Commitment March To Converge On DC National Mall Friday

WASHINGTON, DC — Large groups of marchers and First Amendment protesters are expected to converge this Friday on the National Mall for The Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks.

Back in May, Al Sharpton originally called for a march to convene in D.C., during his memorial speech for George Floyd. Friday's event will coincide with the 57th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.

According to the march's website, the Commitment March will be an intergenerational inclusive day of action, advocating for comprehensive police accountability reform and mobilizing voters for the November elections. It will also call on people to participate in the 2020 Census.

Tour buses bringing people to Friday's event will be parked at RFK Stadium.

Metrorail stations within walking distance to the National Mall include: Foggy Bottom GWU, Farragut West, McPherson Square, Metro Center, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian, Gallery Place - Chinatown, Judiciary Square, Archives - Navy Memorial, L'Enfant Plaza, and Federal Center SW

Here is the schedule for the day:

• Gather at 7 a.m.
• Pre-Program from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• Program from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• March at 1 p.m.
• Conclude by 3 p.m.

In order to facilitate the event, D.C. public safety personal have been making preparations.

"Since the March on Washington was announced, we've been in constant contact with the organizers, the National Action Network," said Chris Rodriguez, director of the District's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), during a Monday morning press briefing. "We are meeting with them several times a week virtually to make sure that any city services that we are being asked for we are providing."

Most of the events that will be taking place on Friday will be on federal property, so HSEMA has also been in contact with the U.S. Park Police. The Metropolitan Police Department and D.C. Fire and EMS personnel will also be present. In addition, the National Guard will provide support for traffic monitoring to ensure that the event will go off as safely and as securely as possible, according Rodriguez.

"It's important to note that we do this all the time," he said. "We host major events. We are well prepared to also support multiple events going on in the city at one time. And the key here, of course, is that we're dealing with a global pandemic and as the mayor has said many times, anyone who wants to come and march and attend the event, needs to do so in a safe way, and being mindful of the fact that we are under a global pandemic right now and dealing with that."

MPD has issued a traffic advisory for Friday in preparation for the march, notifying District residents of numerous road closures and parking restrictions that will be in effect for most of the day.

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from about 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., on Friday:

• Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to 18thStreet, NW
• Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
• Independence Avenue from 3rd Street, NW to 23rd Street, SW
• Connecticut Avenue from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
• Vermont Avenue from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
• I Street from 12th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
• H Street from 12th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
• K Street from 12th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
• New York Avenue from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
• 17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
• 16th Street From H Street, NW to O Street, NW
• 15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
• 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to K Street, NW
• 13th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
• 12th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
• 11th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
• 10th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
• 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to E Street, NW
• 6th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 23rd Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• E Street from 23rd Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
• New York Avenue from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
• 20th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 21st Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 19th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• C Street from 18th Street, NW to Virginia Avenue, NW
• C Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to 21st Street, NW
• D Street from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
• Madison Street from 3rd Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
• Jefferson Street from 3rd Street, NW to 15th Street, NW

Vehicular traffic will be restricted on the following streets from about 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Friday:

• Independence Avenue, SW from 14th Street to Ohio Drive, SW
• 23rd Street, NW from Constitution Avenue, NW to Memorial Bridge
• Henry Bacon Drive, NW from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW
• Constitution Avenue from 12th Street to 18th Street, NW
• Southbound Rock Creek Parkway will be closed at Virginia Avenue, NW
• Maine Avenue, SW will be closed at I-395 to all westbound traffic
• Access to East Potomac Park from I-395 will be by National Park Service permit only
• 18th Street, NW from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 17th Street, NW from L Street to Independence Avenue, SW
• 16th Street, NW from L Street to I Street, NW
• 15th Street, NW from L Street to Independence Avenue, SW
• 14th Street, NW from L Street to Independence Avenue, SW
• 13th Street, NW from L Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• New York Avenue from 11th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
• Vermont Avenue from L Street, NW to H Street, NW
• Connecticut Avenue from L Street, NW to H Street, NW
• I Street, NW from 12th Street to 18th Street, NW
• H Street, NW from 12th Street to 18th Street, NW
• G Street from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW and 17th Street to 18th Street
• F Street, NW from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW and 17thStreet to 18th Street
• E Street, NW from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW and 17thStreet to 18th Street
• D Street, NW from 17th Street to 18th Street
• Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW and 17th Street to 18th Street, NW

Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area or to seek alternate routes through the downtown area. These restrictions are subject to change based upon prevailing or unexpected conditions.

The public should be guided by all posted Emergency No Parking signage. Vehicles parked in violation of such signage will be ticked and towed.