U.S. state capitals see few protesters after bracing for violent demonstrations

By Nathan Layne and Brendan O'Brien

 

A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump places signs in protest against the election of President-elect Joe Biden, in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. January 17, 2021. REUTERS/Caitlin O'Hara

 

HARRISBURG, Pa./LANSING, Mich. (Reuters) - A heavy presence of law enforcement officers guarded state capitol grounds across the United States on Sunday in preparation for protests that so far have drawn only a small number of Trump supporters who believe the president's false claim that the 2020 election was rigged.

 

More than a dozen states have activated National Guard troops to help secure their capitol buildings following an FBI warning of armed demonstrations, with right-wing extremists emboldened by the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6.

 

Security officials had eyed Sunday as the first major flashpoint, as that is when the anti-government "boogaloo" movement made plans weeks ago to hold rallies in all 50 states.

 

Capitals in battleground states, where Trump has directed his accusations of voter fraud, were on especially high alert.

 

But by the afternoon, only handfuls of demonstrators had taken to the streets alongside much larger crowds of law enforcement officers and media personnel.

 

Washington, D.C. was locked down and U.S. law enforcement officials geared up for pro-Trump marches in all 50 state capitals this weekend, erecting barriers and deploying thousands of National Guard troops to try to prevent the kind of violent attack that rattled the nation on Jan. 6. Jonah Green reports.

 

About a hundred police officers and National Guardsmen, wearing helmets and armed with wooden batons, were assigned to protect Pennsylvania's capitol in Harrisburg on Sunday. Only a handful of Trump supporters showed up, including Alex, a 34-year-old drywall finisher from Hershey, Pennsylvania who said he had been at the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol but did not storm the building. He declined to give his last name.

 

Wearing a hoodie emblazoned with "Fraud 2020", he said he believed November's presidential election was stolen and wanted to show his support for Trump. He noted the lack of protesters at the Pennsylvania capitol on Sunday.

"There's nothing going on," he said.

 

On Sunday afternoon, police opened streets around the building that had been blocked off in anticipation of bigger crowds.

 

A similarly small group of about a dozen protesters, a few armed with rifles, stood outside Michigan's capitol in Lansing.

 

One wore fatigue pants, a tactical vest and blue Hawaiian shirt, a trademark of the anti-government boogaloo movement.

 

"I am not here to be violent and I hope no one shows up to be violent," said one man standing on the lawn in front of the capitol. The man, who refused to give his name, wore a "Make America Great Again" hat and waving a "Don't tread on me" flag.

 

In Atlanta, several hundred law enforcement officers and National Guard troops milled around Georgia's state house.

 

Chain-link fences and cement barriers protected the Capitol grounds and multiple armored vehicles were stationed nearby.

 

In addition to increasing police presence, some states, including Pennsylvania, Texas and Kentucky, took the further step of closing their capitol grounds to the public.

 

PREPARING FOR VIOLENCE

The nationwide security uptick followed the attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington by a mix of extremists and Trump supporters, some of whom called for the death of Vice President Mike Pence as he presided over the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's election victory.

 

The FBI and other federal agencies have warned of the potential for future violence leading up to Biden's inauguration on Wednesday, as white supremacists and other extremists seek to exploit frustration among Trump supporters who have bought into his falsehoods about electoral fraud.

 

Tens of thousands of security personnel from the National Guard and law enforcement agencies have descended upon Washington, D.C., to bolster security ahead of Wednesday's ceremony.

 

Downtown Washington was largely a ghost town on Sunday. Gun-toting National Guard soldiers in camouflage manned checkpoints across the city center, which was closed off to traffic with large military vehicles deployed to block streets.

 

It was not clear whether the FBI warning and ramped up security presence around the country might have led some protesters to cancel plans to go to their state capitols.

 

Following the Jan. 6 violence in Washington, some militia members said they would not attend a long-planned pro-gun demonstration in Virginia on Monday, where authorities were worried about the risk of violence as multiple groups converged on the state capital, Richmond.

