US Election 2020: Fears of chaos, shops boarded up, fence erected at White House

A “non-scalable” fence is being erected around the White House, Rodeo Drive is blocked to all traffic and shopfronts resemble a sea of plywood on election eve.

The most famous shopping strips in the United States are unrecognisable as retailers board up their stores or block passing traffic entirely, bracing for election-related unrest in coming days.

Weeks out from unveiling its glittering holiday windows, Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan is a wall of plywood, joining the Disney Store in Times Square and chains including Macy’s and Tiffany.

Businesses are hoping to avoid a repeat of looting and vandalism seen over the summer months following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.

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A Saks Fifth Avenue store in New York boarded up ahead of the presidential election. Picture: Timothy A. Clary/AFP

Shops on 5th Avenue in New York. Picture: Timothy A. Clary/AFP

“While we intend to remain open where possible, out of an abundance of caution the windows of select stores in key cities will be boarded in anticipation of potential election-related activity,” Tiffany spokesman Nathan Strauss told CNN.

The New York Times reports the “sea” of boarded buildings in NYC stretches from the high-end stores into the commercial districts of the Bronx and Brooklyn, reflecting a “broader national anxiety” as the US decides on Donald Trump or Joe Biden as President for the next four years.

According to Forbes, boarding up a storefront can cost between $US125 to $US31,000.

The Plaza Hotel on 5th Avenue in New York. Picture: Timothy A. Clary/AFP

The grand entrance to Dolce & Gabbana is now a door in the plywood. Picture: Timothy A. Clary/AFP

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California will be closed to drivers and pedestrians on Tuesday and Wednesday local time.

“The Beverly Hills Police Department will be on full alert throughout the residential and business districts,” BHPD Chief Dominick Rivetti said in a video posted to Twitter.

A total of 135 BHPD officers are working on rotating 12-hour shifts across seven days.

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The Celine store in Beverly Hills. Picture: Chris Delmas/AFP

A lot of boarding up in Washington, DC ahead of the election pic.twitter.com/tWyrq8EnQu

— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) November 1, 2020

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Thousands of National Guard troops have been stationed across the country in preparation for the election.

Last week, Walmart announced it was removing all guns and ammunition from its sale floors across thousands of stores in response to concerns about civil unrest but later reversed its decision because the incidents had remained “geographically isolated”.

A federal law enforcement source told the NBC a “non-scalable” fence would be erected around the entire perimeter of the White House complex and 250 National Guardsmen are on standby.

The White House on lockdown: A federal law enforcement source tells NBC that beginning tomorrow, crews will build a “non-scalable” fence to secure the WH complex, Ellipse and Lafayette Square.

250 National Guardsmen have been put on standby, reporting to Metro Police officials.

— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) November 2, 2020

If nothing else, Biden tearing out nine layers of fence around the White House would be a dream photo op to kick off a new administration.

— Schooley (@Rschooley) November 2, 2020

The fence, which went up on Monday night, is similar to the barrier erected amid widespread protests after George Floyd was killed in May.

Barriers continue to go up around the White House complex tonight late into the evening- this is the Executive Office building side pic.twitter.com/2sPtZblqor

— Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) November 3, 2020

JUST IN: White House Building ‘Non-Scalable' Fence, Increasing Security Ahead of Election.
Right now in downtown Washington DC, workers board up dozens of businesses. @nbcwashington #ElectionEve #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/22OmzEphB9

— Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) November 3, 2020

Fence is going up around the entire White House complex, not just Lafayette Square, in preparation for tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/P3NdOxp16B

— Abdallah Fayyad (@abdallah_fayyad) November 3, 2020

Meanwhile, a local news photographer in Chicago filmed armoured vehicles streaming into the city.

Washington Post reporter Alex Horton on Monday said he had asked for more information but the “Illinois Guard won’t provide any details on this movement, even though a lack of clarity is confusing and unnerving for residents”.

Illinois Guard won't provide any details on this movement, even though a lack of clarity is confusing and unnerving for residents https://t.co/DFbPY5fnWE

— Alex Horton (@AlexHortonTX) November 2, 2020

“For security reasons, the ILNG is not to discussing specifics of movements or future plans People can see ILNG trucks and troops moving. This is to be ready to respond if needed, but we have not been given any missions. We hope we are not needed. But best to be ready and there,” the Illinois National Guard replied on Twitter.