Washington D.C. Election Week 2020

Wondering what it was like to visit Washington D.C. during the 2020 election week? Find out here!

My friend and I went to Washington D.C. during election week, on November 5^th, 2020. Just two days after the 2020 election, and two days before the overall election results were released. We were interested to see what was going on in the nation’s capital during one of the most political times of the year.

Outside the White House, protests were being held on a daily basis. Two non-scalable iron fences were erected in front of the White House prior to election day that blocked off the street and park in front of the White House grounds.

The White House Peace Vigil – an organization that has been coming together to hold peaceful protests in Washing D.C. for 39 years – immediately took it upon themselves to protest both the fences, as well as President Donald Trump himself.

Many people, especially members of the White House peace vigil, believe that the fences are a direct attack on their first amendment right to peacefully assemble and protest. Never before has a fence like this been erected before election day.

The fences block protests outside of the White House from being seen/heard from inside the White House, when that location is obviously chosen by protestors to make a point and be seen by the President.

In an attempt to reclaim their rightful territory, citizens have plastered the fence in Anti-Trump slogans, impactful quotes, and BLM information. Faces of those lost to hate crimes have been hung along the fence as well, with candles set beneath them in order to honor their memory.

At least one person from the White House Peace Vigil remains at the fence around the clock to ensure that the fence stay intact, and to make the fence feel like a safe space no matter the time of day someone wanted to visit. Police officers gathered on occasion to ensure no one was being harmed, and everyone was following the rules.

Free snacks and water were provided to passerby’s across the street from the fence, at the Black Lives Matter Plaza. Signs were also being made to be hung on the fence at the Black Lives Matter Plaza.

Shops in the surrounding areas had boarded up their entry ways and glass window in an attempt to prevent damage if tensions were to rise, and crowds became unmanageable.

People came by to create some noise playing their instruments, singing songs, or just chanting when they had the chance too.

Teenage boys were seen holding up traffic to show off their bike tricks to the small crowds that had formed.

Crowds were bigger in the evenings, after work and school had concluded. It was relatively quiet throughout the mornings except for reporters, who came to get footage before the crowds appeared.