Biden inauguration: officials remain vigilant after weekend protests

Still, state and local leaders, as well as those in Washington, DC, are on high alert, with security measures remaining in place until inauguration day – especially in the nation’s capital.

Over the weekend, the streets of Washington, DC were further fortified, surrounded by fences and National Guard troops. As of Sunday evening, 17,000 troops were on the ground, according to National Guard spokesman Major Aaron Thacker.

“But it is being done,” he said, “to ensure that the constitutional mandate for a peaceful transfer of power on January 20 takes place.”

The weekend protests were quiet

But the protests were largely small, with the protesters – some of whom were armed – largely outnumbered by the police.

Light snow fell in Lansing, Mich., On Sunday morning, but about 75 protesters and 40 counter-protesters showed up at the Statehouse. Some carried guns and bulletproof vests, but protests remained peaceful, officials said.

In Texas, about two dozen armed protesters gathered near the State Capitol in Austin, but they rallied to support Second Amendment rights, the organizer said – not to protest the results of the presidential election.

In Denver, protester Larry Woodall said he was disappointed with the low turnout at Sunday’s protest. Although he agreed to Biden being inaugurated, Woodall said he wanted to show his support for Trump, suggesting he would vote for Trump in 2024 if he ran for president again.

“Donald Trump is not a bad guy. He really isn’t,” Woodall told CNN, adding that he was opposed to the violence seen this month on Capitol Hill.

A dozen people – some of them carrying anti-Trump signs – were at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul, which was surrounded by tall, heavy fences. There were five armed people dressed in camouflage and carrying flags at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, who said they were anti-government libertarians who did not support either Trump or Biden.

“I’m a patriot, I’m a veteran, I’m not a racist, I’m not hateful, I’m not violent,” he told the station. “I’m American and that’s it.”

DC is ‘like a combat zone’

“The National Guard – or the ancestors of the National Guard, the early days of the militia – have been a part of every inauguration since George Washington,” he said, “but certainly not at this level and certainly not with that kind of. background noise. ”

The deployment of 25,000 troops is approximately double the number of National Guard members normally involved in the inauguration, Hertling said.

“It’s definitely a bit like a combat zone,” he said.

The rehearsal for the ribbon-cutting ceremony has been postponed to Monday due to heightened security concerns, Acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli said, citing “online discussions” on the previously scheduled rehearsal day of Sunday / But he said there was “no specific credible threat”.

The Federal Aviation Administration has extended restrictions on DC airspace, issuing a notice to pilots limiting non-commercial, non-military flights to Dulles International Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport, and Regional Airport from Manassas between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the opening day.

The bulletin warned that the government “could use lethal force” against any aircraft determined to pose an “imminent security threat.”

‘I encourage you to stay at home’

“It’s pretty clear that the (US) Capitol itself is locked down about as tightly as humanly possible,” former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said on Sunday, adding that it was hard to imagine a resumption of the riots in the Capitol which would take place there in the coming years. days, given the security measures in place.

“But,” he added, “we have 50 state capitals across the country that aren’t as protected as our National Capitol, and these are the places I’m afraid smaller pockets like this violence could really erupt. “

Minnesota officials told CNN they would “continue to assess potential threats” to their state Capitol, although Bruce Gordon, spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, said there was no currently credible threats.

The protests were quiet on Sunday, but Gordon said officials would “improve” their response and “change tactics if necessary” in the coming days.

Texas will keep its State Capitol and grounds closed until Wednesday, officials said, adding that they were aware of “violent extremists who may seek to exploit constitutionally protected events to carry out acts criminals “.

In Columbia, South Carolina, officials also advised residents to stay home and stay away from the city center.

“Unless it is necessary, this weekend and certainly the day of the inauguration, to be downtown,” said Mayor Stephen Benjamin, “I encourage you to stay at home”.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency on Friday in connection with Biden’s inauguration, allowing state officials to effectively coordinate resources to help local courts and neighboring states.

“The State of Maryland will continue to do whatever we can to secure our nation’s capital,” Hogan said, “and to ensure the peaceful transition of power.”