6,000 Police, 2,500 soldiers, Bomb-Sniffing Dogs, Coast Guard Ships, and Air Force Jets

Protests, Rallies Share Inaugural Spotlight Amid Tight Security

CATHERINE DODGE / Bloomberg 20jan2005

A protester briefly interrupted President George W. Bush's second inaugural speech and, amid the tightest security in the history of the event, demonstrators condemned U.S. domestic and foreign policy.

Carrying flag-draped coffins on a march through downtown Washington, hundreds of protesters denounced the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and demanded more money for health care, schools and housing. Two police officers sustained cuts and bruises in a scuffle with demonstrators near the Capitol and, separately, there were at least five arrests, police said.

``Fifty-one percent is not a mandate,'' said health-care activist Vanessa Dixon, referring to Bush's vote total in a speech to more than 200 people gathered at a designated protest area on Pennsylvania Avenue. ``There's a real and present danger in the world. That danger is George W. Bush.''

A protester booed Bush during his inaugural speech at the Capitol and yelled, ``Where are the poor? Did you ship them out of town?'' He was shouted down by the crowd and escorted away by police.

U.S. Capitol Police spokesman Michael Lauer said none of the arrests were from the scuffle near the Capitol because the protesters ran away. A man who broke through security four years ago to shake Bush's hand at his first inaugural was arrested today on an old trespassing warrant, Lauer said. He declined to identify the man.

Security for the inauguration, the 55th in U.S. history and the first since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is the tightest ever, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said.

Thousands of Officers

About 6,000 law enforcement officers are assigned to the nation's capital along with 2,500 soldiers and bomb-sniffing dogs, according to the Homeland Security Department. Coast Guard ships patrolled the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and Air Force jets circled above the city.

Security at hotels is being increased to protect the buildings and ventilation systems, Ridge said. Sharpshooters were positioned atop buildings near the parade route from the U.S. Capitol to the White House.

``The security for this occasion will be unprecedented,'' Ridge said in advance of today's events. ``Protective measures will be seen; there will be quite a few that are not seen. Our goal is that any attempt on the part of anyone or any group to disrupt the inaugural will be repelled by multiple layers of security.''

The Homeland Security Department designated the swearing-in ceremony and parade up Pennsylvania Avenue as a ``National Special Security Event.'' The state funeral for former President Ronald Reagan in June and last year's political conventions in Boston and New York also received the designation.

Barring Traffic

More than 100 city blocks were closed to traffic and manhole covers on the parade route were welded shut. City and federal offices were closed, and areas were set aside for protesters.

The St. Regis Hotel, three blocks from the White House, set up an alternate parking garage for guests because the regular facility was closed. Hotel employees were told to take the subway.

The hotel has added guards and was getting bulletins about security almost hourly leading up to the inauguration from the Department of Homeland Security, said Tracy Kaltman-Ahmed, the hotel's director of sales and marketing.

``We always have high-level guests, so it's something we are used to,'' she said.

City inspectors about a month ago started examining hotel rooms, stairwells, exits and ventilation systems, which they do before every inaugural, she said.

Evening Activities

The Willard InterContinental Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, which bills itself as the only luxury hotel on the parade route, is providing guests with shuttle bus service to the evening balls and events around town to cope with street closings.

Security at the hotel is ``enhanced but subtle,'' said Willard's director of public relations, Barbara Bahny. ``Our security is accustomed to important visitors.''

The Willard has a long history with inaugural events, she said.

Abraham Lincoln stayed at the hotel for two weeks before his inauguration, and the Willard was the site of his inaugural lunch of corned beef and cabbage, mock turtle soup, parsley potatoes, blackberry pie and coffee, said Bahny.

Those attending inaugural events were subject to screening at more than a dozen public entry points, according to the U.S. Secret Service. Prohibited items include weapons of any kind, aerosols, backpacks and large bags, laser pointers, animals, coolers, packages, bicycles, and any supports for signs or placards, which must be made of cardboard, poster board or cloth.

Security Lines

Some attendees waited in security lines for about an hour to get to the viewing areas along the parade route. Hundreds of protesters gathered, shouting ``Drop Bush, not bombs,'' and ``Bush is a terrorist.''

Protesters complained that one area designated for them along the parade route was hidden by 8-foot-high bleachers for Bush supporters.

``It's like a bad joke,'' said Fred Persi, 35, of Arlington, Virginia.

Early arriving audience members on the Capitol lawn said security lines were short. Mary Glasscock of Louisville, Kentucky, said she came through security in five minutes at 8:30 a.m.

Most restaurants and hotels downtown stayed open to benefit from tourist trade, though many smaller businesses on the blocked- off streets shut down for the day, said D.C. Chamber of Commerce spokesman Brian Boyer.

``It's never a good thing for the businesses when the city turns into an armed fortress,'' he said.

source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aGb1N8G.phxY&refer=top_world_news 20jan2005

Lots of Security Orders 'Lots of Patience'

MATTHEW CELLA / Washington Times 20jan2005

Law-enforcement agencies say people who would like to attend today's inaugural festivities should not be intimidated by heightened security, but they should be aware of the stepped-up protective measures so they are not turned away.

"We encourage people and we want people to participate, but we want them to be aware to bring lots of patience," said Sgt. Contricia Sellers-Ford, spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police.

