DC National Guard members will respond when supporters of President Donald Trump protest the results of the 2020 elections in central DC this week.
The DC National Guard will assist the Metropolitan Police Department with crowd management and traffic control, MPD acting chief Robert Contee told a news conference on Monday morning. The department expects a larger crowd than at two pro-Trump events in DC last year.
“Part of our intelligence certainly suggests that there will be an increase in the size of the crowd,” said Contee, adding: “There are people who intend to come to our city armed.”
A US defense official said that members of the DC National Guard will not be armed or wearing body armor. Congress is meeting this week to certify the results of the Electoral College, and Trump has refused to budge while raising support for the protests.
Anyone who carries a gun in a protest or less than 1,000 feet from a protest will be arrested, according to DC law, the acting chief of police said. Police put up signs this weekend in Freedom Plaza, where protests are expected, warning of the law.
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Law enforcement will work to maintain order in demonstrations, said Mayor Muriel Bowser.
“We will not allow people to incite violence, intimidate our residents or cause destruction in our city,” she said.
Authorities will assess whether a curfew is needed, said Bowser.
The police will increase their presence around the churches after the demonstrators destroyed the Black Lives Matter signs outside.
In a message on Sunday, the mayor asked people to stay away from the demonstrations and the city center.
“I am asking the Washingtonians and those living in the region to stay outside the city center on Tuesday and Wednesday and not to get involved with the protesters who come to our city looking for confrontation, and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure everyone present remains peaceful, ”said Bowser in a statement.
Federal law prohibits the carrying of weapons on US Capitol grounds and in areas of the National Park Service, such as Freedom Plaza, Ellipse and National Mall, Bowser’s office said on Sunday. It is illegal to open firearms possession in DC, and DC has no reciprocity with pistol licenses hidden from other states.
“Unless a person has been granted a concealed pistol license by the District of Columbia, they cannot hide their firearm possession in the city,” said the mayor’s office.
The president said on Twitter on Sunday that he plans to attend the demonstration. Contee said Monday that he had no additional information.
Black Lives Matter organizers appealed to the mayor and the chief of police to protect churches and enforce regulations related to face masks and social detachment.
Many downtown streets will be closed for parking on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Street closures will also be in effect.
Since DC doesn’t have a governor, the city’s designated National Guard commander is Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. Any DC request for Guard deployments must be approved by him.
The defense official said there will be no active military troops in the city and that the United States military will not provide aircraft or intelligence. DC Guard will provide specialized teams that will be prepared to respond to any chemical or biological incident. But the official said there will be no members of the DC Guard at the National Mall or the United States Capitol.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.