 

The streets around the statehouse in Richmond were lined with barricades on Sunday afternoon, but aside from a few clusters of police officers and reporters, the area was deserted.

 

Some militias and extremist groups have told followers to stay home this weekend, citing the increased security or the risk that the planned events were law enforcement traps.

 

Bob Gardner, leader of the Pennsylvania Lightfoot Militia, said his group had no plans to be in Harrisburg this weekend, where the Capitol has been fortified with barricades and will be protected by hundreds of members of its National Guard.

 

"We've got our own communities to worry about," Gardner said earlier this week. "We don’t get involved in politics."

 

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Lansing, Michigan, Rich McKay in Atlanta, Georgia, Nathan Layne in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Julia Harte in Richmond, Virginia, Steve Holland and Jonathan Landay in Washington DC; writing by Gabriella Borter in Naples, Florida; Editing by Frances Kerry, Daniel Wallis and Nick Zieminski)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-18

 

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Not a soft enough target they know no bs will be tolerated 

Apparently gun and ammunition sales are at an all time high and expect to increase over the next 2 years....Yee Harrr cowboys! The Proud Boys, the Boogaloo Boys, what an absolute mess the wrecking ball Trump has created, he has'nt made America great again, he's made it just plain dangerous! 

Will Americans ever learn what communism is and what it's not?

But then, it seems for many it's more about what they believe. That has little to do with learning or reality. 

Trump is on the way out but he has the funds to have his own online social media platform.

A 50-60 million base almost guaranteed for him to keep the lies, bsh-t,rhetoric etc at even higher levels.

He will continue to be a very dangerous man child.

 

19 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Apparently gun and ammunition sales are at an all time high and expect to increase over the next 2 years....Yee Harrr cowboys! The Proud Boys, the Boogaloo Boys, what an absolute mess the wrecking ball Trump has created, he has'nt made America great again, he's made it just plain dangerous! 

There is currently virtually no ammunition available for sale in the US. All the major online ammo sales sites (yes, in the US you can order ammo online and have it delivered to your home) are sold out in every caliber from every manufacturer. In the secondary market popular ammo like 9mm (for handguns) and 5.56 NATO/,223 (for AR-15s) is trading at 3-4x the normal price.

9 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

There is currently virtually no ammunition available for sale in the US. All the major online ammo sales sites (yes, in the US you can order ammo online and have it delivered to your home) are sold out in every caliber from every manufacturer. In the secondary market popular ammo like 9mm (for handguns) and 5.56 NATO/,223 (for AR-15s) is trading at 3-4x the normal price.

Has Trump Made America Great Again???

29 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Will Americans ever learn what communism is and what it's not?

But then, it seems for many it's more about what they believe. That has little to do with learning or reality. 

No has aided the communists (China and Russia ) more than Trump has done in the past for years! They just love what he has done to divide America!

23 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Has Trump Made America Great Again???

He lost all 3 levels of gov't and deeply divided the republican party, so yes.

52 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Trump is on the way out but he has the funds to have his own online social media platform.

A 50-60 million base almost guaranteed for him to keep the lies, bsh-t,rhetoric etc at even higher levels.

He will continue to be a very dangerous man child.

 

I doubt it. Every thing he touches turns to <deleted>.  Some of the white supremacist rioters literally defecated in the Capitol building and smeared it around the hallways.  

There was a protest today in Ohio. As is usual in what is called an 'open carry' State, "peaceful" protesters showed up carrying semi-auto AR-15 long guns or packing handguns on their belts like they're ready for the OK Corral or to storm Guadalcanal (though few look as if they could pass the Marine physical).

 

Around 1400 the crowd thinned out considerably. Why?

 

The local NFL football team, the Cleveland Browns, had a playoff game against the KC Chiefs, and since it's been 26 years since the browns went this far in the post season, the putsch was put on hold.

