State capitols preparing for violent pro-Trump protests

State capitals across the country are bracing themselves against possible violent pro-Trump mob attacks before the presidential inauguration on January 20, with hundreds of National Guard soldiers dispatched, construction of security fences around the capitol buildings , barricades of windows, closing of parliaments and roads and holding legislative sessions online.

Governors stepped up security measures in state houses, fearing a repeat of last week’s bloodshed at the U.S. Capitol, where a frantic crowd – incited by President Donald Trump’s dangerous lies about the election – broke through barricades, attacked the police and invaded the corridors of Congress, forcing lawmakers to hide.

The scale of the January 6 riot, which targeted high-ranking members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence, raised significant security concerns for one of the most important government buildings and sparked fears of similar attacks on state capitals.

The FBI warned this week that “armed protests” involving extremists were being planned in all 50 states in the days leading up to Joe Biden’s inauguration, the Associated Press reported.

Officials in the nation’s capital said on Friday that they are establishing a “robust and reinforced perimeter” around the White House, the Capitol, the National Mall and other areas in central DC, along with the placement of at least 15,000 National Guard soldiers and about 4,000 police laws before President-elect Joe Biden took office.

The Secret Service will establish a “green zone” in central Washington over the weekend, involving the closure of several streets and train stations, as well as restrictions on parking, pedestrians and traffic.

At a press conference on Friday, a Secret Service official acknowledged that, because of the fortified perimeter around downtown DC, there was “potential for people to go elsewhere, whether back in state capitals or elsewhere. parts of the city ”.

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday authorized 1,000 members of the National Guard to protect the state capitol and other critical infrastructure, among other security measures, before the presidential inauguration.

“In light of events in our nation’s capital last week, California is taking important steps to protect public security at the State Capitol and across the state,” Newsom said in a statement. Federal, state and local authorities have worked together “to ensure that these shameful actions are not repeated here,” he said.

Authorities installed a 6-foot wire fence around the state capitol in Sacramento. The state is also working with social media companies to ensure that its platforms are not used by domestic terrorists and hate groups to organize or spread disinformation, Newsom said.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Friday ordered state officials to work remotely on January 20, due to the “level of tension in the country,” the AP reported. State officials in Arizona were also encouraged to work from home, Arizona The National Guard is on duty in the state and a wire fence has been installed around the Capitol complex in Phoenix.

Two days after the siege of the US Capitol, Washington Governor Jay Inslee activated 750 National Guard soldiers and a “large number” of State Patrol soldiers to protect lawmakers and their officials at the State Capitol in Olympia. On the day of the siege of the United States Capitol, a group of armed Trump supporters also broke through a fence at the governor’s mansion in Olympia.

“The actions we saw in Washington, DC and Olympia earlier this week were completely unacceptable and will not be repeated in our capital again,” said Inslee in a statement.

A temporary wire fence, supported by National Guard troops, was erected around the Capitol.

Two people were arrested on the Capitol campus on Monday, including a man who tried to enter a safe area when the 2021 legislative session was about to begin. Lawmakers voted that most of the new session would be held online.

On Tuesday, Inslee extended security measures until January 20, citing “evolving intelligence on security threats posed in all 50 state capitals following the violence in our country’s capital, as well as recent associated illegal and dangerous actions. to events not allowed in our state Capitol Campus. ”

He said that many roads and trails would remain closed along with vehicle barricades to support people’s ability to “gather peacefully” in unrestricted areas.

“These unfortunate necessary safety precautions may last longer, but we hope that soon we will see political temperatures cool down and threat levels drop, bringing relief related to these restrictions,” said Inslee.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Tuesday authorized 580 National Guard soldiers and announced that the Ohio Statehouse would be closed from January 17 to January 20. All office buildings in the center of the state would also be closed on those dates, with the team reporting to alternative workplaces.

DeWine said he mobilized hundreds of National Guard members to help local and state officials in Columbus, as well as federal officials during the inauguration in DC.

The Columbus Police Department, along with Ohio State Highway Patrol “will have a significant presence in downtown Columbus in the coming days,” said the governor’s office.

“We must always, and always respect the rights of peaceful demonstrators, however, the sad truth is that there are people in our country who want to turn peaceful protests into opportunities for violence,” DeWine said at a public conference. “Just as we respect and protect peaceful protesters, we will also vigorously resist violence. Violence will not be tolerated in Ohio.”

Workers closed ground-level windows at the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison on Monday, in what officials described as a “proactive preventive measure”. Last week, Governor Tony Evers mobilized National Guard troops to help Wisconsin Capitol Police protect the building. He authorized an additional 500 National Guard soldiers to assist federal law enforcement in DC prior to the inauguration.

After reports by a right-wing group planning armed protests at the Michigan State Capitol on Sunday, the teams closed the windows of government buildings near the Capitol in Lansing, while Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the National Guard troops to help the United States Police. Michigan State in efforts to protect the Capitol campus, reported the Detroit Free Press.

A state commission voted on Monday to make gun carrying on Michigan’s Capitol Hill illegal. Authorities ordered a 6-foot fence to be built around the building and more state police are patrolling the campus by mid-February.

Lansing police will close roads on Sunday and officials have asked residents to stay home, adding that the department has “unprecedented preparation” for possible violence, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Michigan has seen months of armed protests against restrictions on coronavirus in the state and threats from extremist groups, including a frustrated right-wing conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer. The day after the US Capitol riot, the Michigan Capitol closed for a few hours after a human bomb threat against a legislator who criticized Trump.

On January 7, the state’s attorney general, Dana Nessel, warned people to stay away from the Capitol, tweeting, “Our state capitol is not safe.”

Governors in Oklahoma and Oregon also activated National Guard troops to protect their state capitol.

SWAT teams and patrol cars were parked outside the Georgia Capitol this week, as lawmakers began the legislative session. An 8-foot security fence was erected around the building’s perimeter and Governor Brian Kemp said he extended an executive order allowing him to send National Guard troops if necessary, while several local and state agencies said they were prepared to protect the Capitol in Atlanta.

“Given the shameful and non-American acts we saw last week in Washington, these gentlemen and their teams are fully prepared to deal with anything and everything that could happen in the coming days and weeks,” said Kemp on Tuesday. He said that while the level of threat to the state capitol was “very low”, he “did not take anything for granted”.

“I think you can see what happens when you do that, looking at the past week,” he said.

Sarah Mimms contributed reporting to this story.