[Lincolnparkdc] Fwd: Lincoln Park and East Capitol--Security concerns

[Deborah Hurtt]

Dear Charles,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. That is quite reassuring.
Just having some more information about what is being done is helpful, so I
hope you and others will continue to update us.
Thanks especially for the reminder about the National Guard being based at
RFK--I had't put those two together.
I don't want any of this, of course, but in this awful time, it seems
necessary.

Deborah Hurtt

On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 10:13 PM Allen, Charles (Council) <
CAllen at dccouncil.us> wrote:

> Deborah,
>
>
>
> Thanks so much for your note. I know that many others are also very
> anxious right now and understandably so. I’m working hard to make sure
> plans and personnel are in place to ensure the safety of our residents. As
> you may have seen in the Post article, my focus is also on how plans are
> going to focus on the neighborhoods and communities outside of the fortress
> they’re building at the Capitol.
>
>
>
> I’m receiving daily confidential briefings on extremist and militia
> postings and intelligence. I’m also talking daily with MPD and other local
> authorities, and will be meeting with US Capitol Police and National Guard
> leadership later this week.
>
>
>
> To your specific question about the east flank, while I share your
> concerns as well, I would note that the National Guard is going to have
> about 15,000 members in town and a lot of that will be centered at the DC
> Armory near RFK. So the eastern edge – between the Armory and the Capitol –
> will likely see a lot of attention in the next few days.
>
>
>
> I hope this gives you some reassurance that we’re all working hard on
> making sure the District and our residents are protected. This is a fluid
> situation and it feels like information is changing every few hours. I’ll
> do my best to keep everyone posted, but please feel free to reach out to me
> with any questions.
>
>
>
> Charles
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Deborah Hurtt <dhurtt at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 13, 2021 8:58 AM
> *To:* Allen, Charles (Council) <CAllen at DCCOUNCIL.US>; Holtzman, Steve
> (SMD 6B05) <6b05 at anc.dc.gov>; Gove, Amber (SMD 6A04) <6a04 at anc.dc.gov>;
> Gentile, Laura (SMD 6A05) <6a05 at anc.dc.gov>
> *Subject:* Lincoln Park and East Capitol--Security concerns
>
>
>
> Dear Capitol HIll representatives,
>
>
>
> First off, thank you for your hard work on residents'  behalf.
>
>
>
> This message expresses concern for the security of Lincoln Park, East
> Capitol St, and  surrounding neighborhoods over the next several days.
>
> I am not generally one to be afraid in my surroundings, but I want to call
> to your attention a strange experience on Monday.  It has made me wonder
> how much security attention was being given to areas East of the Capitol.
> It is SO easy to come off of 295 and head west, through the park, and I am
> seeing no evident protections here.
>
>
>
> My strange encounter:  I was taking my regular walk from C ST NE to
> Lincoln Park and then on to East Capitol on Monday.  All was lovely until
> my return through the park.  I approached the Lincoln statue from 11th
> street and saw a man standing, looking at it.  Fair enough, but then as I
> got closer and began to head toward Tennessee, I noticed that he had a
> megaphone. I know this may seem small, but it made me ask--who would be
> carrying a megaphone in the park--and why?  The person also had a
> suspicious air.  I kept walking--a little faster--as I did not want to
> stare, take a photo, or otherwise draw attention to myself.  As I was
> walking along the 100-block of Tennessee I then encountered another person
> in dark and ragged clothing who was walking unhurriedly toward the park.
> Were they connected?  Were they planning something?  That was what I felt.
>
>
>
> As I was alone (it was maybe 3:00 in the afternoon, broad daylight), it
> was the first time I have felt afraid in my neighborhood.  I wish I had
> called someone right away, but it took a while to sink in and consider that
> this small thing might be connected to the larger picture.
>
>
>
> The question this encounter prompted was "What is being planned by
> alt-right factions to approach the Capitol and city from the East--and what
> protections are being taken?"  It seems like an awfully vulnerable flank to
> me. I hope my suspicions of both figures are unfounded, but they were
> enough to prompt the question.
>
>
>
> I ask that you and fellow respresentatives  reach out to various parties
> working on security protocols and urge for serious protection on the city's
> the East flank.  I also ask that you reach out to your constituencies--I
> think many of us have hightened antennae right now--to provide any guidance
> and alerts so we may protect ourselves.
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Deborah Hurtt
>
> 1317 C ST NE
>
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