Glenn Beck Rally Prep Begins Today, Permits Issued

Organizers of Glenn Beck's rally slated for Saturday in Washington, D.C., say they expect to have as many as 300,000 people in attendance, according to the permits issued for the event last week.

Preparations for the gathering, meanwhile, were slated to begin today and will likely disrupt the Washington Mall area through next Monday.

The permits from the National Park Service were issued on Thursday and note the rally is set to take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28.

The documents state that organizers anticipate a crowd of 300,000. The permits are issued to the 9-12 Project, Mercury Radio Arts and Restoring Honor.

Joseph Kerry, who has aided Beck and coauthored at least one of his books, is listed as the "person in charge" on the permits. He did not respond to requests for comment Monday.

A bio on Beck's website describes Kerry as:

... an attorney practicing in Pennsylvania & New Jersey. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, ATLA-NJ, and PaTLA. Prior to beginning his legal career he served as a Hinckley Institute of Politics Fellow in the Bush / Quayle Administration and received a one year fellowship to the Eagleton Institute of Politics.

The permit states the event can occur on the Washington National Mall area stretching from the Lincoln Memorial pool and steps to the Washington Monument, including the "JFK Hockey Field, Korean War Veterans Memorial-permit areas, bordered by Lincoln Memorial Circle, Daniel French Drive, Independence Ave. and 23rd Street and the Washington Monument grounds."

It also says:

Participants will assemble at above park sites to celebrate America by honoring heroes, American heritage and future by conducting a 'Restoring Honor Rally.' Activities will involve speeches by Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Special Operations Warrior Foundation executives and others, and performances by Jo-Dee Messina, choirs and others, literature distribution, displays and live television and radio broadcasts of the event.

The permits allow rally organizers to begin setting up as early as today, with deliveries and tents, tables, chairs, flooring and other items being put in place as early as 10 a.m. today and the tear down of the items occurring until next Monday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. Event organizers will also have private overnight security in the area each night.

The permit makes clear:

No fee may be collected, donations solicited, or commercial activity conducted. No items may be sold or offered or sale except for books, newspapers, leaflets, pamphlets, buttons and bumper stickers which contain a message related to your demonstration or special event. No other merchandise may be sold or offered or sale.