As the United States prepares for a historic transition of power, Washington D.C. has heightened security measures, sealing off numerous streets in anticipation of large inauguration crowds.
Law enforcement personnel are on high alert, closing many roads around key landmarks such as the Capitol, the White House, and Capital One Arena. Fences and barricades have been erected, creating a fortified perimeter to manage the influx of visitors for the inauguration events.
On Sunday afternoon, workers were still busy setting up fences, particularly around Capital One Arena. With the inauguration address, prayers, and other speeches relocated inside the Capitol Rotunda, the arena has become a central hub for activities. It served as the venue for a rally held by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday and will host a meeting with his supporters shortly after the inauguration ceremony on Monday.
Matt McCool, the U.S. Secret Service special agent in charge of the Washington field office, indicated that the safety perimeter around Capital One Arena has been expanded. Additional checkpoints have been established to prevent incidents similar to the recent terror attack in New Orleans.
National Guard units and police officers were stationed heavily around the arena, where approximately 20,000 attendees gathered for the Trump rally. Despite the cold weather, people lined up for hours, stretching over a mile. However, due to limited capacity, thousands were unable to enter, and some chose to leave as rain and snow began to fall in the afternoon.
Transportation in the capital has been significantly affected. Four subway stations will be closed on Monday, and various bridges and ramps from Virginia to Washington, D.C., may also be closed on Inauguration Day. Reports indicate that 25,000 law enforcement personnel will be on duty during the inauguration process.
Trump is scheduled to be sworn in at noon on Monday, with temperatures expected to be around minus five degrees Celsius. Despite the challenging conditions, supporters remain enthusiastic. Leah Aguanno, a Trump supporter from Westfield, New Jersey, waited hours in line on Sunday, holding a Trump-Vance flag.
“Even though the weather is bad, I’m still happy to be here to be part of this. It’s a moment in history, and I’m expecting great changes and many orders to be reversed tomorrow after Trump is in office,” said Aguanno.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
