Pre-inauguration walk downtown Washington, DC

[Lupin 3rd]

As cliché as it may sound, downtown Washington DC is very different from what it was just a few days ago. After the US Capitol invasion security has stepped up quite a bit: DC Police, the Secret Service, and the Capitol Police have all been busy and a lot more visible than they usually would be. The National Park Service has closed down the mall between the Capitol and the Lincoln monument, and the Army/National Guard have been busy helping fence off and guard sensitive areas in downtown DC.

On a normal day, only a few streets around the Capitol and White House would have limited vehicle traffic, and people could mostly just walk by. Tourists, joggers and cyclists would litter the mall and you could see be couples and families having photo sessions on and around the Lincoln monument. There would be fencing and guards around the White House, and if you loiter long enough around the Capitol then the Capitol Police will come talk to you.

There has been tension in DC since the BLM protest in summer 2020, and the election celebration/protest in November. Things are very different now, the fencing and the Army trucks make it obvious. I was "allowed" some time off by the wife and decided to go for a walk and document the changes that have taken place.

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[Acraftman]

So much for land of the free home of the brave

 

[Macroramphosis]

Looking at America from Europe, I am sure that there are millions of people this side of the pond wishing you all a safe inauguration tomorrow. I certainly do. What a horrible time for the common man in your country to live through. Zealots on both sides, but 360 million ordinary citizens trapped in the middle. Stay safe....

 

[fortwodriver]

Wow... I was in Washington not long after 9/11 and this is stunningly different. It's sad.

 

[RichardC]

If you can't have a proper celebration what's the point?

Just go to the office, wave at a few media off the balcony and get on with your job.

Total waste of resources at a time when everyone really should have better things to do.

 

[kmcsmart]

Great photos. Thanks for the tour. My fellow Canadians and I are hoping for a smooth transition and we too wish you a safe and harmonious change of office.
K

 

[demiro]

thanks for documenting and sharing @Lupin 3rd

Some very strong images in that set. Did anyone hassle you? .

 

[JensM]

Last time I saw such a fortified capital, I was in Kabul.

 

[RichardC]

Whatever they do, let's hope the occasion will be remembered for having passed by peacefully.

 

[Brodhall]

Fantastic 'historical' photographic documentation of a strange time all round

 

[Lupin 3rd]

If you can't have a proper celebration what's the point?

Just go to the office, wave at a few media off the balcony and get on with your job.

Total waste of resources at a time when everyone really should have better things to do.

Due to the COVID restrictions this would not have been a proper celebration anyway, but I absolutely agree with you about the waste of resources: millions of dollars are being flushed down the toilet.

 

[Lupin 3rd]

thanks for documenting and sharing @Lupin 3rd

Some very strong images in that set. Did anyone hassle you? .

A random guy told me to "just take pictures and f*** off" while I was talking to some Army guys. I apologized to the guys if I was being rude and they said I was okay. That pretty much shut up the random guy.

Everyone else was courteous and professional and overall nice. I was asked not to take photos of the insides of army trucks because of ID numbers and not to take photos close to vehicle checkpoints, I complied in both cases. Army/National Guard guys were overall the nicest, joking about getting their "best side" in photos and not minding me holding the camera up against the fence.

I avoid confrontation unless necessary because courtesy and compliance work better.

 

[Lupin 3rd]

Looking at America from Europe, I am sure that there are millions of people this side of the pond wishing you all a safe inauguration tomorrow. I certainly do. What a horrible time for the common man in your country to live through. Zealots on both sides, but 360 million ordinary citizens trapped in the middle. Stay safe....

Wherever and whoever the zealots are I think their actions have spoken loudly for them.

Back in November I was also at two separate Pro Biden and Pro Trump demonstrations that were entirely peaceful.

What's my measure of peaceful?

Police chilling with a frappucchino kind of peaceful.

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"Stop the Steal" signs at the Pro-Biden manifestation kind of peaceful.

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"F*** The Police" signs at the Pro Trump manifestation kind of peaceful

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Biden and Trump supporters debating at the Pro-Trump manifestation kind of peaceful.

