Small Protests Form Outside State Capitols, End Without Violence

ACROSS AMERICA — As small groups of armed protesters approached some state capitols across the country on Sunday, the nation remains on high alert in the days ahead of the inauguration and in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. capitol.

A small group of them gatehered outside the Michigan Capitol early Sunday, but left by the early afternoon. The group was limited to 10-20 demonstrators, who were far outnumbered by police, according to reports.

"The majority of the movement just wants peace. When people act out, it proves to the media what they are trying to push on us," one man said to reporters while carrying a rifle and pistol outside the state capital in Lansing.

Armed protesters also held rallies outside state capitols in Ohio, Utah and other states.

At Oregon's Capitol, fewer than a dozen men wearing military-style outfits, black ski masks and helmets stood nearby with semiautomatic weapons slung across their bodies. Some had upside-down American flags and signs reading such things as “Disarm the government.”

At the Texas Capitol, Ben Hawk walked with about a dozen demonstrators up to the locked gates carrying a bullhorn and an AR-15 rifle hanging at the side of his camouflage pants. He condemned the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and said he did not support Trump.

“All we came down here to do today was to discuss, gather, network and hang out. And it got blown and twisted completely out of proportion,” Hawk said.

Violence had not been reported as of late Sunday afternoon, and all protests ended without any clashes, according to The Associated Press.

Security was well prepared for the possibility of armed protests, and possible violence, throughout the nation.

The nation’s capital has been turned into a fortress in the days leading up to the Jan. 20 inauguration. Up to 25,000 heavily armed National Guard troops have been deployed, the National Mall is closed, and other extreme security measures have been taken.

Tall fencing surrounds the U.S. Capitol, and over 25,000 National Guard troops from around the U.S. are expected early this week. Bridges in the area will also be closed beginning Tuesday, the day before Joe Biden is set to become president and Kamala Harris, vice president.

Governors in several states have declared states of emergency, closed capitols to the public and called up National Guard troops.

In Arizona, a double row of chain-link fencing circles the state capitol. Windows on the Illinois and Ohio statehouses have been boarded up. National Guard troops in camouflage and flak jackets and heavily armed state troopers have been stationed at state buildings across the United States.

“We cannot allow a reoccurrence of the chaos and illegal activity that the United States and the world witnessed last week,” Matt Miller, an agent with the U.S. Secret Service, told reporters Friday. “Our democracy is built on the rule of law, and the Secret Service workforce is dedicated and committed to uphold its oath to the Constitution and assure that its vital no-fail mission regarding the security of the presidential inauguration and the peaceful transfer of power is carried out.”

• Secret Service, National Guard Bring Heightened Security To DC
• Who Knew What Before Pro-Trump Radicals Breached The Capitol?

Federal prosecutors said in a court filing Thursday there was “strong evidence” the pro-Trump mob at the Capitol last week aimed to “capture and assassinate elected officials.” However, U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said Friday investigators have “no direct evidence at this point of kill, capture teams.”

The FBI said intelligence gathered ahead of Jan. 6 indicated the assault on the Capitol wasn’t a spontaneous show of support for the defeated president, but rather was planned by extremists who were prepared to “engage in war” and “be ready to fight.”

A bulletin distributed to law enforcement officials across the country indicated the extremists shared maps of the Capitol’s tunnels and discussed other details of a plan to travel to Washington, D.C., ahead of the Electoral College vote tally.

An Associated Press review of public records, social media posts and video shows several of the rioters are people who previously have taken oaths to protect and serve the public or defend the Constitution.

While the "blue wall of silence" is an unspoken rule among law enforcement officers, prompting them to often turn a blind eye to the misconduct of their colleagues, that blue wall is crumbling as police chiefs and officers across the country face the reality that many of their own participated in last week's deadly riot.

At least 13 off-duty law enforcement officials are suspected of taking part in the riot, according to a Washington Post report. That number is expected to increase as a growing number of police leaders turn in their own, an attempt at driving home a sobering message: Engage in criminal conduct and you will face consequences.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo this week accepted the resignation of an 18-year-veteran of the Texas department.

“We are making clear that they have First Amendment rights like all Americans,” Acevedo told the Post. “However, engaging in activity that crosses the line into criminal conduct will not be tolerated.”

Across America

Below is a sampling of Patch stories showing how states are preparing for threats of armed protests at all 50 state capitols in the days ahead of Biden’s inauguration. Click the green links for more information.

Arizona: About 1,000 people protested at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix as the House was impeaching Trump, who narrowly lost the state and whose claims of a rigged election were repeated by U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs, two congressmen who have been implicated in the insurrection. Fencing has been installed around the Capitol “out of an abundance of caution,” Arizona state police spokesman Kameron Lee told Patch, adding that security measures had previously beefed up “not for one specific event but to ensure the safety of the public.”

California: California Highway Patrol went on tactical alert Saturday to meet the threat of violence leading up to Inauguration Day. In addition to the CHP, police departments across the state are on high alert. Gov. Gavin Newsom called up 10,000 National Guard troops on Thursday, and the U.S. Postal Service temporarily removed dozens of public mailboxes in the Bay Area and Southern California as a safety precaution.

Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the Florida National Guard on Friday night in response to possible protests at the state capitol this weekend. The governor's executive order directs the Guard to work with local and state law enforcement officers in Tallahassee to help maintain peace throughout Biden's inauguration. It also came the same day Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey requested the Guard deployed downtown around the state Capitol this weekend, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

Georgia: In Georgia, GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan told CNN the state is "less safe" right now because of the words and rhetoric of Trump leading up to the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is taking a no-nonsense approach to defending the state Capitol in Atlanta should armed protests occur but has not given specific details of how Georgia is preparing, to avoid tipping off anyone monitoring state measures. However, some additional security measures can be seen in downtown Atlanta.

