The law enforcement presence is expected to go far beyond anything Washington has seen for an inauguration. As many as 10,000 police, secret service and other security forces are expected to be deployed. Officers will stand at 6ft intervals along the entire mile and a half route from the Capitol to the White House. Much of the national Mall, the open grassy area in the centre of the city which has seen some of the most important public rallies in US history, will be roped off and closed. Access to the parade route will be through police checkpoints only.
People are upset.
He is not entitled to privatise the parade route. He is not entitled to use the power of the state to stop people from saying things that are in opposition to his policies. We are looking at any type of weapons that can be used against us or the crowd. We don't want pro-Bush crowds taking sticks out of their backpacks and hitting the demonstrators over the head. The last thing we want is 50 pro-Bush guys jumping one of these poor demonstrators.