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Inaugural balls, protests planned in Washington

washington — Washington has been bracing for lots of things this week, including several more days of frigid temperatures and hordes of people and police for the presidential inauguration and related protests around the city next week.

Officials said this week that they expected about 250,000 ticketed people to descend on the U.S. capital as Donald Trump takes the oath of office as president again. He last served from 2017 to 2021.

Fewer visitors are expected for next Monday’s ceremony than were present at Trump’s first inauguration, local and federal officials said at a press conference. In 2017, they prepared for more than 1 million people.

Temperatures are expected to be particularly low in Washington on Monday. The temperature at noon, when Trump will be sworn in, is predicted to be in the low 20s F, which is about 20 degrees below normal.

Enhanced security

Even though a lower turnout is expected this time around, recent acts of violence — like the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans — mean there will be an enhanced security presence, the officials said.

On Inauguration Day, 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel will be in the District of Columbia to provide security, including the full activation of D.C. police, 7,800 National Guard troops and about 4,000 officers from around the country, according to William McCool, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office.

Leading up to the inauguration, Washington will be home to both celebratory events and protests.

A Trump victory rally is planned for Sunday afternoon at Capital One Arena, where the Village People, an American band, will perform.

The arena has 20,000 seats, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the company that operates the arena, told a D.C. news station.

The company said in a statement to News4 that the arena has been offered to every administration, “irrespective of party,” for decades.

“We are happy that President Trump has accepted our offer, and we will welcome him and his guests to Capital One Arena on January 19,” the statement said.

While there will be three official inaugural balls, more than a dozen unofficial inaugural balls are scheduled throughout the weekend in Washington.

However, protests are scheduled, too.

On Saturday, a demonstration called the People’s March is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to downtown Washington. The demonstration is organized by various civil rights, racial justice and reproductive health groups.

“As Trump assumes the presidency in January, we are gathering to mobilize our collective power and stand against his efforts to roll back our rights and freedoms,” Analilia Mejia, co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, said in a statement.

On Monday, the Answer Coalition’s National Day of Action will feature a rally and march, according to media reports.

Accustomed to crowds

Washington officials said they’re used to managing crowds and protests.

“Here in the city, we allow peaceful protests all the time,” D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a press conference this week. “But when it comes to violating the law, we’re just not going to tolerate it.”

On Monday night, after the inauguration, Trump is expected to shuttle among the three official inaugural balls.

But inauguration celebrations won’t be limited to Washington.

For instance, in Florida, where Trump resides at his Mar-a-Lago resort, the pro-Trump Villages M.A.G.A. Club is hosting an inaugural party on Monday evening, about 60 miles northwest of Orlando. The celebration has already sold out, according to an Eventbrite listing advertising the party.
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