Capitol Police are tasked with providing security on the Capitol grounds, where President Bush will be sworn in and deliver his second inaugural address.

Even though spectators are required to have obtained tickets in advance for the ceremony, Sgt. Sellers-Ford said they should be sure not to carry any prohibited items and to arrive as early as possible, because officers will have a limited amount of time to screen and seat everyone.

Prohibited items include weapons, thermoses, backpacks and most bags. Screeners will open entry points at 8 a.m. and close them at noon.

Police said ticket holders with blue or green inaugural tickets should take Metro to the Union Station or Judiciary Square stations. Persons with red or yellow tickets should take Metro to the Capitol South or Federal Center stations.

Officer Kenneth Bryson, a Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, encouraged people attending the inaugural parade to take Metro and arrive early.

Ten checkpoints for entering the secured perimeter around the parade route and two checkpoints leading to viewing points on the Mall for the swearing-in ceremony will open at 9 a.m. Each checkpoint will have several lines manned by federal and local law-enforcement officers, who will use metal detectors to screen spectators.

"We hope that people will attend, whatever their interests may be," Officer Bryson said, referring to protesters who have complained that inaugural organizers have limited their access to the parade route.

Signs or posters are banned from the swearing-in ceremony, but will be permitted along the parade route. However, a U.S. District Court judge yesterday upheld a ban on sign poles or sticks.

The protest group Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) challenged the ban, but U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said Tuesday that the restrictions are reasonable.

The group also argued that the National Park Service illegally blocked protesters and the general public from access to vast portions of Pennsylvania Avenue that have been reserved solely for ticketed guests approved by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Judge Friedman also dismissed that claim.

"It's clear the plaintiffs did not get the space they wanted, but they did get nine designated areas," he said.

One of the areas, at Pennsylvania Avenue and Fourth Street NW, is the only site with an unobstructed view of the parade route granted to protesters.

Security at Metro stations will be enhanced, with nearly two dozen Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and bomb-sniffing dogs from airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Milwaukee and St. Louis teaming up with Metro Transit Police to secure the subway system.

Fifteen TSA airport screeners brought in special equipment to scan items. The equipment can identify items as being harmless before any stations would have to be closed for a broader security sweep, said Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson.

"Obviously, we'll have a tremendous response to suspicious packages and unattended items," Chief Hanson said.

Metro also will have 10 FBI bomb technicians on hand.

"One of the things we recommend to our passengers is: 'Don't bring it, if you can't put it in your pocket,' " Chief Hanson said.

Metro will close the Archives-Navy Memorial and Smithsonian stations, which are inside the secure perimeter. The stations will remain closed until after the parade.

A third station, the Mount Vernon Square-Convention Center stop, also will be closed today.

This article is based in part on wire service reports.

source: http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20050120-120045-3810r.htm 20jan2005

D.C.-Area Police Sport Special Inauguration Badges

Special Badges Become Memorabilia

AP 20jan2005

WASHINGTON — According to The Washington Post, D.C. police officers will be wearing special inauguration badges today.

The first time D.C. Police and other local agencies used the badges was in 1981 at President Ronald Reagan's inauguration.

The badges change every four years and are seen as memorabilia for all the hard work that goes into working a presidential inauguration.

This year D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey helped design the badge that is gold and displays the United States and District flags.

A depiction of the U.S. Capitol is surrounded by the words "Inauguration of the President of the United States," and "Metropolitan Police" is emblazoned on the bottom.

The badges cost $50 and officers are allowed to buy up to five with all the proceeds going to Crime Solvers.

U.S. Park Police and U.S. Capitol Police also have their own special inaugural badges.

Rift Over Inauguration Costs Grows

Bush Administration Denies D.C.’s Reimbursement Request

NBC News 11jan2005

WASHINGTON — As News 4 reported first, the Bush Administration is breaking precedent, forcing the District to use Homeland Security funds to pay for inauguration costs. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams requested reimbursement but the administration has denied his request.

The administration is forcing the district to spend nearly $12 million in Homeland Security funds, to pay for everything from reviewing bleacher construction to money for police overtime. Tuesday, Secretary Of Homeland Security Tom Ridge told News4 he does not support reimbursing the District.

More than 13,000 members of the military and 3,000 police officers will be involved in inauguration security. District officials said they would continue to press for reimbursement of inauguration costs.

source: http://www.nbc4.com/news/4073299/detail.html 20jan2005

Inauguration Cost Causes Controversy

D.C. Mayor Wants Financial Aid From Federal Government

NBC News 10jan2005

WASHINGTON -- The D.C government is doing a lot to get the city ready for the inauguration, but who should pay for the work is now a big controversy.

District government fronts the $3 million cost of putting up the inaugural parade stands along Pennsylvania Avenue, with reimbursement to come later from the federal government. Now, News4 has obtained a letter in which Mayor Anthony Williams complains to federal authorities that the city is spending about $17 million on police, fire, emergency, trash and other services for the inaugural.

D.C. Council Finance and Revenue Chairman Jack Evans and Virginia Rep. Tom Davis agree the city is getting a raw deal from the federal government.

Williams is expected to meet with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Tuesday and hold a news conference later in the day. Federal officials told News4 they're confident the funding dispute can be worked out.

source: http://www.nbc4.com/news/4069349/detail.html 20jan2005

Mindfully.org note: So where's the land of the free? Not here buddy!