As Washington D.C. prepares for inauguration weekend, so are cities across the United States.
State capitols have been on alert and the FBI has warned of planned armed protests in the nation’s capital and in all 50 states.
According to an internal FBI notice, protests could start January 16th and continue through the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20th, the Associated Press reported citing anonymous sources.
The FBI had previously warned on December 29, 2020 of potential armed demonstrations targeting legislatures. On January 6th, thousands of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Some groups that included fervent Trump supporters, members of the pro-gun Boogaloo Bois, QAnon conspiracy theorists, and one calling for a “Million Militia March” have posted about protests during the days leading up to the inauguration on social media.
But clampdowns by social media companies and increased security may have dampened those calls.
States are still preparing for the worst, including asking for assistance from state National Guard units, putting extra police officers on the streets, closing down access to state capitals, and asking people to stay away.
Some are concerned about potential to harm First Amendment rights to free speech and protest and Second Amendment rights to bear arms.
This can be a challenge for law enforcement, Javed Ali, a former FBI senior intelligence officer told the AP.
Screenshot from BuzzFeed article about Black woman that was attacked by pro-Trump supporters. The man holding her is a passersby who was protecting her from attackers.
States of particular concern include:
Michigan: On January 6th, several hundred protestors wielded guns and carried “Stop the Steal” signs outside the state capitol building. Last October, the FBI also arrested 13 men in an alleged kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Hundreds of protestors also entered the capitol last April, many of them carrying firearms. Armed protests outside the capitol also took place throughout the spring.
Oregon: Last month, about 300 protestors tried to storm the Oregon state capitol, but state police were able to ward them off.
Washington: On Monday, the Washington state national guard arrested two people who tried to enter the state capitol building without permission. On January 6th, dozens of protestors, some armed, entered the Governor’s mansion front lawn illegally. State police were able to walk protestors back out without incident.
California: A temporary chain link fence has gone up around the California state capitol and Governor Gavin Newsom has also mobilized 1,000 national guard members. On January 6th, a Black woman was called racial slurs and physically attacked by nearly 40 Trump protestors in Los Angeles.
Georgia: About 60 pro-Trump activists gathered outside the Georgia state capitol, some armed. A few entered the building as visitors without incident. Former Ku Klux Klan member Chester Doles tried to meet with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to give him a list of grievances, but the Secretary had left early as a precaution.
Screenshot of hanging effigy of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear in May 2020.
Other incidents:
Last May, protestors from Take Back Kentucky hung Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear in effigy in front of the statehouse along with a sign that read "sic temper tyrannis," a Latin phrase that means, "thus always to tyrants."
Last August, dozens of protestors, some armed, moved past police to enter a gallery at the Idaho state capitol. The Speaker of Idaho’s House of Representatives allowed the protestors to be seated during legislative special session.
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