Va. National Guard will be on ‘standby’ for expected protests in Richmond
Virginia National Guard members will be “on standby” for expected protests this weekend, state officials said Thursday. There are worries of further violence in the wake of last week’s deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump who wanted to overturn the nation’s election results.
“We will not be able to discuss with you operational tactics, but want to assure residents... that law enforcement is well prepared... should an act of violence should occur,” Brian Moran, the state’s secretary of public safety and homeland security, told reporters. “Those who might be intending to do harm to the citizens and property of our commonwealth of Virginia will not be tolerated. This violence will not be tolerated.”
Police at the nation’s capitol were vastly unprepared Jan. 6
when a mob broke inside, rampaging through the building and temporarily halting the certification of electoral college votes. Some shouted threats of deadly violence against legislators and Vice President Mike Pence.
Since then, the FBI has received information that an insurrectionist group is calling for “storming” state government buildings and state and federal courthouses ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday.
During Thursday’s news conference, Gov. Ralph Northam said more than 2,000 National Guard members have been sent to help D.C. law enforcement officials prepare for that event.
Northam said Capitol police, state police and Richmond police are “working in close coordination” to prepare for possible attacks.
An internal FBI bulletin warned, as of Sunday, that the nationwide protests may start later this week and extend through Biden’s inauguration, Associated Press reported. Investigators believe some of the people are members of extremist groups.
“Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17 January through 20 January,” the bulletin said, according to the AP.
That period will include Virginia’s annual Lobby Day, a usually peaceful event during which members of the public meet politicians to advocate for legislation. During last year’s Lobby Day, gun rights advocates descended on Richmond, stoking fears that white supremacists and fringe militia groups would repeat the violence of a 2017 deadly protest in Charlottesville. The event was peaceful.
This year’s Lobby Day falls on Monday.
In an effort to keep the public informed, law enforcement officials have created Twitter and Facebook pages under the handle “VACapitol2021,” where they aim to post information “regarding the 2021 Lobby Day and 2021 Virginia General Assembly Session.”