DC mayor calls in National Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests

[LiberalArkie]

JANUARY 4, 2021 — 6:45PM

According to a U.S. defense official, Bowser put in a request on New Year's Eve to have Guard members on the streets from Tuesday to Thursday to help with the protests. The official said the additional forces will be used for traffic control and other assistance but they will not be armed or wearing body armor. Congress is meeting this week to certify the Electoral College results, and Trump has refused to concede while whipping up support for protests.

Some 340 D.C. National Guard members will be activated, with about 115 on duty in the streets at any given time, said the defense official, who provided details on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The official said Guard members will be used to set up traffic control points around the city and to stand with district police officers at all the city's Metro stops. Contee said Guard troops will also be used for some crowd management.


"Some of our intelligence certainly suggests there will be increased crowd sizes," said Contee.

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Because D.C. does not have a governor, the designated commander of the city's National Guard is Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. Any D.C. requests for Guard deployments have to be approved by him.

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https://www.startribune.com/dc-mayor-calls-in-national-guard-ahead-of-pro-trump-protests/600006633/

[wishstar]

1. Mayor Bowser explained in interview that DC Nat Guard and DC Police don't protect Fed property

Protecting the Capitol was under jurisdiction of Feds- Capitol Police and whatever DHS, Secret Service, FBI, and Nat Guards from States that Fed officials must approve. DC police were deployed onto Capitol grounds to assist EMT efforts helping victims with medical emergencies.