Large Police Presence Planned At Vienna Metro For Unite The Right

VIENNA, VA—Fairfax County Police plan to have a large police presence at the Vienna Metro Station due to Unite the Right participants planning to meet and travel from there. The increased police presence will be at the station from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12. Residents are asked to consider using other forms of transportation or nearby Metro stations.

"The Fairfax County Police Department is working diligently with other area law enforcement agencies to maintain a safe environment for everyone to freely express their First Amendment rights," said Police Chief Ed Roessler Jr. "We also want to ensure the safety of our residents and those passing through our county."

While the Vienna Metro Station is outside the Town of Vienna, the Vienna Police Department will have extra staffing the weekend of Aug. 10-12. This will allow police to provide backup if issues arise and cover the Town of Vienna at regular levels.

Fairfax County Board of Governors Sharon Bulova released a statement about the impact on the county:

Metro said in a statement it is working with local law enforcement on security. "Metro will be prepared to add trains as needed to address crowding if necessary. Should platform crowding become a concern at any particular station, Metro Transit Police may temporarily restrict access for safety reasons, as they do routinely during large events," reads the statement.

According to the Unite the Right website, participants will begin traveling from the Vienna Metro via bus or train to the Foggy Bottom Station in DC. A march from Foggy Bottom to the rally location in Lafayette Park will happen at 5 p.m. The group is expected to travel back to the Vienna station around 7:30 p.m.

Officials reportedly had considered running a separate train to escort white supremacists to their rally, but that proposal has since been abandoned.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and the City of Charlottesville have declared states of emergency ahead of events related to the one-year anniversary of the violent white supremacist rally. The state is prepared to mobilize resources around Charlottesville and Northern Virginia, the latter of which could be impacted by the DC rally. Charlottesville officials anticipates other planned events in that area.

The DC Unite the Right rally is the sequel to the rally that turned violent on Aug. 12, 2017 in Charlottesville and killed three people. The National Park Service gave the white supremacist event permission to rally at Lafayette Park in front of the White House. The city of Charlottesville had denied organizers a permit. A "Still Here, Still Strong" rally will counter the white nationalist event.

More Coverage:

Unite The Right Rally Prompts States Of Emergency In Virginia

White Supremacists Plan Travel From Vienna Metro To Rally

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