Protest Groups to Be Pushed Far Away From Trump Inauguration

By teleSUR

12 January 17

 

According to the National Lawyers Guild, crowd control tactics outlined in a manual by the Center for Domestic Preparedness can include preemptive arrests.

mid large planned protests, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration day is expected to see one of the biggest security presences in history. While the protection of Trump himself is a primary concern, groups trying to disrupt the inauguration have been targeted by organizers amid fears of confrontations between different groups.

The U.S. Secret Service will be in charge of coordinating the security for the day and will work alongside dozens of other local, state and federal agencies and personnel.

During a press conference, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said that 3,000 police from other districts and 5,000 members of the National Guard will assist local state and federal law enforcement. Members of the National Guard will be given the authority to make arrests by the D.C. police department.

Washington D.C.’s interim police Chief Peter Newsham noted that his forces would be prepared for attempts of people trying to “shut down the inauguration” and said that police were tracking social media for anyone intending to disrupt the event.

During the parade, which starts at the Capitol building and ends at the White House, several streets will be blocked off and a perimeter around the parade route will be erected. Those wishing to see the inauguration ceremony from the main viewpoints are required to reserve tickets, where they will pass through security screening and are required to have photo identification.

Weapons of all types along with animals, bicycles, balloons, glass, laser pointers, pepper spray and packages will be banned. Large bags and signs, selfie sticks and support for placards will also be prohibited.

Public transport will be used extensively, but five metro stations will be closed because of “enhanced security measures,” the subcommittees planning the day said in a joint press release.

Many groups coming out for and against Trump on the day will have to apply and abide by permits. While there is no officially designated area for demonstrators, many protests have been relegated to public land and around monuments, far away from the cameras of the mainstream media. The best viewing positions are to be taken up by those close to Trump.

The police and the national park service, which control significant areas of public land, are reportedly receiving more requests than usual for inauguration day. So far, the majority of permits taken out are from anti-Trump groups, although Bikers for Trump have also applied, and received, a permit for the day.

If the protests against Trump during his campaign and after his election are any indication, those protesting on Jan. 20 are likely to experience significant crackdowns and restrictions.

According to the National Lawyers Guild, crowd control tactics outlined in an updated policing manual from the Center for Domestic Preparedness is based on the “Miami Model,” which along with heavily armed security can also include preemptive arrests.

Cameras and undercover personnel often track people to remove those that they believe are likely to be troublesome based on their appearance and political ideology, which the guild said could easily infringe on people's constitutional rights to freedom of assembly.