Staff Reports
The political elite in Washington, D.C. are gearing up for what they predict will be another explosive few months between Election Day and Inauguration Day, hoping to sidestep the blunders that led to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. A riot that some would say was the grand finale of a concert of chaos following the 2020 election. The comedian tragicomedy that played out in 2017, with rioters showing their disdain for democracy by setting a car ablaze, is still fresh in the minds of many. And with the showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris looming for the 2024 election, Mayor Muriel Bowser is asking citizens to relax and just enjoy the show as votes are counted.
Mayor Bowser has found herself in the position of giving the latest installment of “Let’s All Wait for Election Returns.” Her plea for patience is about as coordinated as the actions of her riot-scarred predecessors. Recognizing the ever-so-pressing need for calm, she suggested that people might want to slow their roll and embrace the fun little game of waiting that will inevitably come with the election results—will they have to wait a few hours, a few days, or, heaven forbid, weeks? It’s easy to forget that the folks at D.C. are practically pros at waiting, considering they’ve been steadfast in voting Democratic since 1964.
DC readying security for election and inauguration activities after unrest in 2020 – Washington Examiner https://t.co/aLFPDGRWM9 via @GoogleNews
— TheUrbanNewz (@TheUrbanNewz) October 24, 2024
Given the inevitable rollercoaster of unpredictability in the battleground states like Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, D.C. officials are not just sitting around. They are busy scheduling the production of their security plan. Key dates like December 17, January 6, 2025 for electoral certification, and the inauguration festivities from January 19-21 all require full-blown security preparations. The hope is to prevent any of the wild antics we’ve come to expect from an electrifying electoral environment—like riots, protests, and general mayhem—while patrolling the streets like it’s a scene from a Tarantino movie.
During a recent meetup with D.C. leaders, there was collective worry about “misinformation and disinformation” about the election and its results. This is essentially code for “If you don’t believe the official story, we will begin our campaign to discredit you.” As the dance of discontent plays out in the background, city officials seem keen on brushing off any possible threats to the election or the inauguration. Meanwhile, the real heavy lifting will be done by approximately 4,000 additional police officers swooping in from around the country to save the day—and maybe create a few new spaghetti westerns along the way.
The joint session of Congress on January 6, 2025, will be the equivalent of a Super Bowl for security professionals, all set to be dubbed a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security. They’ll probably roll out the red carpet for their security plan just as the Special Forces would prepare for a covert mission. Expectedly, this will be the first inauguration since the pandemic meltdown that won’t require strict attendance laws, so at least a few people will be able to attend this party without having to worry about their masks or social distancing.
So, mark the calendars for November 5 to cast ballots, watch the chaos unfold, and then prepare for a spectacle of fireworks—or whatever it is that the D.C. folks have planned to nab those attention-seeking headlines once again on January 20, 2025. Meanwhile, everyone can expect moments of “patience” mixed with a few “riots” for sheer entertainment. It’s the D.C. way!
