18 Jan 2022 | 01:57 PM UTC
US: Activists plan protest march at National Mall in Washington, DC, Jan. 23
Activists plan march from Washington Memorial to Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, US, from 11:30 Jan. 23. Increased security likely.
Event
Activists associated with the Defeat the Mandates group are planning a protest at the National Mall in Washington, DC Jan. 23. Activists will gather at the Washington Memorial from 11:30 and then march to the Lincoln Memorial. The action is to denounce COVID-19-related restrictions and mandatory vaccination policies. Thousands of people may participate in the event; organizers have stated they expect up to 30,000 people to attend, though this figure cannot be independently confirmed.
Additional security personnel will almost certainly deploy to monitor the action. Transport disruptions on nearby streets are likely for the duration of the event. Widespread violence is not currently anticipated, but cannot be discounted, especially if protesters are overly disruptive or refuse police orders to disperse.
Advice
Allow extra time to reach destinations near National Mall Jan. 23. Heed the instructions of local authorities. Depart the area at the first sign of confrontation.
