The National Guard has been mobilized for Washington, DC, ahead of demonstrations planned this week during Congress to confirm the election results.
The guard will be used to control crowds and manage traffic, the police chief said. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested that the guard be activated and urged residents and others to be safe and cautious.
“We ask DC residents and people living in the area to avoid confrontations with anyone looking for a fight,” Bowser said. “And the best way to do that is to avoid the area.”
Congress is scheduled to meet Wednesday to formally count the votes for the Electoral College. President Donald Trump lost the election but claimed unfounded fraud. On Tuesday, Georgia will hold by-elections that will determine which party controls the Senate.
Organizers plan to gather Tuesday night at Freedom Plaza and Wednesday all day at the Ellipse, including a March 13 march to the Capitol, reports The Associated Press.
Trump encouraged the rally and tweeted on Sunday, “I will be there. Historic day!” while repeating a message about Wednesday’s scheduled event.
More than 300 members of the District of Columbia National Guard will support the city government Tuesday and Wednesday, with crowd control at subway stations and assisting with the closure of the street, the guard said in a statement.
Major General William J. Walker, Commanding General of the DC National Guard, said they would be in a supporting role.
Acting Chief of Police Metropolitan Robert Contee warned protesters and anyone else that guns would not be allowed.
“We have received information that there are individuals who want to bring the firearms into our city, and that these will simply not be tolerated,” Contee said.
In December, several people were stabbed with a knife during a clash around Trump.
A Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio, was arrested on Monday after entering Washington after being accused of burning a Black Lives Matter sign that burned during a December 12 rally of a historic Black church has been ripped off. He apparently also had two high-capacity magazines, police said.
