Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser activated more than 340 National Guard troops ahead of two protests planned in the district on Jan. 6 — the day Congress is expected to certify the Electoral College’s vote sending President-elect Joe Biden to the White House.
A United States defense official said Bowser submitted a request for troops for Jan. 5-7 on New Year’s Eve, according to the Associated Press. Some 340 National Guard troops have been approved to assist with traffic control and other assistance.
The National Guard members will not be armed, nor will they wear body armor.
During a Monday press conference, Bowser urged Washingtonians to avoid the downtown area while the protests are underway.
“I am asking Washingtonians and those who live in the region to stay out of the downtown area on Tuesday and Wednesday and not to engage with demonstrators who come to our city seeking confrontation, and we will do what we must to ensure all who attend remain peaceful,” Bowser said.
At least four different protests are scheduled for Wednesday, according to the Washington Post.
President Trump retweeted a post calling the collective protests “the biggest event in Washington DC history” and later tweeted that he would be in attendance.
I will be there. Historic day! https://t.co/k6LStsWpfy
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2021
The events will feature some of the president’s biggest supporters, including George Papadopoulos and Roger Stone, whom Trump recently pardoned in a flurry of pre-holiday pardons and commutations.
Online chats suggest that members of the far-right neo-fascist Proud Boys group, conspiracy theorists, and white supremacists have signaled that they will attend the protests.
In neighboring Virginia, Phyllis Randall, the chairwoman at large for the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, urged anyone considering participating in counterprotests to stay home instead.
“In one clear voice, I join other regional leaders in strongly discouraging any persons or groups from traveling to Washington, D.C., for the purpose of staging a counterprotest,” Randall said Sunday, according to WTOP.
About 115 National Guard members will be on duty at any time, according to the Associated Press. Troops will set up traffic control points to address “increased crowds” and “people intent on coming to our city armed,” D.C. acting police Chief Robert Contee said.
There will be no active-duty military troops in the city, and the military will not provide additional assistance beyond a National Guard member presence.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Bowser’s office for further comment.