 

The Browns lost.  No doubt 'it's UNFAIR !' and a 'FRAUD'.

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

Trump is on the way out but he has the funds to have his own online social media platform.

A 50-60 million base almost guaranteed for him to keep the lies, bsh-t,rhetoric etc at even higher levels.

He will continue to be a very dangerous man child.

 

I'm not so sure his base is that large.  A big percentage of these people are mainly pro GOP and anti dem.  True, some are true believers, but with the lowest approval rating now of any president at the end of his term (38%), less and less seem to like him after last week.

 

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/

 

A very interesting article to read about his shrinking base:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/22/us/politics/trump-voters-demographics.html

 

Quote

The number of voting-age white Americans without college degrees has dropped by more than five million in the past four years, while the number of minority voters and college-educated white voters has collectively increased by more than 13 million in the same period. In key swing states, the changes far outstrip Mr. Trump’s narrow 2016 margins.

 

Anyone who still supports the actions of these nuts needs to watch this.  They are terrorists, plain and simple.  And probably mentally deranged.  They all need to be jailed.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/01/17/capitol-riot-video-the-new-yorker-newsroom-vpx.cnn

How hypocritical is it of repubs and the insurrectionsists, who now have the QAnon conspiracy nonsense as part of the Party platform, if not officially, at least informally.

 

Here's an example: the new (R) Rep lauren boebert, the one who insists she should be able to carry a gun on to the House floor, is married to a guy who pled guilty to exposing himself to a minor.

 

Projection.

There will be no major demonstrations. The gutless idiots who claim to support Trump will not have the balls to go up against the security this time now that they are ready. There will probably be the odd sniper shot or individual who is high on his every day dose who will try to show some false acts of defiance. I believe the US may have turned the corner on these dark days of history. I am not saying its over just under control and being heavily enforced but definitely waning.

Without his enablers and social media platform(s) it is challenging for trump to get the insurrectionists off their couches, where they remain polishing their "guns".

 

Most reasonable and sane persons know that it is a bad look to break into the Capitol building and attempt to lynch the vp.

 

And, while I'm no expert, I think the whole Qanon thing is falling apart as various "predictions" fail to come about, causing the cult believers to peel away.

 

 Maybe the fog of trump is lifting, and people realize that without the Kool-Aid the emperor is a doofus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Most reasonable and sane persons ...

... don't vote for Trump.

If there was any question if this was sedition, this proves it. 

 

Hang Mike Pence, with a gallows right there.  Lock these nuts up, along with those who got them there.

 

https://madison.com/video/cnn/news/rioters-chant-hang-mike-pence-at-capitol-as-pence-fled/video_ff20b993-8ab0-5703-8107-0b91de36ae3d.html

38 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

If there was any question if this was sedition, this proves it. 

 

Hang Mike Pence, with a gallows right there.  Lock these nuts up, along with those who got them there.

 

https://madison.com/video/cnn/news/rioters-chant-hang-mike-pence-at-capitol-as-pence-fled/video_ff20b993-8ab0-5703-8107-0b91de36ae3d.html

Or try this one:

 

https://www.newyorker.com/news/video-dept/a-reporters-footage-from-inside-the-capitol-siege

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but none of those guys look antifa-ish to me. Most do not even look human.

 

Disgusting how repubs keep harping on 'no impeachment; it will only divide', but NOT A ONE OF THEM says 45 should appear on TV, say Biden won fair and square, and that 45 is just a childish, vindictive, un-American liar.  Maybe THAT would begin to unite, but instead its':

 

"Look we (repubs) started the insurrection, so it's Dems job to forgive and forget and move on".

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

Trump is on the way out but he has the funds to have his own online social media platform.

A 50-60 million base almost guaranteed for him to keep the lies, bsh-t,rhetoric etc at even higher levels.

He will continue to be a very dangerous man child.

