Washington under siege six days before Joe Biden's inauguration
National Guard soldiers stand guard in front of the Capitol in Washington on January 14, 2021. AFP - OLIVIER DOULIERY
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Six days before Joe Biden's inauguration, Washington is already subject to an unprecedented security system.
The federal capital is almost under siege.
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With our correspondent in Washington,
Anne Corpet
During the week, in the morning, traffic jams are regular in Washington.
But this Thursday, silence reigns.
All the arteries of the city center are closed to traffic.
Concrete blocks were placed in the middle of avenues and metal barriers erected all around the White House and
Congress
.
The National Guard is aligned, rifle slung for hundreds of meters near the official platform where the inauguration will take place.
"
It's surreal, it feels like a science fiction film, it doesn't look like America,
" confided a resident of the capital, flabbergasted by all these armed men.
As before every large-scale event for a year, the shops barricade their windows with boards.
"
We're used to it, but it's not good for business,
" explains the owner of a clothing store.
The inauguration of the president, which usually leads to huge popular gatherings, will be very special this year.
Access to the Mall, this huge lawn that stretches out into the heart of the city and where crowds normally meet, will only be accessible to journalists and security personnel.
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United States
Joe biden
Donald trump