Illinois: State police are tracking threats to the Illinois Capitol in Springfield and are prepared to respond to threats identified through federal, state and local intelligence. Gov. J.B. Pritzker declined comment on specific security measures but said state police are “well aware of the challenges that may crop up.”

Maryland: A state of emergency was declared by Gov. Larry Hogan before the presidential inauguration to enable the state to coordinate with its neighbors and support local jurisdictions in their response to inauguration activities. "The state of Maryland will continue to do everything we possibly can to secure our nation's capital and to ensure the peaceful transition of power," Hogan said in a statement Friday. "We did not hesitate to provide critical support during the Jan. 6 insurrection, and will continue to work closely with allied agencies, local governments, and our federal partners to support the inaugural ceremonies.”

Michigan: Armed protesters in Michigan, some carrying long guns and wearing tactical gear as they demonstrated against a statewide mask mandate, showed last spring how easy it is to occupy a statehouse; and a thwarted threat to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that brought felony charges against 13 people demonstrated showed how far right-wing extremists are willing to go. Security has been bolstered at the Michigan Capitol, and Whitmer activated the National Guard after reports of a Southeast Michigan Militia protest Sunday at the statehouse in Lansing. The group said its protest would be peaceful; but its leader, Mike Lackomar, told a local television station that depended on “how we are pushed” and “if our rights are violated, we will resist that violation with whatever level we need to.”

Minnesota: After the FBI warned of credible threats of an armed protest by the Boogaloo bois movement, Minnesota officials have developed a coordinated response to protect the Capitol in St. Paul that includes National Guard soldiers, state and local police officers, and even conservation officers. "Boogaloo" refers to what is described as an impending second civil war in the U.S. involving violent uprisings against the government, according to the FBI. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, says members of the loosely organized “anti-government extremist group” show up at protests heavily armed and wear Hawaiian shirts. "We will continue to track and monitor reports of any individuals or groups that are not interested in a peaceful expression of their First Amendment rights so we can respond accordingly," Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said. The state also closed its federal courts in response to threats.

New York: The Capitol in Albany is already, closed and authorities have barricaded and closed streets. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says “there are no specific and tangible threats” against his city, but said that “if anything emerges of any substantial nature, I’m going to make sure we announce it.”

Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine said the state’s National Guard, the Ohio State Patrol and local police will be out “in force” to protect the statehouse in Columbus after a credible threat. While emphasizing his respect for Ohioans' ability to protest peacefully, DeWine said he will not allow violence to spiral out of control in Columbus. "The sad truth is that some people want to turn peaceful protests into opportunities for violence. These are violent people. And their violence will not be tolerated in Ohio," DeWine said. He said law enforcement's directives will be to first protect life and then protect property.

Pennsylvania: Some 450 National Guard troops have been activated to protect the state Capitol in Pennsylvania, the epicenter of Trump’s debunked claims about election fraud and a state where his campaign lost multiple court challenges, including two to the Supreme Court. Republican leaders in the state Legislature were among those urging a joint session of Congress not to certify Biden’s win. Authorities are taking seriously the threats of continued violence, and Gov. Tom Wolf says he’s not going to “allow what happened at our nation’s capital to happen here.” Police will be stationed at Philadelphia landmarks and government buildings, though authorities have said there have been no credible threats in the historic city where the Constitutional Congress convened in 1787 to determine how the new nation would be governed.

Virginia: In support of the U.S. Secret Service's transportation plan for the inauguration, the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Transportation will institute several bridge and road closures from Virginia to Washington, D.C., starting Tuesday. The announcement comes after Gov. Ralph Northam said enhanced security measures have been put in place at the Capitol in Richmond ahead of Monday’s annual pro-gun rights demonstration, and will remain in place through the inauguration.

Washington: Gov. Jay Inslee is keeping enhanced security measures, including temporary fencing and barricades and deployment of the state National Guard, at the Washington Capitol campus in Olympia after the governor’s mansion was breached the same day the U.S. Capitol was stormed. Two people were arrested last weekend after protests ahead of the opening legislative session. Inslee said his decision was based on the “recent illegal and dangerous actions,” as well as the FBI warning of armed demonstrations at state capitols around the country.

Wisconsin: Statehouse windows were boarded up at the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison, but state officials didn’t share specific details of any threats or the response to them, as a matter of protocol.

First reported on Patch by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mark Konkol: Retired Chicago firefighter David Quintavalle was celebrating his wife’s birthday in Chicago when the pro-Trump mob occupied the Capitol but was vilified on social media as #extinguisherman, the rioter shown on video throwing a fire extinguisher at a Capitol Police officer’s head and wanted for questioning regarding the fatal beating of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. Quintavalle doesn’t have social media accounts and didn’t know anything about it until a friend called and said, “You should see what they twittered about you.”

• Trolls Wrongly Accused Retired Firefighter In Capitol Riot Murder

More Patch Coverage

• Trump Impeached A Historic 2nd Time; New Threats Put U.S. On Edge
• Fate Of Impeached Trump Rests In Senate’s Hands
• Trump’s Failure To Accept Blame For Riot ‘Pathological,’ Schumer Says
• 'No Direct Evidence’ Of Plot to Assassinate Officials: Feds
• Will Inauguration Day Bring More Insurrection: 5 Things To Know
• Federal Charges Filed As FBI Continues Riot Investigation
• Biden Certified As Winner After A Day Of Violence At Capitol
• Christian Leaders Aim To Ease Inauguration Week Tension
• Man Plotted Attack On Pro-Trump Backers At Florida Capitol

The Associated Press contributed reporting. This is a developing story. Stay on Patch, and refresh your browser for the latest.