Go here for the latest updates on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.
Supporters of President Donald Trump gathered for a wave of demonstrations in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, the day before Congress meets to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College.
Trump's supporters planned rallies for Tuesday and Wednesday, seeking to bolster the president's unproven claims of widespread voter fraud.
Crowds of people, many carrying Trump flags, gathered a block from the White House on Freedom Plaza early Tuesday afternoon to kick off an event that could draw thousands, organizers say.
Per the Metropolitan Police Department, there were six arrests (some with multiple charges) Tuesday on the following charges: carrying a pistol without a license, carrying a rifle without a license, high capacity feeding device, unregistered ammunition, unregistered firearm, assault on a police officer, simple assault, possession of a prohibited weapon (taser), traffic-related offense and possession of illegal fireworks.
D.C. Fire and EMS reported that one person was taken to the hospital.
Speakers asked the crowd to chant "fake news" while repeating unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the 2020 election that are promoted by Trump and allies but refuted by election officials nationwide.
A group called the Eighty Percent Coalition promoted a rally on Freedom Plaza starting at 5 p.m. featuring speakers including Republican political operative Roger Stone and conservative radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Several hundred supporters also planned to march from the National Mall to the U.S. Capitol.
The National Park Service received three separate applications for pro-Trump protests on Tuesday or Wednesday. One group raised its estimated maximum attendance this week to around 30,000 people, said Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst.
Leaders are bracing for the possibility of violence and clashes between pro-Trump demonstrators and counterprotesters. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser encouraged people to avoid downtown and confrontations.
“Make no mistake: many of these individuals have stated that they are coming to the District to provoke residents and wreak havoc," D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine said.
D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Rodriguez warned police are prepared for trouble that could come after dark.
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By 4 p.m. Tuesday, two arrests had been made for firearms offenses, including carrying a pistol without a license and carrying a rifle without a license, according to police.
Road closures and parking restrictions were put into effect early Tuesday and the clamp-down on traffic downtown will continue through Thursday.
Businesses boarded up, preparing for what officials warned could be a violent few days of protests like there have been in the past.
On Wednesday, multiple organizations plan to host thousands of Trump’s supporters for a rally in opposition to the results of the election as Congress is set to meet to affirm the Electoral College vote and declare Biden the next president.
The House Sergeant at Arms warned Members of Congress to arrive early Wednesday and use underground tunnels to travel a few blocks between office buildings and the Capitol, instead of walking or driving. Such precautions are not common during protests, News4’s Scott MacFarlane reports.
Photos: DC Braces for Conflict as Trump Supporters Descend on the Capitol
D.C. police expect even larger crowds than the past two pro-Trump events late last year, which were marked by confrontations between far-right groups and counterprotesters.
During demonstrations on Dec. 12, at least four people were stabbed and another 33 arrested. Four churches were vandalized, and two of them, Metropolitan AME Church and Asbury United Methodist Church, had Black Lives Matter banners destroyed.
On Monday, D.C. officers arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, 36, after he arrived in Washington ahead of this week's protests. Tarrio was charged with destroying the property of church Asbury United Methodist Church, D.C. police confirmed.
Police cars and plows were seen blocking streets near Asbury United Methodist Church on Tuesday. In preparation for potential vandalism or violence, several businesses downtown have boarded up windows.
The D.C. National Guard will assist the Metropolitan Police Department with crowd management and traffic control.
D.C. police also coordinated with federal law enforcement agencies U.S. Park Police, U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Secret Service, which protect federal assets in the District.
The Arlington County Police Department has agreed to a mutual aid assistance request from D.C. police and will provide officers to assist "in the event of a significant disturbance or unrest."
D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee said some demonstrators plan to come to the protests armed. Police have a plan to crack down on gun violations, in part by identifying and arresting people who carry firearms illegally. Contee asked the public to call police if they see someone with a gun in the District.
Federal law bars guns from being carried on U.S. Capitol grounds and in National Park Service areas such as Freedom Plaza, the Ellipse and the National Mall, Bowser’s office said Sunday. It’s illegal to open carry firearms in D.C., and D.C. does not have reciprocity with other states’ concealed pistol licenses.
Road Closures, Parking Restrictions Planned
Numerous parking restrictions and road closures are expected downtown and rolling, unplanned street closures are possible, D.C. police say.
Streets downtown will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, police say:
- Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 18th Street, NW
- K Street from 9th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- I Street from 9th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- H Street from 9th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- New York Avenue from 9th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- New York Avenue from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- G Street from 9th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- G Street from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- G Street from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- F Street from 9th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- F Street from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- F Street from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- E Street from 9th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- E Street from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- D Street from 5th Street, NW to 9th Street, NW
- D Street from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- C Street from 3rd Street, NW to 6th Street, NW
- C Street from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 3rd Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- Indiana Avenue from 3rd Street to 5th Street, NW
- 3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to D Street, NW
- 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 4th Street from Indiana Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 5th Street from Indiana Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 6th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to E Street, NW
- 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 10th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
- 11th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
- 12th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
- 13th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
- 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to L Street, NW
- 15th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to L Street, NW
- 16th Street from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
- Vermont Avenue from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
- Connecticut Avenue from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
- 17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to L Street, NW
- Madison Drive from 3rd Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- Jefferson Drive from 3rd Street, SW to 15th Street, SW
- 12th Street Tunnel
- 9th Street Tunnel
D.C. police say the following streets will be emergency no parking areas from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 11:59 p.m. Thursday:
- H Street from 15th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
- I Street from 15th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
- Connecticut Avenue from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
- Vermont Avenue from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
- 15th Street from I Street to K Street, NW (west side of McPherson Square)
- 17th Street from I Street to K Street, NW (east side of Farragut Square)
D.C. police say the following streets will be an emergency no parking area for the entirety of Tuesday and Wednesday:
- Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to 18th Street, NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- E Street from 9th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- F Street from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- G Street from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- I Street from 9th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- I Street from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- H Street from 9th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- H Street from 17th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- K Street from 9th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- New York Avenue from 9th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- 17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to L Street, NW (west side of Farragut Square)
- 15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to L Street, NW (east side of McPherson Square)
- 16th Street from K Street, NW to O Street, NW
- 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to L Street, NW
- 13th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
- 12th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 11th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 10th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to E Street, NW
- 6th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- New York Avenue from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
- C Street from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
- D Street from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
- Madison Drive from 3rd Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- Jefferson Drive from 3rd Street, SW to 15th Street, SW
