Harris rally expected to draw more than 50K to downtown DC – NBC4 Washington

On By Littum

Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver her closing argument to voters Tuesday night just a short walk from the White House.

The D.C. rally at the Ellipse could draw more than 52,000 people, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said Tuesday morning that organizers told her.

Overflow crowds will be directed to the northeast grounds of the Washington Monument.

The Ellipse is where former President Donald Trump held his Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021, shortly before members of the crowd stormed the Capitol.

The number of expected attendees increased from 8,000 at the original permit, and the Harris-Walz campaign advertised the event on social media platforms such as Instagram starting Sunday morning. The original permit was changed, according to the National Park Service.

Harris is working to turn the election into a referendum on the Trump era, which she will frame as a decade of division and chaos, a senior Harris campaign official told NBC News.

Trump will deliver remarks Tuesday night in Allentown, Pennsylvania, that his campaign said will be his final message to voters.

Participants can enter the gates from 3 p.m

Preparations for the Ellipse were underway over the weekend, with crews preparing fencing, protective flooring and more.

Those hoping to participate were asked to RSVP on the Harris-Waltz campaign website. The doors are expected to open at 3 p.m., and Harris is expected to start his speech at 19.15. The event is set to end around

Harris will aim to address voters’ economic concerns and highlight her specific proposals aimed at lowering costs, strengthening the middle class and raising taxes on businesses and the wealthy, according to a campaign official.

Road closures are expected in downtown DC

Be sure to plan ahead if you’re going to be out and about in downtown DC on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Along with the rally, the annual High Heel Race will take place on 17th Street NW, and a Capitals-Rangers game will take place in Chinatown.

Here’s a list of road closures and parking restrictions that DC police put in place ahead of the rally.

The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday from 12.00 to 22.00:

  • 17th Street from H Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
  • 15th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
  • Jefferson Drive from 14th to 15th Street SW
  • Madison Drive from 14th to 15th Street NW
  • Constitution Avenue from 14th to 18th Street NW
  • C Street from 17th to 18th Street NW
  • D Street from 17th to 18th Street NW
  • E Street from 17th to 18th Street NW
  • F Street from 17th to 18th Street NW
  • G Street from 17th to 18th Street NW
  • New York Avenue from 17th to 18th Street NW
  • E Street from 14th to 15th Street NW
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 17th to 18th Street NW
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 14th to 15th Street NW (local hotel traffic only)
  • Road closures and times are subject to change, the police say.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally near the White House on Tuesday night spurred major traffic jams. News4’s Adam Tuss gives a live look.

Road closures and times are subject to change, the police say.

Drivers may experience delays in the area and may want to seek alternative routes. Police and transportation officials are also warning drivers to use caution due to increased foot traffic.

Motorists should also expect parking restrictions, police said. Vehicles parked in violation of the “Emergency No Parking” signs will be ticketed and towed.

The following streets will be posted as emergency parking from 06.00 to 22.00 Tuesday:

  • 17th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
  • Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to 18th Street NW
  • 15th Street from F Street to Constitution Avenue NW

Less than a week until election day

Harris is locked in a statistical dead heat with Trump, polls show, with just over a week to go before Election Day. The Vice President; her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and high-profile surrogates from Michelle Obama to Liz Cheney to Beyoncé are urging voters to cast ballots for the Democrat.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. All DC police districts will be fully staffed and all officers will be on 12-hour shifts focusing on ballot boxes and polling places starting November 4.

Check out our voting guides for Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC: