Protesters Accuse Trump and National Park Service of Working Together to Stop Marches

WASHINGTON, DC — Attorneys and activists who are planning large-scale protests of President-elect Donald Trump are accusing the National Park Service of working with the Trump Presidential Inaugural Committee to stop the marches from happening.

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund will be holding a press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 930 a.m. at the Justice Center at 617 Florida Ave. NW to "expose the unconstitutional actions by the National Park Service and Trump's Presidential Inaugural Committee that are blocking mass mobilization protests before, during and after the presidential inauguration by denying space to mass assembly protests," according to a statement from the organization.

The group argues that NPS is giving all the space on the National Mall to Trump's PIC "for its exclusive use for weeks on either side of the inauguration," including Jan. 21, which has been planned for a number of mass marches against Trump.

"The National Park Service last week created a 'fake news' story blaming different protest groups for their refusal to issue permits to other organizations, including the women's march, planning protests during the inaugural time period," the statement adds. "The fake news was designed to conceal the fact that the National Park Service has issued to itself an omnibus permit on behalf of the Trump Presidential Inaugural Committee as a way of blocking mass assembly protests in the traditional areas for such activity before, during and after the presidential inauguration on January 20."

The group further claims that NPS' actions are violating their First Amendment right to free assembly and free speech. Attorneys from the organization will "explain the unconstitutional nature of the NPS actions" at the press conference.

Image via Gage Skidmore