WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Thousands of demonstrators are expected to turn out in Washington next week for protests aiming to "shut down" the inauguration of Donald Trump as the next US president, organisers said on Thursday (Jan 12).
Protesters will attempt to close down 12 security checkpoints at the US Capitol, where Trump will take the oath of office on Jan 20, and along the 4-km parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue, according to leaders of a group called DisruptJ20.
"We want to shut down the inauguration," organiser David Thurston told a news conference. "We want to see a seething rebellion develop in this city and across the country."
A representative of the Trump transition team could not be immediately reached for comment, nor could a spokesman for the District of Columbia police.
After a deeply polarising campaign, Trump's surprise victory in the Nov 8 election has inflamed passions across the political spectrum.
The Republican president-elect's supporters embrace his brash, no-nonsense style and image as an astute problem-solver. His detractors are dismayed by what they see as an authoritarian bent and an array of provocative policy pronouncements.
DisruptJ20, which is working with Black Lives Matter and other protest groups, said it also planned predawn blockades and disruptive demonstrations during inaugural balls in the evening.
Some 300 DisruptJ20 volunteers will work to mobilise demonstrators for a series of protests the group has dubbed the"Festival of Resistance".
"We are not in favour of a peaceful transition of power, and we need to stop it," organiser Legba Carrefour said.
The group has three protest permits and "promises other surprises," said spokeswoman Samantha Miller.
All told, 27 protest groups have been granted permits, more than four times the average number for past inaugurations, according to the National Park Service.
The Women's March, on the day after the inauguration, is expected to attract 200,000 people, said the park service, which issues permits.
TIGHT SECURITY
The inauguration is expected to draw 800,000 spectators, according to officials. That compares with some 1.8 million attending Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration as America's first black president, one of the largest crowds ever to gather in the US capital for such an event.
Protest organisers said they were concerned with the potential for violent clashes with Trump supporters. "We are definitely worried about our safety, so we'll be training to help keep people safe," Miller said.
The group will have to navigate tight security provided by three dozen law enforcement agencies, including the Capitol Police, FBI, Secret Service, National Park Service and National Guard.
Security will include more than 3,200 police officers from departments across the country, 8,000 members of the National Guard and an additional 5,000 active-duty military members. Security costs have exceeded US$100 million, officials said.
Last week, interim D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham told reporters that authorities were ready for any attempt to disrupt the festivities.
"The fact that you have some folks that are indicating on social media that they're coming to shut down the inauguration events is something that we will be prepared for," Newsham said.
