Trenton remained quiet on Sunday, the day when authorities feared the capital would be overrun by pro-Trump protesters after the siege of the United States Capitol.
“We are all taking a collective breath of relief. We noticed that there are more skaters than protesters, ”Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora told a bunch of reporters.
Only a handful of protesters materialized in front of the Statehouse on State Street early on Sunday afternoon, where police and media gathered in the streets that were closed while authorities anticipated a large meeting. Each of them left quickly when he saw that there was no substantial protest.
After the Capitol insurrection on January 6, the FBI warned that attacks were being planned in all 50 state capitals. The police said throughout the week that there were no specific threats, but that they would remain on high alert.
At 9:45 am, a lone protester held up a “Stop the theft” sign in front of the annex and left 15 minutes later. Around 11:45 am, three men walked to the front of the Statehouse and left when they realized that no major protest was taking place.
“It’s kind of a seizure,” one of the men, wearing a pro-law shirt, responded to a reporter when asked if they were in Trenton for an event today. They refused to speak to reporters in any other way.
At around 1 pm, a man who declined to give his name, but said he traveled from the Toms River, went down North Willow Street towards the Statehouse with a sign that said “Supreme Courts, betray America”.
“I am standing up for what I believe,” he said, noting that he believes the 2020 election was stolen, despite federal and state officials finding no evidence to prove that there was any mass fraud in any state.
He said he was disappointed with the lack of participation. “If you don’t stand up for what you believe, they’ll step on you.”
While he was speaking to reporters, his poster exploded in a gust of wind and broke. He abandoned him after he stayed in a small tree nearby.
New Jersey State Police had nothing to report, an agency spokesman said at 1 pm.
Across the country, capitals are nervous and heavily patrolled, but protests have remained small or completely dormant.
In addition to the strong police presence, downtown Trenton remained quiet. More than 100 National Guard soldiers are on standby, with dozens of state police and local police monitoring the state building and the surrounding streets.
Most stores closed on Sunday and some companies boarded up windows.
Gusciora said the city will remain on alert until Wednesday, the opening day. He asked everyone to consider coming to the capital “to stay at home and watch the inauguration on TV”.
“If they have protests, they should write to their congressmen,” he said. “The shame of all this is that there is nothing to protest. Joe Biden won. It was the most scrutinized election in history, and a shame for those who want to annul the election because their person did not win. “
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Sophie Nieto-Munoz can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on @snietomunoz.
Kevin Shea can be reached at [email protected].