OHIO — Gov. Mike DeWine is sending additional Ohio National Guard members and airmen to Washington D.C. in anticipation of protests leading up to Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, according to a press release from DeWine’s office.
DeWine said around 1,000 members will be at the Capitol building after a request came from the National Guard Bureau. He previously activated around 500.
“In addition to the Citizen Soldiers and Citizen Airmen headed to our nation’s capitol, we have an ample number of troops who’ve been placed on state active duty to support local and state law enforcement as needed here in Ohio. Violence will not be tolerated,” DeWine said.
DeWine signed a proclamation Thursday activating hundreds of National Guard members for duty at the Ohio Statehouse this weekend as Columbus prepares for possible protests.
The FBI sent out a warning to all 50 states asking them to prepare for protests following the Capitol riots.
On Jan. 6, pro-President Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building, breaking into the House chambers in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying electoral votes. Five people died, including a Capitol police officer.
DeWine said he’s ready to activate as many members as he needs. In a joint press conference with Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther Thursday, DeWine said he won’t stop protests from happening, but violence will not be tolerated.
“Our First Amendment rights are sacred. We must always and will always respect rights and peaceful protesters. However, I think all Americans were horrified by what we saw just a few days ago, in our nation’s capital.” DeWine said.
The Columbus and Cincinnati police departments are also sending officers to the Capitol.
The Statehouse will be closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and the governor announced he is closing all state office buildings in downtown Columbus for those days.
