BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES: D.C. boards up, shuts down ahead of election night unrest

Election day has arrived and so has the plywood.

The nation’s capital looks chillingly apocalyptic as businesses across the city have boarded up their windows ahead of expected Election Night unrest. 

While some businesses have been boarded up for months, others spent the day preparing for the worst. 

Staff Photographer Courtney Rau, November 3, 2020

Construction crews dotted the streets, installing layer upon layer of plywood to protect businesses – both small and large – from potential riots and looting. 

Contractors install plywood on K Street – Staff Photographer Courtney Rau, November 3, 2020

Forklift delivering plywood – Staff Photographer Courtney Rau, November 3, 2020

But plywood isn’t the only security measure being taken in Washington. 

The National Park Service spent much of Monday evening installing a temporary, unscalable fence around the White House and Lafayette Square at the request of the Secret Service, which cited “unique security requirements with the upcoming Presidential election.” 

Unscalable fence surrounds the White House and Lafayette Park – Staff Photographer Courtney Rau, November 3, 2020

The fence will remain in place until November 8. 

In a news conference last week, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Peter Newsham discussed preparations in the city ahead of Election Night. 

“We welcome people to come to the District of Columbia to exercise their First Amendment Right, but we won’t tolerate violence or unrest,” Newsham said. 

Bowser said that though she has not requested help from the National Guard, they will be on high alert and ready to assist at any point. 

All D.C. police officers will also be on duty patrolling the streets, the director of the city’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Chris Rodriguez told reporters Monday, according to NBC Washington. 

Outside the White House, protesters from all over the country – and the world – gathered with signs to cheer on their candidate. 

A group carrying reversible ‘Latinos for Trump’ signs marched through the street in front of White House – Staff Photographer Courtney Rau, November 3, 2020

Posters fill the fence in front of Lafayette Park – Staff Photographer Courtney Rau, November 3, 2020

Though the daytime demonstrations were peaceful, who knows what kind of unrest the night may bring.