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I was doomscrolling last night when this video [ [link removed] ]caught my attention — metal fences and barriers installed [ [link removed] ] along the National Mall in D.C. Now, it’s true that I’m relatively new to the area. I moved to D.C. in August of last year. But I’ve also spent plenty of time here prior to moving. I drove out from Michigan when Dobbs V. Jackson overturned the right to abortion. Fences were installed around the Supreme Court, but other than that the city remained accessible. I’ve been on the Mall during national holiday celebrations - July 4th and Memorial Day - and despite both holidays including parades, neither had fences like this. This past November, fences went up around the Capitol ahead of election day. 
That is to say, fencing isn’t the red flag. It's commonly used for security around the city. It’s the scale. 18 miles of fencing was installed for today’s parade. For. A. Parade.
The only time I’ve seen this level of security downtown was at the presidential inauguration in January. Given that the inauguration welcomes not only the future president, but diplomats from around the world, the security made sense. The inauguration of a U.S. president is a massive target no matter who the new president is.
And sure enough, the road map of road closures is nearly identical:
As I’ll be attending the fascist birthday celebration, I went ahead and checked the event website for security requirements [ [link removed] ]and… holy moly:
The Army’s 250th Birthday Parade is designated a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security, a designation that is based in part on the event’s significance, size and attendees. Designating an event an NSSE allows for significant resources from the federal government, as well as state and local partners, to be used to ensure a robust security plan is in place.
An NSSE for… a parade. Again, D.C. welcomes millions every year for national holidays. The National Cherry Blossom Festival alone brought in 1.5 million visitors this year — no fences, no NSSE.
Now, I’ve been to my share of presidential campaign rallies and speeches. I’m well accustomed to complying with strict security requirements to enter such events — I even have a separate camera kit to get around the “no tripods” rule. It’s to be expected when you’ll be close to the president.
I am not accustomed to such requirements for a PARADE. 
Maybe I’m overreacting – but surely I’m not the only one feeling the mood shift recently? Trump has spent the past week using the military to stamp out dissent in Los Angeles. He shipped in the National Guard against the wishes of the mayor, the governor, and even LAPD. All in reaction to what started as small, localized, peaceful protests against ICE. 
He’s only continued to escalate things since, sending an additional 2000 National Guardsmen and several hundred Marines. In response, protests in LA exploded in size and solidarity demonstrations have been popping up in cities nationwide. Over 1800 demonstrations are planned for “No Kings Day” today. While no direct protest is planned in D.C. itself, Trump has said that protesters at the parade will be “met with heavy force. [ [link removed] ]”
Given that the tone of a military parade is already straight out of the Soviet Union, the increased security is troubling. Now, does this heightened security mean something is going to go down? No. We can’t know that.
But it is definitely giving “police state.” It is signaling that the administration is not going to put up with any bullshit — even if that “bullshit” is peaceful protest. If nothing else, it’s a symbol of the changing mood in the nation as opposition to Trump heats up and boils over into demonstrations on the streets.
It’s a reason to demonstrate caution and prepare safety measures. But I’ll tell ya — it’s not scaring me off. I’ll still be on the ground shortly. So if you want to preemptively support a bail fund for me, consider an upgrade to a paid subscription of Stay Angry !
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