Houston's Chief of Police and the Harris County sheriff yesterday "expressed their concern" about President Trump's executive order on immigration and their "anticipation of protests" leading up to Super Bowl LI because of it, according to Christine Brennan of USA TODAY. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said, "The timing in my mind was a little problematic, because of the heightened emotion ... the visceral reaction at first notice of this, so it’s that recency effect, it just occurred. Obviously we’re trying to roll out some of our (security) measures. But that said, we’re anticipating anything anytime you have such a large-scale event." Houston Chief of Police Art Acevedo said that "more information about the executive order would have been helpful." Acevedo: "While intentions may be good, the outcome also relies upon the method in which we roll these things out. And I think that nobody will argue that it probably could have been rolled out a little better." Acevedo and Gonzalez both said that Houston was "prepared to handle whatever was coming its way" (USA TODAY, 2/1). In Houston, Barned-Smith & Rumbaugh report law enforcement officials revealed plans to "enact a no-fly zone over NRG Stadium, to encircle the building with concrete blockades and to carefully monitor their surroundings." The officials said that more than 40 local and federal agencies are involved, and the NFL has "hired 4,000 private security personnel to assist those efforts" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/1).
OFFICIALS PREPARED FOR ANYTHING: In DC, Liz Clarke writes Super Bowl LI may "serve as a backdrop" for protests against Trump's immigration order. But officials in charge of security in and around the game insisted that they have "no special concern and are prepared for all eventualities." NFL Head of Security Cathy Lanier: "I have no concerns related to that." Acevedo: "We’re not concerned with protests. We have a really, really long history of having responsible activists in our community" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/1). REUTERS' Ernest Scheyder noted protests are "expected to continue throughout the week and into the weekend, even at the game itself." But amidst the protests, officials said that "no credible threats to the city have emerged ahead of the game" (REUTERS, 1/31).
