement Wednesday urging all downtown hotels to voluntarily close and pay their staff. In addition to the threat of violence, activist groups claim Trump supporters are a threat to the health of hotel staff for their general refusal to wear masks during the pandemic. Several downtown hotels, including one that had become a favorite spot for the militant Proud Boy faction, chose to avoid trouble closing last week.
“Closing hotels completely during these six nights is the only way to ensure the safety of hotel workers, neighbors, vulnerable and homeless residents, incoming administration officials, members of Congress and our democracy,” it says. in the statement. “If hotels don’t close willingly, we ask Mayor Bowser to extend today’s emergency order and close all hotels in the city.”
On Wednesday, Airbnb announced it would cancel all reservations in the Washington subway area. Bowser said he had been in regular contact with Airbnb officials since last week, but did not specifically request that step.
“We are aware of the reports that emerged yesterday afternoon about armed militias and known hate groups trying to travel and interrupt the inauguration,” a company statement said. “We continue our work to ensure that members of the hate group are not part of the Airbnb community.”
On the ground, much of the most visible security will come in the form of National Guard troops, some of them armed. Pentagon officials approved requests that some of them carry long weapons or pistols, especially those assigned near the Capitol building. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss security details.
Members of the National Guard operate under strict rules of engagement on the use of force. But in general, troops can use lethal force to protect the lives of others and themselves.
DC Police Chief Robert Contee estimated Wednesday that more than 20,000 members of the National Guard would be active in the city on the day of the inauguration. But officials said Thursday that the figure has risen to 26,000 according to additional requests from law enforcement agencies.
As of Thursday, there are already approximately 7,000 in the city, with thousands more en route. The duration of their missions may vary, but Department of Defense officials were allowed to deploy the Guard for up to 30 days for inauguration and protests around.
Officials say members of the 50-state guard are deploying to the city, though each state is on alert for violent protests or attacks on its state capital.