 

He’s upside down on all his real estate and his creditors are coming for him, what money he can get his hands on will be used in the masses of legal battles he is facing.

 

 

Trump supporters fading away is no surprise at all to participants on these pages, his ardent supporters of six months ago can of late barely muster an emoji.

 

 I wish them all the best on their difficult journey back to reality and will of course offer encouraging and comforting words of support as and when needed.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He’s upside down on all his real estate and his creditors are coming for him, what money he can get his hands on will be used in the masses of legal battles he is facing.

 

 

But he's got that big bag of cash he collected from his clueless supporters to help "Stop the Steal!". And he can spend it however he wants.

19 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trump supporters fading away is no surprise at all to participants on these pages, his ardent supporters of six months ago can of late barely muster an emoji.

 

 I wish them all the best on their difficult journey back to reality and will of course offer encouraging and comforting words of support as and when needed.

 

 

They were expecting their brave leader to match with them to Capitol Hill as told before the storming but he retreated to the safe WH bunker. They were also expecting foolishly that they will be pardoned but Trump will not to save his own skin. There were also some disgruntlement with his hard core supporters that promises like the wall have not been fulfilled. They are a fading lot and with the law bearing down on them will retreat back to the cracks and crevices where they belong post Trump. 

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

<snip>

And, while I'm no expert, I think the whole Qanon thing is falling apart as various "predictions" fail to come about, causing the cult believers to peel away.

<snip>

Unfortunately, I would compare them to Jehovah Witnesses (JW). This is NOT a slam of the religion, I'm merely comparing numbers of diehard followers. The JW's have repeatedly projected the actual date of the end of the world. The date comes, the date goes, they pick a new date and membership numbers stay the same.

 

It staggers the imagination that some Qanon crazies are now lawmakers. I understand how people like AOC are afraid for their lives, these nutcases are wanting to pack heat into the chambers.

32 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

They are a fading lot and with the law bearing down on them will retreat back to the cracks and crevices where they belong post Trump. 

 

Do you think they'll let their guns gather rust? Gun sales are at an all time high.

 

 

2 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

Anyone who still supports the actions of these nuts needs to watch this.  They are terrorists, plain and simple.  And probably mentally deranged.  They all need to be jailed.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/01/17/capitol-riot-video-the-new-yorker-newsroom-vpx.cnn

Around 3:30 - SHOCKING disrespect!

1 hour ago, Jeffr2 said:

But he's got that big bag of cash he collected from his clueless supporters to help "Stop the Steal!". And he can spend it however he wants.

I believe he owes a lot more than he took in. His net worth is bleak, his blood type is McDonald's french fries oil so longevity doesn't look good, his bankers are saying "no more," and his creditors are lining up to grind his bones to make their bread.

Just now, J Town said:

I believe he owes a lot more than he took in. His net worth is bleak, his blood type is McDonald's french fries oil so longevity doesn't look good, his bankers are saying "no more," and his creditors are lining up to grind his bones to make their bread.

Apparently he's raking in a bit selling pardons, the next few days will be interesting to see who the donors/recipients are.

36 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

They were expecting their brave leader to match with them to Capitol Hill as told before the storming but he retreated to the safe WH bunker. They were also expecting foolishly that they will be pardoned but Trump will not to save his own skin.

<snip>

I believe 45 would implicate his own complicity in the attack if he pardons them. He's not smart enough to figure that out on his own, smarter aides like the "My Pillow" guy and Giuliani are guiding him through these land mines. Hee hee hee!

1 minute ago, PatOngo said:

Apparently he's raking in a bit selling pardons, the next few days will be interesting to see who the donors/recipients are.

Those are, at this point, alleged. I heard Giuliani trying to negotiate a $2 million pardon, but I suspect that's a bridge too far for even his sycophant Republican Senators to swallow (unless maybe they get a taste?). Yes, counting down the minutes to see where all this tragedy goes.