Washington de facto martial law… 20,000 soldiers laid’razor blade iron fence’

On the 16th (local time), a short chase by the police took place on Highway 495 entering Washington from Maryland, USA. It was to call a pickup truck with a flag on the luggage compartment. This is due to concern that it may be the extreme right force that foretold violent protests ahead of the presidential inauguration ceremony on the 20th. Traffic police were deployed throughout the roads entering Washington. Even if they didn’t wear a symbol of extreme right, the suspicious vehicle was first subject to check.
Even this morning, there were rumors that extremist forces could infiltrate and hold a surprise demonstration in front of the Parliament Building, and tensions arose in the city.

In the meantime, the National Mall, which runs from Lincoln Memorial to Washington Monument and Capitol Hill, was so crowded on weekends that even during the pandemic, there was no place to stop by the road.
However, on this day, it was difficult to see anyone other than the local residents who pass by.

The inauguration ceremony of the past presidents of the United States was a national festival and a blessing for the new government. But this time it is completely different. It is reminiscent of a’martial law inauguration ceremony’ where all parts of Washington are closed and full of soldiers.

At the request of the Presidential Secret Service, most of the Washington DC National Mall area was closed from the 15th to the 21st, the day after the inauguration ceremony, and a 2m tall iron fence was enclosed around it. The National Mall is a place where hundreds of thousands of people gathered to watch the scene of the presidential oath at each inauguration ceremony.
“This is the first time the National Mall has been shut down since 1981, when inauguration ceremonies began to be held at the west entrance of the Capitol,” said Jim Benthat, a historian who studied the inauguration of the president.

At the inauguration of President Donald Trump four years ago, there was a controversy over the number of people gathered here. When media reports that it was half that of President Obama’s time came out, the White House refuted that “the most crowds of all time gathered.” At the time, mainstream media compared the photos of the inauguration ceremony and dismissed the claim of the White House, but Trump’s White House did not bend the claim that it was “the largest ever”, with the famous saying “alternative facts”. CNN reported that after the inauguration ceremony, “at least, controversy over the number of attendees has ceased.”

This inauguration ceremony, which overlapped with Corona 19 and security issues, is expected to be the smallest event since 1945. President Franklin Roosevelt, who was elected during World War II, took the oath of office in the White House and only invited about 1,000 people. Ben That said, “The war wasn’t over yet, and it was because of his own health problems.”

At that time, the’small inauguration ceremony’ was inevitable because they were at war with other countries, but this time, the split-up United States reminiscent of a civil war came to the’minimal inauguration ceremony’.
Currently, 13 subway stations in the city have been closed in Washington, and traffic to four major bridges from neighboring states has also been blocked. General vehicles have become inoperable, and military vehicles carrying the State National Guard continue to enter the city instead.
Up to this day, about 10,000 soldiers had been deployed in Washington, American media reported. Major General William Walker, who is in charge of the State National Guard, announced that he will increase the troops to 25,000 by the night of the 19th, the day before the inauguration ceremony. “Perhaps there are more soldiers in Washington on the day of the inauguration than those who came to see the event,” a local media outlet said.

The atmosphere around the capitol has also become more strict than a few days ago. After the intrusion of the mob on the 6th, a 2m-high iron fence was enclosed along the road around 2km. When an additional attack from the far right was predicted, two days ago, the so-called’laser wire’ with a sharp blade resembling a razor was placed on the fence.
Scott Craig, a middle school teacher who stared at the barbed wire and razor wire at the Capitol, told reporters, “I have lived in Washington for more than 10 years, but I have never seen anything like this battlefield.” He said, “These barriers weren’t laid down suddenly, but were built for four years,” he said. “Even if Trump withdraws, problems such as racism, white supremacy, and class conflict will not easily collapse.” The rehearsal of the inauguration ceremony, which was originally scheduled to be held at the Capitol on the 17th, has been postponed, Politico said.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bauzer, who held a security-related press conference at the inauguration ceremony on the 15th, replied, “Will the Washington area return to normal after the inauguration ceremony?” “We will return to the New Normal”. “As long as we have witnessed the extremists intrude into the capitol and try to kidnap the vice president, we must be in a new position.” Double fences and barricades, and the unfamiliar appearance of soldiers with guns walking around the city in groups could become Washington’s new normal to adapt to in the future.
Washington = Correspondent Pilkyu Kim [email protected]