Regional Leaders Urge Residents To Avoid DC Jan. 6 Protest

WASHINGTON, DC — As supporters of President Donald Trump plan to attend a Jan. 6 rally in D.C., leaders in the region are urging residents to avoid the downtown D.C. area.

President Donald Trump announced that he will be at the Jan. 6 rally on the day Congress is scheduled to vote on certifying the election results. This vote will follow the Electoral College confirming Joe Biden's win in the presidential election and unsuccessful legal challenges in key states from the Trump's campaign.

"We are urging D.C. residents, people from around the region, to avoid the downtown area and especially avoid people who are coming here to look for confrontations, particularly physical confrontations," Bowser said, during a Monday morning press conference. "We're asking you to avoid the area that we will be setting up a traffic box around on Jan. 5. and Jan. 6."

In coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) activated the District’s Emergency Operations Center on Monday to coordinate the city's response to the demonstrations with federal agencies.

People will be allowed to come into the District to participate in First Amendment demonstrations provided they abide by D.C. and federal laws.

District law prohibits anyone from carrying a firearm within 1,000 feet of a First Amendment activity. Federal law prohibits the possession of firearms on the U.S. Capitol grounds or on National Park Service area, such as Freedom Plaza, the Ellipse, and the National Mall. The District does not have reciprocity with the concealed pistol licenses from other states, unless the person has obtained a concealed pistol license from the District. In addition, it is illegal to open carry firearms in D.C.

MPD Chief Robert Contee confirmed the installation of signs throughout the downtown area Monday morning notifying the public about the District's prohibition of firearms.

"Anyone in violation of the posted signs, anyone in violation of District of Columbia law will be arrested," Contee said, adding his department has learned there are people intending to bring firearms to the demonstrations.

In addition, D.C. National Guard has responded to a request from Bowser to assist MPD beginning Tuesday and through the lifecycle of the demonstrations. They will be deployed to assist in crowd management and traffic control.

"That will allow the police officers to focus on anyone whose intent is instigating, agitating, or participating in violence in our city," Contee said. "We will not tolerate that."

The mayor and HSEMA Director Christopher Rodriguez briefed the D.C. Council Monday morning about the city's response to the protests. They will also be hosting a community call with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, D.C. Clergy, and local businesses.

"We will not allow people to incite violence, intimidate our residents, or cause destruction in our city," Bowser said.

Regional leaders backed up Bowser's guidance, highlighting safety concerns related to the protest. Jeff McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, asked residents "not to engage with those seeking violence."

"We know the election is over, the votes have been cast, states have certified results, lawsuits have been dismissed, and a winner has been named," said McKay in a statement. "It is time for our normal, democratic, peaceful transition of power and the will of the electorate to be honored. At this time of unprecedented distrust in the electoral process, despite every assurance otherwise, engagement will only inflame a volatile situation."

While the Arlington County Board supports the rights of free speech and peaceful demonstration, it called on county residents to avoid confronting demonstrators in D.C. on Wednesday.

“We understand the desire to show support for our election processes, for democracy and the constitution," Garvey said, in a statement. "But my colleagues and I have a responsibility to our constituents to keep them safe. With far-right extremist groups broadcasting their desire to engage in violent acts to upend the results of the presidential election, we ask everyone to stay home on January 6 so the District of Columbia can better manage the situation. Mayor Bowser has asked that people not come to the city to counter-protest, to avoid inflaming an already dangerous situation. We support her request.”

Phyllis Randall, chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, discouraged counter-protesting in D.C.

Due to the First Amendment demonstrations, MPD has instituted the following traffic and street adjustments for Tuesday through Thursday:

Emergency No Parking - Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 6 a.m. to Thursday, Jan. 7, at 11:59 p.m.:

• 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)

Emergency No Parking - Tuesday, Jan. 5, and Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 at 12:01 .m. to 11:59 p.m:

• 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

Street Closures - On Tuesday, Jan. 5, and Wednesday, Jan. 6, the following streets will be restricted to vehicular traffic from approximately 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

• 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

District residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to police. They also may sign up to receive important alerts at alertdc.dc.gov.