From News Nation:
“FBI warns of plans for nationwide armed
protests next week”
The FBI is
warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington
in the days leading up to President-election Joe Biden’s inauguration, stoking
fears of more bloodshed after last week’s deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol. An
internal FBI bulletin warned that, as of Sunday, the nationwide protests may
start later this week and extend through Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration,
according to two law enforcement officials who read details of the memo to The
Associated Press. Investigators believe some of the people are members of some
extremist groups, the officials said. The bulletin was first reported by ABC.
“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 one official. The officials were not authorized to
speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The FBI issued at
least one other bulletin — they go out to law enforcement nationwide on the
topic — before the riots last week. On Dec. 29, it warned of the potential for
armed demonstrators targeting legislatures, the second official said. Army Gen.
Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters on Monday that
the Guard is also looking at any issues across the country, “We’re keeping a
look across the entire country to make sure that we’re monitoring, and that our
Guards in every state are in close coordination with their local law
enforcement agencies to provide any support requested.”
STATE
CAPITOLS STEP UP SECURITY AMID SAFETY CONCERNS State capitols across the
nation stepped up security Monday, deploying National Guard units, SWAT teams
and extra police officers as several legislatures convened amid heightened
safety concerns following last week’s violence at the U.S. Capitol. Hours
after the protections began, the FBI issued bulletins warning of plans for
armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington ahead of
President-elect Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration.
Washington
state Gov. Jay Inslee activated hundreds of National Guard troops to help state
police keep order at the state Capitol and defend security fencing. At least
two people were arrested Monday, including a woman who, according to state
police, used a recreational vehicle to block a roadway and refused to comply
with orders to move. Later, about 20 people gathered outside the security
fencing, including a man who tried to walk past authorities as lawmakers were
to begin their session. He was taken into custody after shouting “I have every
right to witness this.” At the Georgia Capitol, a state patrol SWAT team walked
the perimeter wearing fatigues and carrying rifles while lawmakers gathered
inside for the start of a two-year term. In Michigan, a state commission voted
Monday to ban the open carrying of weapons in the Capitol building. Legislatures
convened in more than half a dozen states. Because of concerns about the
coronavirus, many state capitols had already adopted procedures to curb the
potential for large crowds, including arranging for lawmakers to meet remotely.
Those steps greatly reduced the number of people who are actually working in
capitol buildings. After insurrectionists backing President Donald Trump
overran the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday, some governors and lawmakers began
ramping up security because of online threats suggesting that more mobs could
target state capitols. In Idaho, doors to the House and Senate chambers were
locked Monday morning, and two Idaho state troopers were stationed at each
entrance. In past years, the doors were propped open while an unarmed
statehouse staff member controlled access. During a special session last
August, a group of people including anti-government activist Ammon Bundy forced
their way past overwhelmed troopers and filled the Idaho House gallery despite
COVID-19 restrictions limiting the number of people allowed in. The group
called People’s Rights was founded by Bundy and opposes the restrictions. Its
leaders were urging members to show up Monday at the Capitol. Glen Thorne of Buhl, Idaho, about a two-hour
drive to the southeast of Boise, wore a handgun in a holster on his right hip
Monday at the Capitol. Openly carrying weapons in the building is legal. Thorne
said he wanted to make sure Republican Gov. Brad Little “knows that we’re
here.” “We want to end the state of emergency for Idaho. It’s ridiculous. We
all want to go back to a normal state of living,” Thorne said. He did not think
the group would cause trouble. “This is Idaho. We’re all gun-carrying,
respectful Republicans,” he said. Republican Idaho Rep. Chad Christensen said
he brought a bulletproof vest. “If I feel things are going to get heightened
up, I may put it on,” said Christensen, who also carried a .45-caliber handgun
on his belt, which is standard procedure for him. In Georgia, Republican Gov.
Brian Kemp and other officials approved construction of a fence around the
Capitol last year after racial injustice protests. Kemp has kept a group of
National Guard soldiers on active duty to protect state properties since last
summer, when protesters smashed windows and set a fire at state public safety
headquarters in Atlanta. Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, another
Republican, said he had “full confidence” that authorities would be “ready to
do whatever needs to be done to to protect the members, staff, the public, the
media, and all the people that have to be here.” Inslee activated 750 members
of the National Guard. On the same day as the deadly riot in Washington, D.C.,
a group of armed people broke down a gate outside the governor’s mansion in
Olympia, Washington, and made it to the porch and front yard before being
convinced to leave by police.
On Monday,
lawmakers had to drive through an area gated off and guarded by the National
Guard to park outside the Capitol. A small group of protesters gathered in the
morning, shouting that they should be let inside the building to observe
lawmakers. “It’s a sad day for our country, isn’t it, where you have to have
that kind of security around the people who were elected to represent you,”
Democratic Sen. Patty Kuderer said. “Unfortunately, we live in troubling times,
and I do believe we’re going to get through it, but it’s going to take a lot of
time and a lot of effort.” House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan said that both
the pandemic protocols, plus the security concerns, will make lawmakers’ work
more difficult, but he said that “people are counting on us to pass budgets and
laws that help them in their daily life.” In Michigan, where armed
demonstrators against coronavirus restrictions entered the Capitol last year,
there was little discussion as the open-weapons ban was approved. Michigan
lawmakers are to return to session Wednesday. Some of the anti-government
extremists accused in a plot to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had
attended the lockdown protests. Prosecutors say the accused ringleader
initially talked of recruiting 200 men to storm the building, take hostages and
“execute tyrants.” A secondary plan involved locking exits and setting the
statehouse on fire, according to court documents.
^ This is a
very sad and disturbing time for our country. It is one thing to peacefully
demonstrate your beliefs and another to violently attack, destroy and kill.
These groups only want to attack, destroy and kill. The next several days will
be very scary and tense for those of us Americans who oppose these kinds of
attacks, Coups and acts of terrorism. ^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.