This week there has been a stark contrast between the D.C. that the Trump administration is aiming to take over, and the more ordinary life of the city. Here’s some of what we have seen this week:
Rally to Free DC
On Monday, as the President spoke in the White House about taking over the city, there was a large gathering on 16th Street at the former Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Kennedy Center takeover
Early in his second Presidency, Trump announced that he would head up The Kennedy Center. On Wednesday, he went to the center to announce The Kennedy Center honorees. The security around this event seemed to be the normal level of security – lots of D.C. police and Secret Service, but we saw no National Guard or anything unusual.
As the Presidential motorcade went by, there were only a few people watching and the police let us stand close.
There were only a couple of protesters near the motorcade route:
As Trump’s motorcade traveled back and forth from The Kennedy Center, a D.C. government crew worked on a weedy lot that had been a frequent tent encampment – this would have been visible to Trump as he drove past, so it’s possible that the cleanup crew was deliberately scheduled to work at this time?
National Guard
The National Guard presence in D.C. is not widespread yet, but it is scary to see it when we come upon it.
Elsewhere around town
Tourists seem undeterred:
The “FLARE” protest tent at Union Station has been there since May 1st, and the organizers are intending to keep it there until Trump is impeached – although we’d guess that this might become a target for the Trump administration.
The more cheerful side
In the days prior to the President’s announcement that he would save the District from ‘bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor’ we attended two of our city’s joyful cultural events – the racing Presidents at the Library of Congress, and the Caribbean Festival.
Racing Presidents
The Nationals’ beloved racing Presidents made a visit to the Library of Congress on Saturday:
The “Tom” mascot visited George Washington’s copy of the Declaration of Independence:
George visits The Two Georges exhibit. (That’s King George III):
Caribbean Festival
The Caribbean Festival was on Freedom Plaza – the fourth annual festival, sponsored by the Mayor’s office:
