‘These enhancements are not in response to any specific issue,’ the U.S. Secret Service said.
Eight-foot-high metal security fencing was installed around key government sites in Washington over the weekend as authorities brace for potential unrest on or after Election Day.
The fencing was erected around the White House, the Treasury Department building complex, adjacent parts of Lafayette Square, as well as outside of the Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue, where Vice President Kamala Harris resides.
At the U.S. Capitol, authorities surrounded the perimeter with bicycle rack barriers displaying signs reading, “Police Line: Do Not Cross.”
In Florida, the same type of fencing has been placed around the Palm Beach County Convention Center where former President Donald Trump will host his election night watch party, not far from his Mar-a-Lago residence.
“The U.S. Secret Service is working closely with our federal, state and local partners in Washington, D.C. and Palm Beach County, Florida to ensure the heightened levels of safety and security this Election Day,” the agency told The Epoch Times in a statement Monday.
“These enhancements are not in response to any specific issue but are part of wide ranging public safety preparations for Tuesday’s election.”
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington on Sunday announced road closures, no parking zones, transit detours, and other security measures around Howard University. Harris, a Howard graduate, will be spending Tuesday evening at her alma mater.
In a school-wide message on Sunday, Howard President Ben Vinson said “deep concerns exist about safety stemming from the nature of this highly charged election season.” He said that campus police are working closely with local and national law enforcement agencies to protect students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
“We also ask that you add your vigilance to ours,” Vinson told the campus community. “If you see something, say something.”
Speaking at a press briefing on Oct. 29, MPD Chief Pamela Smith said that the entire police department will be mobilized for Election Day, with officers working 12-hour shifts to ensure there are “enough officers on the street and in every corner” of the nation’s capital.
Smith emphasized that this is “just a proactive measure” and that her department had not identified any credible threats of violence. “There’s no need for any alarm,” she said, while advising citizens to stay vigilant.
In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for MPD said that there are currently no signs of violence but cautioned that police will respond swiftly to any violent behavior.
“We recognize the importance of upholding the First Amendment rights of individuals to peacefully express their views, and we are committed to facilitating lawful demonstrations while maintaining public order,” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
“While there has been no indication of any large-scale protests, events, demonstrations, or violent activities, MPD encourages the public to remain vigilant.”
Some businesses near the White House and Capitol Hill have already boarded up their windows.