Miami “is prepared” for possible protests outside the district court where former US President Donald Trump will turn himself in to federal authorities on Tuesday, city officials said Monday.
“There is no specific threat, the general concern is obviously general,” Miami Mayor Francis Suárez told the press, recalling that the police and the city have “all the necessary resources so that the population can express their concerns , they can use their constitutional right to express themselves.”
Suárez referred to publications on social networks that would make them foresee protests in the court, located in the center of the city. Trump supporters have expressed their discontent, sometimes using violent rhetoric.
Supporters of the former president have already gathered outside a resort in the Doral area, west of Miami, where Trump is to spend the night before his court date.
Trump is expected to arrive in the afternoon at the Miami district court, where he will make himself available to the court in a historic case related to the possession of classified documents, which marks the first time a former US president has been indicted on federal charges.
The procedures are expected to take place in a similar way to what happened last April, when the former president was indicted in state court in ManhattanNY.
The mayor recalled the demonstrations after the death of the African-American George Floyd and stated that they have “a lot of experience dealing with demonstrations that are large, which usually gather thousands of people.
Suárez reiterated that Miami police are “ready and prepared for a protest that can be as small as 1,200 people and as large as 50,000. Reports indicate that you are going to see a protest, although it depends on many factors, including the weather.”
“Here in Miami we respect the Constitution (and the right to free expression), but we also respect the law (…) I have the greatest confidence that we are going to be ready,” he concluded.
Protests after Floyd’s death turned violent in the Florida city. According to Suárez, the authorities “handled it well” and gave “people space to express themselves without creating an unnecessary confrontation,” with various resources, including a curfew and other tactics that can be put into practice again if it is necessary.
At the same press conference, Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales warned that traffic closures will be in place in the vicinity of the courthouse starting early in the morning. “If you must go through this point on your way to work, be aware of these delays,” he said.
Morales confirmed Suárez’s words and assured that all the city agencies work very closely and that the response plan to the situation is implemented “step by step” and it is very likely that it will change if circumstances warrant it.
Around the court, the police have installed barriers and yellow tape to limit access to the immediate areas of the court. During the day and despite the tropical rains in the morning, a large number of journalists were in the area, which did not see a significant presence of protesters.
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