America 250

As we approached the Ellipse – the park south of the White House – the scene came into view all at once. In the distance stood a stage flanked by giant screens, ringed by ambiguous booths and white tents. The National Guard and police had blocked streets and walkways with tanks and snowplows, funneling everyone in the same direction. Near the entrance, a security guard shouted into the crowd, ‘No vapes, no lighters.’ We stepped past many piles of discarded Monster cans, water bottles and plastic bags before filing through metal detectors.