A forklift damaged a brick walkway at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in the course of preparing for Vice President Pence’s address for the republican National Convention Wednesday night, The Baltimore Sun reports.
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks released a pair of photographs detailing damage to the brick walkway with a forklift sitting atop the damaged and displaced brick. A special platform is being constructed by a private contractor for the event.
During setup, “parts of a brick walkway in the fort were damaged by a forklift,” National Park Service spokesperson Stephanie Roulett confirmed Tuesday to The Sun. “As noted in the permit, the permittee is liable for damages and associated costs.”
The Maryland Republican Party got a “special use” permit to hold the political event at the site. Commercial events will not be allowed on site, but campaign banners are permitted to be displayed.
“Signs such as ‘Trump/Pence 2020′ are protected political speech and are allowed in permitted First Amendment areas of NPS sites,” Roulett said in an email to The Sun.
The permit notes that there will be spectators at the park for the event, but it does not specify the number. City regulations, in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, cap attendance at outdoor events at 25 people. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a republican, has said he would not attend the event.