Raleigh, NC – Several hundred police officers from various law enforcement agencies were guarding buildings and patrolling streets in downtown Raleigh on Sunday in anticipation of the armed marches, but everything was quiet.
Only a handful of people came and protested peacefully.
“It’s better to be prepared than not,” said Wake County sheriff Gerald Baker.
As a precaution, dozens of police officers surrounded buildings in the city center, including the North Carolina State Capitol and the Wake County Justice Center, at 11 am on Sunday. Officers wearing PERT vests and uniforms (Prison Emergency Response Team) were deployed in the city center to assist in the response, along with an armored vehicle “BearCat” designed for military use in situations of armed confrontation.
“We believe that today would give us an idea of what to expect for the rest of the week and, if that is the case, I think we will all be fine, thank God,” said Baker.
Although an armed protest is not confirmed in Raleigh, pamphlets distributed on social media sites suggest that there may be violent activity on Sunday or Wednesday before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
“I have never seen security like this in any state capitol, but I think it is to be expected with all the things that are happening in the country right now,” said Paul Sisneros, a visitor to downtown Raleigh.
After a riot last week at the United States Capitol, the FBI warned of armed protests in all 50 state capitals and Washington, DC, in the coming days.
“You have to bring in enough manpower to be able to contain it, keep it under control, make arrests if necessary and keep the peace,” said Baker.
State museums, government offices and other buildings said they would close in the days leading up to Wednesday, and some businesses in downtown Raleigh have boarded up their stores.
Baker asked people to avoid downtown Raleigh while the police continued to monitor reports of potential violence.
Governor Roy Cooper mobilized hundreds of members of the North Carolina National Guard to provide security in Raleigh and the nation’s capital.
About 350 guards will serve to support local law enforcement in North Carolina, and hundreds more will be sent to Washington, DC
“Continued security concerns in Washington, DC and state capitals across the country after last week’s attack on the US Capitol must be taken seriously and I will deploy the resources necessary to keep North Carolina’s residents safe ”Said Cooper.