WASHINGTON (AP) – Throughout central Washington, the main sound for several blocks was the beep of forklifts unloading more fences.
There were no cars or scooters and apparently there were no tourists on Wednesday, just an occasional corridor and several construction crews working. The United States Capitol, which proved to be such an easy target last week, was visible only through the high, black fence lines.
Two blocks from the White House, a group of uniformed National Guard soldiers got off a tour bus and headed for a hotel as a blocking state descended on Washington that will last until the January 20 inauguration. The number of National Guard soldiers coming to Washington to help law enforcement safely grew to about 26,000, officials said on Thursday.
“We are clearly in unknown waters,” said Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Last week’s “violent uprising” on Capitol Hill by supporters of President Donald Trump “impacted the way we are working with our federal partners in planning for the 59th inauguration,” said Bowser on Wednesday.
The FBI warned that armed protests from violent Trump supporters were being planned in all 50 state capitals, as well as in Washington, for the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Between the pandemic and the security threat, Bowser is strongly urging people not to come to the District of Columbia for the inauguration. And at Bowser’s request, a statement from the Special National Security Event was moved to January 13, a distinction she said “creates an entirely 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 the blockade before the event.
Police vehicles isolated a large area of downtown DC on Wednesday, causing immediate traffic congestion. As of Wednesday, Bowser said, anyone within the opening perimeter can be detained and questioned. As of Friday, all parking lots in the restricted area of the city center will be sealed until opening. Bowser is asking DC residents to avoid the city center altogether, and the city has announced that 13 subway stations within the security perimeter will be closed for several days.
Bowser is also being pressured to deny accommodation options to potentially violent protesters. Local affiliate Black Lives Matter and Shutdown DC released a joint statement on Wednesday urging all downtown hotels to voluntarily close and pay their employees. In addition to the threat of violence, activist groups say Trump supporters are a threat to the health of hotel employees because of their general refusal to wear masks during the pandemic. Several hotels in the center, including one that has become the favorite meeting place for the militant Proud Boy faction, have chosen to avoid problems closing last week.
“Closing hotels completely during these six nights is the only way to ensure the safety of hotel employees, neighbors, vulnerable homeless residents, government officials, members of Congress and our democracy,” said the statement. “If hotels don’t close voluntarily, we asked Mayor Bowser to extend today’s emergency order and close all hotels in the city.”
On Wednesday, Airbnb announced that it was canceling all reservations in the Washington metro area. Bowser said he has been in regular contact with Airbnb employees since last week, but did not specifically request such a move.
“We are aware of reports that emerged yesterday afternoon about well-known armed militias and hate groups that are trying to travel to stop possession,” said a company statement. “We are continuing our work to ensure that members of hate groups 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 for some of them to carry long weapons or revolvers, particularly those designated near the Capitol building. Employees spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss security details.
National Guard members operate under strict rules of engagement in 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 on 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 on Thursday that the number had grown to 26,000 based on additional requests from law enforcement agencies.
As of Thursday, about 7,000 were already in the city, with thousands more on the way. The duration of their missions may vary, but Defense Department officials have been allowed to deploy the Guard for up to 30 days for the inauguration and surrounding protests.
Authorities say members of the Guard from all 50 states are moving to the city, although each state is on the alert against violent protests or attacks in its own capital.