So I am a bit punchy from yesterday in DC policing the Inaugural events. Exhausted from 16 hours on starting at 0400 and off my feet for only about 1/2 hour total. The years are taking a toll but this is my last Inauguration.
The crowds were mostly pretty tame along the parade route, some agitators and carriers of foul signs, but the screening entrances were awful with quite a bit of disruptions. The areas north of most of the events were the worst, especially Franklin Park on K between 13th and 14th and McPherson on K at 15th. Here Black Blockers broke lots of windows set pretty much every trash can and newspaper box on fire and trashed lots of cars including lighting a bunch of them off.
Interestingly, the WaPo reports that a Limo was wrecked with its windows broken but the WaPo apparently forget to write that the expensive car was set afire.
The anarchists crowds were far larger and more riotous than reported (duh..) and quite a few bricks, bottles, bags of human waste, nails, and other objects tossed at police. Rioters (not protesters) pepper sprayed people awaiting entry into Inaugural events as well as spraying police officers. Our helicopter crew was lasered a few times but I think a suspect was found.
Gotta go back in tonight at 1800 for twelve. I hope most of these goons are gone or holed up I don't have to deal with them.
Ugh....
What a day, but sadly I think we are in for a bit of a rocky ride with these people for at least a while.
