National Guard members in Washington, DC, will wear black vests on Wednesday – instead of their usual camouflage uniforms – as crowds are already gathering to show their support for President Trump before the newly sworn Congress is expected to officially ratify elections. College votes in the final step before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20.
The spokesman capt. Tinashe T. Machona told Fox News that the black identification jackets should highlight another mission for DC National Guard. It is the traditional uniform worn during domestic support operations, including presidential inaugurations, the Fourth of July celebration, response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 57th anniversary of March in Washington last year. This is not body armor or a tactical vest.
“It’s different from the camouflage vest, just as this mission differs from other missions we’ve done in the past,” Machona said, explaining that each black identification vest contains the name, rank and service of the guard, plus the DC flag. to show. our pride in our city. ‘
DC National Guardsman wears a black identification vest instead of a camouflage option.
(DC National Guard)
As thousands of people are expected to turn up in support of Trump on Wednesday, DC, councilor Charles Allen called on people not to prevent opposition in the country’s capital, to end the clashes between opposing groups after the evening on 12 December.
Trump plans to address supporters at 11 a.m. during a rally on the Ellipse just south of the White House.
Referring to protests planned this week by those he described as “White nationalist and military groups”, Allen said: “These are people who have already lost, who are desperately clinging to conspiracy theories and who will not be reasoned with. They are eager to harm others. “
“They will not overthrow the results of our national election. They will not stop a peaceful transfer of power. They are only seeking conflict to elevate themselves. Do not give them what they are looking for,” Allen said in a statement. said. “Going downtown to counter-protests, during a pandemic, will do nothing to advance our values, and will only complicate the District’s planned response to the protection of DC residents and institutions.”
People attend a rally in support of President Donald Trump called the “Save America Rally”, Wednesday, January 6, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)
On Tuesday night, at least six people were arrested for various offenses, including weapons and ammunition, assaulting a police officer, simple assault and possession of a shotgun. Hundreds of Trump supporters gathered in Freedom Plaza to reject the vote in Electoral College and continued after the evening, even as the temperature dropped to the low 40s and a steady rain fell.
The video, which was circulated online, showed a group of people, many of whom had pro-Trump flags and did not wear masks, cursing Antifa as they marched through the streets on Tuesday night. The crowd clashed with police officers blocking access to Black Lives Matter Square.
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Trump and his campaign team contested the election results and brought their claims to the courts across the country, and almost all of these legal challenges failed. A group of GOP senators led by Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said they would object to the certification of election results Wednesday, unless a ten-day state of emergency is declared by the election commission.
In a series of tweets, the president, arguing that Antifa should be declared a terrorist organization, on Tuesday warned the left-wing group to stay out of Washington, adding that law enforcers are “watching very closely”.
The president told Democrats, as well as “the weak and ineffective RINO division of the Republican Party”, to pay attention to the thousands of people who are flocking ‘to DC’, which he says’ is not a big victory in the election will not steal. . “
“Washington is inundated with people who do not want to see an election victory stolen by encouraged Radical Democrats,” Trump tweeted. “Our country has had enough, they will not take it anymore! We hear you (and love you) from the Oval Office. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The Women for America First group estimates that 30,000 people will attend a so-called “Save America Rally” at the Ellipse on Wednesday, according to a permit submitted to the National Park Service. Several other Trump rallies are scheduled for Wednesday at various locations in the country’s capital.
According to a press release from DC National Guard, more than 300 wardens will support the District of Columbia from January 5 to 7, 2021, at the request of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Dr. Christopher Rodriguez, Director of DC Homeland Security and Emergency. Management Agency, on behalf of the DC Metropolitan Police Department and DC Fire and Emergency Services.
Allen pointed out that DC did not issue permits for pro-Trump events scheduled for this week, and that this event would take place on federal property. Over the weekend, Bowser, a powerful critic of Trump, advised residents not to engage in protests “who are coming to our city to confront, and we will do what we have to do to ensure that everyone who attends it” , remain peaceful. “
People are waiting for a rally of supporters of President Donald Trump challenging the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election at the Ellipse outside the White House on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)
(AP)
She reminded the public and all who attended the protest that firearms are banned ‘within a hundred meters of any first modification activity’, and police have put up signs informing the public that all firearms will be banned – even for city dwellers who have a hidden drapery permit.
A pro-Trump rally on December 12 ended in violence when hundreds of Trump supporters, dressed in the signature black and yellow of the Proud Boys, a pro-Trump group, clashed with Antifa members and local BLM members. activists trying to stop them from Black Lives Matter Plaza, an area near the White House. At least two local black churches had Black Lives Matter banners torn down and set on fire.
Law enforcers were seen outside the churches early on Wednesday, WRC-TV reported.
On Monday, police arrested Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, 36, after he arrived in Washington ahead of this week’s protests. Tarrio is accused of burning one of the Black Lives Matter banners in December and was found with two high-capacity firearms magazines, police said. A judge on Tuesday signed an order banning Tarrio from entering the District of Columbia, with very limited exceptions to the criminal case.
People are waiting for a rally of supporters of President Donald Trump challenging the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election at the Ellipse outside the White House on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)
(AP)
Machona said part of the DC National Guard’s duties this week are to support police and fire / EMS in closing the road and stopping at the subway. Increased security measures are being taken around the Capitol Hill complex, and Metropolitan Police have advised that there will be major parking restrictions and street closures in the District of Columbia.
U.S. Capitol police have urged members of Congress and staff to use underground access points and the Cannon and Rayburn tunnels instead of walking outside or driving to Capitol Square, according to a safety note sent Tuesday. Members were encouraged to arrive before 9 a.m. Wednesday.
In addition to the National Guard, federal agents were on standby in case they were needed urgently.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons said about 100 “specially trained officers” had been sent to the Justice Department headquarters to assist other security personnel, but that they “would remain in a reserve capacity unless necessary.” The Department of Homeland Security has meanwhile said that, unlike during the May and June riots in Washington, it did not intend to deploy Customs and Border Protection agents after the demonstration on Wednesday.
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A number of prominent Trump supporters were expected to attend meetings on Wednesday, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Trump ally Roger Stone, the recipient of a pardon by the president. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and sentenced to three years in prison. Trump overturned the sentence when Stone followed up on an appeal and later issued a full pardon.
Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, who also pardoned the president after being twice convicted of lying to the FBI in Russia’s special investigation into Robert Mueller’s investigation, addressed the pro-Trump rally in Freedom Plaza on Tuesday. .
Fox News’ Bradford Betz and Associated Press contributed to this report.