- Title: Washington braces for inauguration protests, celebrations
- Date: 19th January 2017
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 19, 2017) (REUTERS) WIDE OF U.S. CAPITOL DRAPED WITH FLAGS FOR INAUGURATION WIDE OF PLATFORM WHERE U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP WILL BE SWORN IN TO OFFICE CREWS STANDING NEAR MICROPHONE WHERE TRUMP WILL DELIVER HIS ADDRESS TRAILER WITH METAL BARRIERS STACKED ON IT SIDE VIEW OF METAL BARRIERS EXTERIOR OF TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL POLICE OFFICERS NEAR POLICE CAR OUTSIDE TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL METAL BARRIERS IN FRONT OF TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL ENTRANCE CREW BUILDING WALL OUTSIDE TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL SIGN FOR TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL READING: "Hotel Guests and Invitees Access Only" METAL BARRIERS OUTSIDE TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL PEOPLE INCLUDING WOMAN WEARING MINK COAT STANDING OUTSIDE OF HOTEL SIGNS POINTING TO WHITE HOUSE AND PARADE ROUTE PEOPLE ENTERING GATED AREA WASHINGTON MONUMENT FLAGS BLOWING IN BREEZE NEAR WASHINGTON MONUMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER DAVID COOK FROM MANSFIELD, TEXAS SAYING: "I believe he's going to do the right thing. He's going to do what he believes is right not just not. Not have the country so divided along party lines. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER CHRIS O'TOOLE FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY SAYING: "Well, it's kind of a funny story. We saw the Pope in Philly last year and we said if Trump wins, we're going so we went. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER JOYCE MARSHALL FROM INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA SAYING: "We've been Trump supporters for a long time." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER CHRIS O'TOOLE FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY SAYING: "The only ones in our family, really, Trump supporters until the general election." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER STAN PICKETT FROM MESQUITE, TEXAS SAYING: "There's a big learning curve in any elected position and I think for the first year or so, in my opinion, there won't be a lot going on in the sense that he's never served in political office before. So, it will be interesting in my opinion to see what happens with just the governmental process of which you have to go through." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER MARY JO PICKETT FROM MESQUITE, TEXAS SAYING: "You know what? We're going to pray for him and we're going to pray that God leads him to do the right thing for our country." PROTESTERS STANDING ON STAGE UNDER ANTI-TRUMP BANNER BANNER WITH DEPICTION OF U.S.-PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WITH MESSAGE READING "We the people reject Trump's arms race" ANTI-TRUMP DEMONSTRATORS WIDE OF STREET WITH PORTA-POTTIES (PORTABLE TOILETS) LINED UP AND VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION AND POLICE VEHICLES BLOCKING ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED TRUMP SUPPORTER FROM FLORIDA SAYING: "I mean, I'm OK with with peaceful protests. I'm OK with people not necessarily wanting Trump to be in. It would be a little better with a little less animosity right now." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER JOYCE MARSHALL FROM INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA SAYING: "I think they need to just relax and give him a chance because I think a lot of his programs will really pay big dividends. And I hope people give him a chance to do a really good job for our country." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER CHRIS O'TOOLE FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY SAYING: "You know, the whole upset thing, I understand the frustration. I had it eight years ago when Obama was elected. Did I go out and act in protest? No, I got involved more to make a change, to make sure I was educated for what was going on." PEOPLE WALKING NEAR BARRIER MEDIA INTERVIEWING PEOPLE STANDING WITH BANNER WHICH READS: "Thank you President Obama. Your grace still echoes above the noise." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUMP SUPPORTER MARY JO PICKETT FROM MESQUITE, TEXAS SAYING: "I say, he's our new president. Like it or not, he's our new president. Protesting isn't going to do a thing to change that." POLICE CARS BLOCKING OFF TUNNEL BANNER ON BUILDING WHICH READS: "The National Grange welcomes President Trump to the neighborhood." MAN BIKING ON PARADE ROUTE FLAGS ALONG PARADE ROUTE WITH U.S. CAPITOL IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 2nd February 2017 18:32
- Keywords: Donald Trump inauguration supporters protests security hotel
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZQZUPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Washington will turn into a virtual fortress ahead of Donald Trump's presidential inauguration as the U.S. capital braces for more than a quarter-million protesters expected during the Republican's swearing-in.
Nearly 900,000 people, both supporters and opponents, will flood Washington for the inauguration ceremony, which includes the swearing-in on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and a parade to the White House along streets thronged with spectators.
"We saw the Pope in Philly last year and we said if Trump wins, we're going so we went," Trump supporter Chris O'Toole from Louisville, Kentucky said.
O'Toole and other supporters believe the New York businessman can bridge the divide between the country's two major political parties.
"I believe he's going to do the right thing. He's going to do what he believes is right...to not have the country so divided along party lines," Trump supporter David Cook of Mansfield, Texas said.
It was a sentiment echoed by other Trump supporters who say they are trying to be realistic about what the political newcomer can achieve in his first year.
Trump supporter Stan Pickett, the current mayor of Mesquite, Texas can appreciate the challenges of political life.
"It's a big learning curve in any elected position and I think for the first year or so, in my opinion, there won't be a lot going on...it will be interesting in my opinion to see what happens with just the governmental process, which you have to go through."
"We're going to pray for him and we're going to pray that God leads him to do the right thing for our country," Pickett's wife, Mary Jo Pickett said.
Many of those attending will be protesters irate about the New York real estate developer's demeaning comments about women, immigrants and Muslims, a vow to repeal the sweeping healthcare reform law known as Obamacare and plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
His supporters admire Trump's experience in business, including as a real estate developer and reality television star, and view him as an outsider and problem-solver.
Trump's supporters say they're concerned about the level of anger toward Trump.
"I'm OK with people not necessarily wanting Trump to be in. It would be a little better with a little less animosity right now," one Trump supporter from Florida said.
"I understand the frustration. I had it eight years ago when Obama was elected. Did I go out and act in protest? No, I got involved more to make a change," O'Toole said.
Many said they hope in time Trump's detractors will be won over.
"I think they need to just relax and give him a chance because I think a lot of his programs will really pay big dividends. And I hope people give him a chance to do a really good job for our country," Joyce Marshall of Indianapolis, Indiana said.
Outgoing U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said police aim to separate groups to diffuse tensions, similar to last-year's political conventions.
About 28,000 security personnel, miles (kilometers) of fencing, roadblocks, street barricades and dump trucks laden with sand will be part of the security cordon around 3 square miles (almost 8 square km) of central Washington.
About 30 groups that organizers claim will draw about 270,000 protesters or Trump backers have received permits for rallies or marches before, during and after the swearing-in. More protests are expected without permits.
A protest group known as Disrupt J20 has vowed to stage demonstrations at each of 12 security checkpoints and block access to the festivities on the grassy National Mall. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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