Nation’s capital ups police presence ahead of protests, Supreme Court rulings

Washington, D.C., is rising police presence and urging guests to not deliver weapons as town prepares for rallies and Supreme Court docket rulings on hot-button topicsincluding abortion and gun rights.

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee mentioned Friday his division is in a “posture of preparedness” for upcoming occasions.

“We’re rising our presence to have protection in neighborhoods and our downtown areas, which incorporates the activation of civil disturbance unit platoons,” he mentioned at a press convention alongside Mayor Muriel Bowser. “As well as, we’re working carefully with our legislation enforcement, authorities and group companions to make sure that all of those occasions are peaceable and our neighborhoods are secure.”

This weekend in D.C., a March for Our Lives demonstration is anticipated to attract hundreds calling for motion on gun management after a mass taking pictures at an elementary college in Uvalde, Texas, left 19 younger kids and two academics useless. That adopted a taking pictures in Buffalo, New York, the place a gunman opened fireplace and killed 10 Black folks.

The Supreme Court docket can be anticipated to ship a number of opinions this month, with a number of choices being handed down Monday and Wednesday.

Contee mentioned if extra officers are wanted at any level, the Metropolitan Police Division will name upon departments in neighboring jurisdictions.

The police chief additionally particularly warned towards bringing weapons to any upcoming occasions amid a disturbing pattern of high-profile mass shootings.

“If you happen to’re coming to take pleasure in our stunning metropolis, people shouldn’t assume to deliver firearms into our stunning metropolis,” he mentioned. “We have to assist hold the peace in our metropolis — go away the legislation enforcement and the firearms, go away that to the Metropolitan Police Division. That is our duty.”

The FBI Washington subject workplace and the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Columbia launched an announcement Friday reiterating its dedication to maintain the peace this summer season.

“We won’t tolerate violence, destruction, interference with authorities capabilities, or trespassing on authorities property,” mentioned U.S. Lawyer Matthew M. Graves and FBI Assistant Director in Cost Steven M. D’Antuono.

Tensions have been operating excessive in current weeks because the nation awaits choices in two high-profile Supreme Court docket instances — one on gun rights and one other on abortion rights.

Earlier this week, an armed man was arrested outdoors the house of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Nicholas Roske, 26-year-old from California, was charged with tried homicide of a U.S. Supreme Court docket justice. Roske’s legal professional, federal public defender Andrew Szekely, couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.

Roske was allegedly indignant over the current mass taking pictures at an elementary college in Uvalde, Texas, and the leaked draft of the Supreme Court docket’s determination impacting Roe v. Wade, in response to an affidavit beforehand reported by ABC Information.

Bowser mentioned Friday that town will not “reside in worry.”

“We’ll depend on one another but additionally on our authorities who is aware of assist large-scale occasions and are going to take each precaution that we will, however we’re additionally asking one another to look out for our neighbors,” she mentioned.

– ABC Information’ Beatrice Peterson and Luke Barr contributed to this report.