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Despite all the drama that has come out in the recent weeks I trust that the majority of people are able to express their (sometimes contrasting) views in a civil way.

 

[JensM]

Having overcome the "shock" of the first part of the series, I would just like to state that this has all the possibilities of being drawn together for a smashing photo essay!

Job very well done, kudos and such!! I somehow hope that you get the possibility to get there on the day as well.

 

[PakkyT]

Total waste of resources at a time when everyone really should have better things to do

Ya, like supporting the royal family, am I right?

 

[RichardC]

Ya, like supporting the royal family, am I right?

No-one is suggesting you shouldn't support your Head of State. I wonder about the logic of doing so in very large numbers in the middle of a pandemic and under such threat of violence that 25000 troops are needed just in case.

Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip are safely locked away out of the limelight.

The only one who's really out and about is that bloke with the Netflix contract. Wonder if the penny has dropped that it's not actually him and his missus that is worth $165M to the network?

 

[Phocal]

As cliché as it may sound, downtown Washington DC is very different from what it was just a few days ago. After the US Capitol invasion security has stepped up quite a bit: DC Police, the Secret Service, and the Capitol Police have all been busy and a lot more visible than they usually would be. The National Park Service has closed down the mall between the Capitol and the Lincoln monument, and the Army/National Guard have been busy helping fence off and guard sensitive areas in downtown DC.

On a normal day, only a few streets around the Capitol and White House would have limited vehicle traffic, and people could mostly just walk by. Tourists, joggers and cyclists would litter the mall and you could see be couples and families having photo sessions on and around the Lincoln monument. There would be fencing and guards around the White House, and if you loiter long enough around the Capitol then the Capitol Police will come talk to you.

There has been tension in DC since the BLM protest in summer 2020, and the election celebration/protest in November. Things are very different now, the fencing and the Army trucks make it obvious. I was "allowed" some time off by the wife and decided to go for a walk and document the changes that have taken place.


View attachment 869472 2021-01-17_10-51-58_FXE31189 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869473 2021-01-17_10-55-36_FXE31206 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869474 2021-01-17_14-09-13_FXH11136 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869475 2021-01-17_12-10-28_FXH10405 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869476 2021-01-17_10-54-11_FXE31193 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869477 2021-01-17_11-54-16_FXH10318 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869478 2021-01-17_12-05-43_FXH10385 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869479 2021-01-17_12-24-16_FXH10536 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869480 2021-01-17_12-26-34_FXH10550 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869481 2021-01-17_12-46-19_FXH10655 by massimovsr, on Flickr

View attachment 869482 2021-01-17_13-10-20_FXH10823 by massimovsr, on Flickr

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Thanks for the surveillance photos. I am not arriving until tonight and will not have a lot of time to find the weak points.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

As an American living in “flyover country,” it is a sad and troublesome time, one that I honestly lose sleep over when I really think about it.

 

[jhawk1000]

I have lived quite a few years. I have met some of the Presidents in the past (JFK, Gerald Ford, LBJ) and some other Presidential candidates. LBJ was the one I was most acquainted with (as much as an army security man can be with a President) and he knew my name, would always ask me how Kansas was doing, and would give and take joking with me and my group. Many people did not like him but I found him to be a man trapped by his job. I came home from the service, got very interested in politics, and worked for most of my life trying to support those I thought could do the best. I do not believe I have ever seen so many people lose all common sense and believe so many conspiracy theories on both sides of the political spectrum. I actually suspect that one party might have destroyed its efficacy these past years. I am sickened to see the destruction that supposed "patriots" have done to our capitol, to our national security and to our sense of well-being. I lived in Alexandria and worked at Arlington Hall Station and in DC and I never, ever, thought I would experience this.

 

[demiro]

If you can't have a proper celebration what's the point?

Just go to the office, wave at a few media off the balcony and get on with your job.

Total waste of resources at a time when everyone really should have better things to do.

I don't think the military presence is as much about protecting the event as it is to make sure anyone bent on insurrection thinks twice about storming the Capitol building, for example. I don't think a low-budget approach to security in Washington DC is really an option after Jan 6.