[DSH]

I walked down to the Mall from my office at lunchtime this afternoon to see for myself. Apparently, not every Park Policeman or NPS ranger has "gotten the word," or, if they have, have been following through. While I was at the World War II Memorial, the NPS rangers were allowing people through the "check point" they were manning, no apparent questions asked.

At the same time, the one Park Policeman I saw on duty was, rather sheepishly, telling the numerous tourists that were milling around the memorial that the "memorial is closed, unless you are here to exercise First Amendment rights," or words to that effect. The Park Policeman was no thug; he seemed a bit put out by the rather obvious crap assignment he'd been given, and, apart from his repeating his "the memorial is closed" spiel, he wasn't giving anybody a hard time, or actually trying to make anybody leave, while I was observing, anyhow.

It was a pretty bizarre scene, in some respects. And fitting, I suppose, for this Administration.

[mbj]

Now that is truly encouraging!