Stores near White House board up ahead of election

WASHINGTON — With just days ahead of the election, some buildings within blocks from the White House have boarded up their store fronts.

During a public safety meeting last week, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto brought up the concern of residents and businesses owners to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. 

"We are already getting requests from businesses if they should board up. We are getting requests about people moving trash cans inside," Pinto said. 

"I don't think they should be boarding up their buildings," Bowser responded ahead of a public safety briefing focused on the weeks from the election to the inauguration. 

Bowser said her administration is holding weekly meetings leading up the inauguration to brief District businesses about potential threats and advise them on any additional safety precautions they should take. 

Despite the Mayor's advice, businesses along 17th Street Northwest and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest have decided to board up, a decision that captured the attention of people like Tony Barclay. 

"I don't think if I had a business on 17th Street that I would board it up. I would have some faith that people aren't just going to go wild," Barclay told WUSA9. He says he is hoping for calm after such a chaotic election cycle. "This is not the end of the world," he added. 

Potential unrest in the nation's capital is a concern for Baya Geta, a DC student who works downtown. "Hoping for the best. Scared of what's going to happen after because I know there's going to be equal uproar on both sides," she said. 

In 2020, buildings and monuments in the District were vandalized during days of protests following the death of George Floyd. Some of the reported damage was concentrated near the White House. 

The following year, on January 6, 2021, the U.S. Capitol was defaced, and an estimated 140 police officers were injured as a mob tried to stop the certification of the election.

"There's no need for any alarm. While we have not identified any credible threats to our city. We will remain vigilant, ready, and prepared," DC Police Chief Pamela Smith said Tuesday during a public safety news conference ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris' address at the Washington Monument. 

DC Public Safety officials say they are prepared for potential demonstrations starting from election day through the inauguration.

"We will not tolerate any violence of any kind. We will not tolerate any riots. We will not tolerate the destruction of property. We will not tolerate any unlawful behavior. Offenders will be arrested and held accountable," Smith added. 

Whatever the outcome of the election is Juliet Adams says violence is the last thing she wants to see. 

"Violence is out of ignorance. When you feel you have lost all hope you get physical," Adams said.