WASHINGTON, January 16, 2013 — Security will be very tight for the 2013 Swearing-in of President Barack Obama on Monday, January 21. People viewing the Inaugural from the lawn and those standing along the parade route, will be subject to security screening.
The U.S. Secret Service believes it will be able to provide the maximum security without interfering with the excitement of the 800,000 plus expected to throng the Inauguration events. Even as, over the course of the last four years, President Obama has received more death threats than any other president, coming in at 30 a day, up 400% since 2008.
The FBI has said as of now there is “no credible corroborated threats to any of the [Inaugural] activities.”
However the agency is ready to meet any security challenge:
“We will have our SWAT team, pretty much all of our specialty teams will be available and on standby to include (weapons specialists), our dive team, our intelligence team — working around the clock — our hostage negotiators, (and) our special agent bomb technicians will also be available.”
Before you crowd onto the Mall for the Inaugural, there’s security screening. Photo: AP
The Secret Service has set up a Multi-Agency Communications Center known as the MACC, located just outside of DC. Forty-two agencies will have representatives working out of the headquarters, including the Secret Service, FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Park Police, and the military.
There will also be live video feeds of key locations around the city streaming into MACC. But in addition to the security the agencies will provide, the Secret Service stressed the need for people at the Inauguration events to report any suspicious activity.
As a representative from the FBI explained: “…anyone who can provide information that will give us a lead on something that we should know about is really the most important thing that anyone can do in this regard.” In other words, the people attending the Inauguration will really be the first line of defense.
So what will you be allowed to bring or, more accurately, NOT bring into the Mall area, especially if you have tickets for seats, or will be on the Mall standing under a giant TV screen, or watching along the parade route, whether in the bleachers or on the curb?
Aerosol sprays
Air horns
Alcoholic beverages
Animals (other than service animals)
Backpacks
Coolers
Duffel bags
Explosives of any kind (including fireworks)
Firearms and ammunition (either real or simulated)
Glass containers
Knives, blades, or sharp objects (of any length)
Large bags
Laser pointers
Mace and/or pepper spray
Packages
Pocket or hand tools, such as “Leatherman” tools
Portable chairs (other than those for disabled persons)
Posters
Signs
Sticks or pole
Strollers
Suitcases
Thermoses
Umbrellas
Other items that may pose a threat to the security of the event as determined by and at the discretion of the security screener.
Inauguration 2013: Schedule of this week’s events
Inauguration 2013: The Inaugural Parade to march down Pennsylvania Avenue
Want to see the 2013 Inauguration and Parade? Here’s how
2013 Inauguration: How much will it cost you?
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