D.C. police closed multiple streets ahead of a planned white supremacy rally near the White House, with more groups counterdemonstrating.
Police were planning in case violence breaks out like it did when the Unite the Right rally was first held last year in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a counterdemonstrator was killed.
Rally organizers had expected 100 to 400 people to show up, according to a permit application. While the number of Unite the Right attendees turned out to be much lower, fewer than 30, hundreds of counterprotesters showed up.
“Whenever you have an event like this, emotions can run high,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham said in advance of the events. “Washington, D.C., has been very good even when we have controversial situations here in the District, they almost always end peacefully, so hopefully that’s what will happen on Sunday.”
The Unite the Right rally ended before it was scheduled to begin, and many counterprotesters have appeared to disperse, but about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Antifa was demonstrating in D.C. amid what appeared to be rising tensions with police.
D.C. police closed several streets at 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.:
- 15th Street NW from Constitution Avenue to K Street NW
- 17th Street NW from Constitution Avenue to K Street NW
- 18th Street NW from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 19th Street NW from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 20th Street NW from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 21st Street NW from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 22nd Street NW from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 23rd Street NW from Virginia Avenue to Washington Circle NW
- H Street NW from 17th Street to 15th Street NW
- I Street NW from 17th Street to 15th Street NW
- K Street NW from 17th Street to 15th Street NW
- Connecticut Avenue NW from H Street to I Street NW
- Vermont Avenue NW from H Street to I Street NW
- G Street NW from 17th Street to 23rd Street NW
- F Street NW from 17th Street to 23rd Street NW
- E Street NW from 17th Street to 23rd Street NW
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Closures and times could change as deemed necessary, authorities said. Drivers should obey emergency no parking signs. Cars parked along the route will be ticketed and towed.
