Protesters rally ahead of vote on Trump’s triumphal arch

The sun has set on Election Day, but a brand-new fight will be brewing in Memorial Circle.

There is a critical hearing on Thursday on the future of President Donald Trump’s triumphal arch project. Administration officials recently announced that if the arch is approved, construction could begin immediately.

But some are lining up to fight back against the arch. They’re the Defenders: an alliance of people passionate about protecting what they consider to be a sacred space from change they believe to be unlawful.

“I drive up here; the minute I start onto the circle, my visit to my husband’s grave begins then,” one demonstrator said.

“I have seven relatives buried over and … inurned at Arlington,” another said.

Three Vietnam veterans are among those suing to stop construction of Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch at the center of Memorial Circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

More than 100 people have signed up to testify during Thursday’s final public comment session before the National Capital Planning Commission.

Jim Shaughnessy is veterans program manager of the National Parks Conservation Association. It’s one of the groups that will gather to speak near the Lincoln Memorial at 10:30 a.m. before the hearing, which they fear will result in a vote to allow construction to begin.

“We’re talking about a carnival-like atmosphere outside the gates of Arlington National Cemetery,” Shaughnessy said.

The president remains focused on his controversial construction projects. When reporters questioned him about the midterm election results, which secured a Democrat majority in both chambers of Congress, he gave a status update on the ballroom being built over the site of the hastily demolished East Wing.

“In order to build a monument on federal property, Congress needs to approve it. I’m hoping very much that the newly electeds come together, find their collective spine and put an end to this nonsense,” said Susan Douglas with Third Act DMV.

Ann Wright, who flew from her home in Hawaii, said she decided to testify by phone from the circle after learning the president has said construction will begin immediately after approval.

“Because if they bring any bulldozers or anything like that onto this place, I mean, I’m a veteran. I’m an Army colonel — 29 years in the military,” she said. “And we have veterans that are going to be sitting right here saying, ‘Over our dead body you’re going to do this.’”