(NewsNation) — Heading into the final weekend before the election, some businesses in the nation’s capital are boarding up their windows and doors in case of civil unrest.
Friday morning in Washington D.C., multiple businesses blocks from the White House started boarding up their windows.
While the D.C. Police Department said there are no known credible threats at the moment,
the entire department will be deployed next week to ensure safety.
NewsNation saw firsthand workers boarding up some of the storefronts — including chains like McDonald’s as well as small, locally-owned businesses — over concerns of possible protests or violence related to the election.
“We will not tolerate any violence of any kind,” said D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith at a news conference. “We will not tolerate the destruction of property. We will not tolerate any unlawful behavior. Offenders will be arrested and will be held accountable.”
The police chief also recently said 3,300 officers will be deployed across the district, each working 12-hour shifts keeping a close watch on business districts and polling locations. They can also call in officers from other nearby locations if needed.
