Thread by @matthewstoller

I love Washington, DC, both living here and the symbols of democracy. I went around the city yesterday to look at fencing and security. We have ruined neighborhoods and the physical beauty of Congress and the White House.

After changing the name of the lovely park in front of the White House from Lafayette Park to Black Lives Matter Park, they closed off public access. And took all the BLM signs down.

I've lived in DC for fifteen years, and I've seen more and more of the Capitol closed off with barricades, fences, scanners, and men with guns. Now entire formerly open and lovely streets are blocked off, for *no reason* except no leader wants to overrule bureaucrats.

Millions of tourists come to DC every year, and they are often surprised and awed at the openness of Congress and the Library of Congress. Now they will come to an armed encampment.

This message is clear, America is afraid of itself.