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Lower Manhattan, a pilgrimage awaiting the court decision on Donald Trump

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As the world waits to see if a grand jury in Lower Manhattan indicts former US President Donald Trump, neighbor Barbara Malmet has decided to give up her ringside seat.

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As police erected fences around the courthouse where criminal cases are heard, the retired NYU professor packed her bags and prepared to leave the city.

Malmet, 70, lives a few blocks from the city’s civic center and said he was concerned “a minor repeat of January 6th” if Trump incites “his cult followers to violence.” He wants “a little more silence as he walks away from the courthouse.”

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So far, Trump’s call for protest has not led to lawlessness, and life generally continues as usual in the district of government buildings and office towers located near Chinatown.

Wednesday passed with no decision being made on possible legal action.

Police dogs guard the entrance to the courthouse hearing the indictment against Donald Trump.  Photo: AP

Police dogs guard the entrance to the courthouse hearing the indictment against Donald Trump. Photo: AP

Police ready

When asked if the situation was straining the resources of the city or the New York Police Department, Mayor Eric Adams said no.

“The NYPD is fully equipped to deal with any circumstance that may arise in the city,” he said. “We’ve proven that over the years.”

They popped up on the sidewalks tripods and camera lights. Metal fences have been installed to keep people off the streets. Small groups of protesters – some pro-Trump, some anti – come and go.

Some TV series overlapped with real-life drama, while ‘Law & Order: SVU’ scenes were filmed.

More filming was scheduled for the weekend, with notices announcing a feature film titled “Juliet” being filmed nearby.

Every New York block “has its own universe,” Alli Coates, 35, said Tuesday as she kicked a ball for Trinity, an English springer spaniel, in a park behind the courthouse. “There’s always so much going on that even though there’s 50,000 reporters a block away, I don’t even know,” she said.

Manhattan Attorney Alvin Bragg arrives at his office Thursday amid a heavy roll-out of security.  Photo: AP

Manhattan Attorney Alvin Bragg arrives at his office Thursday amid a heavy roll-out of security. Photo: AP

mobilizations

Many more had gone out to enjoy the sunshine as news crews waited to find out if Trump would be impeached an investigation into payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels to stop him from making public a sexual encounter he said he had with Trump.

A small number of activists went to the court to hold demonstrations in part performance art. One person tried to enter the building carrying a large cross, like Jesus.

Another man sitting on the street with a Trump flag as a cape and a hat with horns. A protester at a nearby bank held up a banner that read “Trump is finished.”

Philippe Lejeune, 38, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, paced the street with a hand-made sign rebuking Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

“There are some people here for the cameras,” he acknowledged, but said the moment was too important to let go without speaking. “Want to skate in a pink flamingo costume? You can.”

Brinley Cobden and Moustafa Ibrahim follow what goes on in the grand jury, but the pair had an entirely different reason for keeping tabs on the media.

They feared the crowds might cause them to be late for an important appointment at the city marriage bureau, which is located in the same building where the grand jury meets.

They had received their marriage license the day before and were supposed to be married on Tuesday, according to the rules.

They had no problems getting in. When asked what she would remember of that day outside the secretary’s office, Cobden said simply, “We got married.”

B. C

Source: Clarin

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