Community members, including cyclists, pedestrians and activists gathered at Hains Point in East Potomac Park on Sunday morning to rally against any future changes to the area.
The rally comes after an anonymous source reported to The Washington Post that President Donald Trump has considered making changes to the area in order for the East Potomac Golf Links to stretch to the water’s edge nearby.
Shadow Sen. Ankit Jain says he is fighting against any funding that would support that plan.
“It seems pretty clear that they’re setting up to begin the construction. They have contracts that are out on the federal government website, and actually, the president has asked Congress for $450 million for the sea wall project,” Jain said.
Former U.S. Olympian David Hearn, who previously faced charges in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case, also spoke out.
“It feels really good for the judge to have ruled with prejudice, so that the government can’t charge me anymore on this matter, and we’re going to keep fighting for democracy,” Hearn said.
Hearn is a frequent visitor of the trail in East Potomac Park.
“You know, through all of the trials and tribulations for me over the past four months, I was able to ride my bike every day, and I know for a lot of people coming out here is a great way to relieve stress as well,” he said.
Jain said he’s working to prevent any funding dollars from going toward changes proposed under the Trump administration that are against activists’ wishes.
“We met with the person who’s going to be the senator and the representative controlling the budget for the National Park Service after this election. So let’s make sure we get out and vote,” he said.
Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed to address concerns about the White House ballroom project and dirt dumped in East Potomac Park from the East Wing has been amended.
“We actually did a refiling recently to amend our complaint. We had a lot of information with regards to the dumping of the dirt that took place there,” said Rebecca Miller, executive director of the DC Preservation League.
The amended lawsuit comes after The Associated Press reported in May that a Virginia engineering firm found that debris from the White House East Wing tested positive for lead and other toxic metals.
“In every one of our cases now, the DOJ is contending that the parties do not have status, but we are fighting that,” Miller said.
WTOP reached out to the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, who are included in the lawsuit. So far, we have not received a response.
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