The George Washington University to Close at Least 3 Key Buildings on Day of Unite the Right Rally

The Marvin Center, Gelman Library and the Lerner Health and Wellness Center will all be closed Sunday, GW officials announced

What to Know

  • The Marvin Center, Gelman Library and the Lerner Health and Wellness Center will all be closed Sunday, GW officials said.
  • GW is bracing for disruptions at the Foggy Bottom Metro station, as well as more traffic, road closures and security barriers.
  • University officials issued a list of recommendations to GW community members.

Several key buildings on The George Washington University's main campus will be closed Sunday due to possible disruptions from the Unite the Right rally and counter-protests.

The Marvin Center, Gelman Library and the Lerner Health and Wellness Center will all be closed Sunday, GW officials announced in a campus security advisory released Tuesday, saying they expect the rally and protests to have "a major impact" on the Foggy Bottom campus.

Hundreds of white supremacists are expected to attend the rally near the White House, with more people expected to counter-demonstrate. Demonstrators plan to take the Metro from Vienna, Virginia, to the Foggy Bottom station located amid GW's urban campus, before marching to the White House.

GW is bracing for disruptions at the Metro station, plus more traffic, road closures and security barriers on and around campus, officials said. There could also be restricted access or closures of more campus buildings, as well as delays on the Vern Express shuttle to and from the university's Mount Vernon Campus. 

While university officials say protest activity and counter-protests could happen any time over the weekend, they expect the majority of the impact to the Foggy Bottom area to be Sunday between 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. 

The permit application for the Unite the Right rally, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, says the demonstration will take place from about 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Expected speakers include David Duke, former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

The university says it's been working with D.C. police and other local law enforcement agencies. 

"There will be a significant law enforcement presence on and around campus," GW officials said in the release.

University officials issued this list of recommendations to GW community members: 

  • Follow the guidance of security officials, posted signage, and monitor the situation through the Campus Advisories page and via @GWTweets on Twitter.
  • Carry your GWorld ID card with you at all times as you may be asked for identification, and access to campus buildings may be restricted unexpectedly.
  • Be mindful of people following you into the entrances of residence halls or other university buildings and do not allow access to anyone unknown to you.
  • Plan your weekend accordingly. Traveling to and from campus will be difficult and unnecessary trips are discouraged.
  • Program the George Washington University Police Department's emergency number (202-994-6111) into your phone and report any unauthorized persons or unusual activity.
  • Update your contact information including phone numbers and additional email addresses for GW Alert, the university's emergency notification system.
  • Sign up for AlertDC to receive District of Columbia emergency information and road closure updates.
  • Download the GW PAL app to wireless devices.
  • Download the TransLoc app for real-time information on the location of the Vern Express shuttle.
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