Posted on 01/05/2005 8:10:01 PM PST by kristinn
The D.C. Chapter of Free Republic has obtained a demonstration permit from the U.S. Park Service for two places along the Inaugural Parade route for January 20.
They are not what we applied for. However, we will try to make do with what has been offered us.
The two places are close together, but apart. One is a 141-foot-long stretch on the north side of the 600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (18 feet deep, total 2658 sq. ft.) The other is a section of sidewalk at 7th Street and Indiana, Avenue, N.W. (11,921 sq. ft.)
Our main purpose in gathering there is to provide a 'safe haven' from violent left wing and liberal protesters for conservatives and other supporters of President Bush.
Being that it is expected that tens of thousands of anti-American protesters will be swarming the parade route, we are calling our areas the American Sectors.
While we are trying to establish an area free from left wing violence, no guarantee can be made of absolute safety. But we will work with law enforcement officers to let them know that we expect to be able to show our support for the President in peace and safety.
Our permit for the American Sectors runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Those of you who do not plan on going to the swearing in ceremony at the Capitol are encouraged to come to the American Sectors early and make the day of it. As far as we know, the parade route will be open to spectators and demonstrators sometime in the morning. Once the screening points open up, it will be a competition with the anti-American protesters to fill the public space along the parade route. We expect to have our hands full maintaining the integrity of the American Sectors. Your help early in the day would be appreciated.
The Secret Service has laid down strict rules as to what can be carried past the security checkpoint. Please take heed.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE PROHIBITED: "Firearms; Ammunition; Explosives; Weapons of any kind; Aerosols; Supports for signs and placards; Packages; Coolers; Thermal or glass containers; Backpacks; Bags exceeding size restrictions (8 inches by 6 inches); Laser pointers; Animals other than helper/guide dogs; Structures, Any other items determined to be a potential hazard."
"With respect to signs and placards, the Secret Service would ask that those items be limited to items made of cardboard, poster board or cloth and have dimensions no greater than three feet width, twenty feet in length and one-quarter inch in thickness. As noted above, we are asking that supports for signs and placards be prohibited as these items may be used as a means of concealing weapons or as weapons themselves. Additionally, the prohibition on structures includes props, folding chairs, bicycles, displays such as puppets, papier mache objects, coffins, crates, crosses, theaters, cages and statues. It does not include signs, portable bullhorns, cell phones, baby carriages, baby strollers, wheelchairs and other devices for the handicapped in use by handicapped persons...."
The list and rules are subject to minor changes.
It is strongly advised that you take Metro to get to the American Sectors along the parade route. The Archives/Navy Memorial station will most likely be closed because it is inside the security zone. Therefore, the nearest Metro stations are Gallery Place, 7th and F Street exit (Red, Green and Yellow lines,) Judiciary Square and Metro Center.
If you attend the swearing in ceremony, you probably will not be allowed to cross Pennsylvania Avenue to get to the American Sectors. You will have to take Metro from the L'Enfant Plaza station (Maryland Ave., S.W., between 6th and 7th Streets.) Take the Yellow or Green line to Gallery Place.
The purpose of our getting a permit is two-fold: To provide a safe haven for Bush supporters and other conservatives and to express our support of the President, our troops and their mission fighting the war on terrorists.
The anti-American left will be trying to send a message of support to their terrorist friends in Iraq and elsewhere with their protests. The media will gleefully aide them in their endeavor. It is our job to use our space to send a patriotic counter-message.
As always, the D.C. Chapter's rules for protesting will be in effect. Briefly, they are: No violence, no profanity, no racism, no provocations, obey the law and treat all law enforcement officers with respect.
Please note, we expect this to be a high stress day. If you can not control yourself and keep a cool head in the face of virulent hatred for our country, then please do not stand with us that day. It is of the utmost importance that the American Sector be peaceful and law-abiding.
I'm traveling to DC. I will be damned if I am sitting in the hotel room watching this. I just want to have the full experience this time around.
I'm going to the swearing in also. Would love to meet up with you all.
Damn I guess I will have to leave my bat at home LMAO. Good work Kristinn and wish we could have gotten and defened the Navy Memorial.
It sure was - even though I had lined up tickets from Senator Warner's office, the Secret Service would not let me walk across the Mall to get them, and the roads were closed so we couldn't drive around. So we missed the whole thing.
Um, don't know about you but I was thinking about stopping by the memorial to check on the security layout.
That's what makes me wonder. Didn't you tell them you had to get tickets? I hope they let me get mine. I think I look very honest and I know I look like a wonderful, republican. lol
lody, you know that none of this would be necessary if the rabid left and the terrorists were not a serious threat to the President. The most stringent security possible may not be enough to protect him. In this instance the security measures are justified.
MB, with your trusty Metro map (picked up at the Metro station) you should be able to manuever around the city quite easily. It's a very good Metro system and easy to use. You and Amy will feel like old pros by the time you get to the Capitol Complex.
bump
Sooo...if I go to the Inauguration, they won't let me get back to my hotel?! How long do the security precautions last?
Kristinn, we won't be needing tickets to get to the American Sectors, will we?
No tickets required for the American Sectors. However, because we have a demonstration permit, FReepers and others we are working with on the demonstration will get priority. We will have to work out the details with the Park Service as to how to maintain the integrity of our permitted areas.
Downtown traffic will be shut down that day.
On the House side of the Capitol are the Capitol South, Federal Center and L'Enfant Plaza Metro stations.
On the Senate side, if they won't let you get to Union Station or cross to the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, use the aforementioned Metro stations to get to the Gallery Place/ MCI Center Metro station and walk down 7th Street to the American Sectors.
I'm checking with the Park Service to see if laptops will be allowed in the secured areas on the parade route.
The info is explained in the announcement. If you need more details, let me know.
Ok. At the risk of totally bugging you, do you mean that you are working out a "plan" so you will be sure only REAL FReepers are aloud to be at the American Sector? I wondered how you would be sure of that. Don't want infilltrators!
I'm sure we'll be dealing with lefties who want to disrupt our demonstration. That's why the cops will be there; to help sort things out and keep the peace.
I know. The DU has a plan on their thread today. They want to make sure they harrass us. But will we have a code or something or just or names to stand there. How do you know who is who of us new members?
I'll know you by the twenty questions you ask in the first minute of showing up :-)
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