Washington, DC is beginning to resemble a war zone, as National Guard troops numbering in the tens of thousands are armed and have been given permission to use lethal force as Joe Biden’s inauguration date looms.
A statement from the D.C. National Guard indicates “National Guardsmen were given authorization to be armed in support of the U.S. Capitol Police to protect the U.S. Capitol and individual members of Congress and their staff.”
A defense official confirmed to U.S. News & World Report that the authorization “includes permission for Guard troops to use lethal force.”
Reports indicate that 20,000 National Guard troops are on-site in preparation for anti-Biden demonstrations over the weekend.
The 20,000 National Guard troops preparing for pro-Trump demonstrations this weekend in the nation’s capital will be armed and permitted to use lethal force. https://t.co/Kfk1NeO18m
— U.S. News & World Report (@usnews) January 14, 2021
DC Is In Lockdown As National Guard Given Green Light to Use Lethal Force
The Associated Press is reporting that “a state of lockdown” has “descended on Washington that will last through the Jan. 20 inauguration.”
The FBI warned of armed protests being planned in all 50 state capitals as well as in Washington for the days leading up to Biden’s inauguration.
On January 6th, thousands of protesters upset over perceived election integrity issues stormed the Capitol, resulting in its evacuation and lockdown, and leading to five deaths.
The nation’s capitol looking more like a militarized zone before Inauguration via @ashrafkhalil @lbaldor https://t.co/p2GajD8MbN
— Michael Tackett (@tackettdc) January 14, 2021
The protests were mostly peaceful.
Still, authorities are taking no chances as inauguration day approaches.
Federal officials indicate the National Mall will be closed to the public on Inauguration Day, in-part due to concerns of violence and the fact that Biden’s event will be mostly virtual.
The entire National Mall will be closed for Inauguration Day, only accessible to media and security personnel, two people familiar with the matter told the Washington Post. https://t.co/FfUBRBt3Fu
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) January 14, 2021
Bloomberg News reports that soldiers flowing into Washington D.C. is “a scene reminiscent of Civil War deployments.”
Stepping up Security
The stepping up of security efforts to include lethal force marks a significant shift in tactics from riots over the summer which caused countless buildings to be torched and businesses to be robbed and vandalized.
Lethal force was not an issue when domestic terrorists were persistently attacking Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Portland.
In fact, many of those charged with the assault on a federal courthouse were charged with minor offenses.
Republican California Rep. Tom McClintock, during the impeachment debate, pointed out that had criminals on both sides of the political spectrum been treated equally, there might not have been an escalation of violence on January 6th.
“I cannot think of a more petty, vindictive and gratuitous act than to impeach an already defeated President a week before he is to leave office. President-elect Biden’s promise to heal the nation becomes a hollow mockery in the harsh reality of this unconstitutional act.” pic.twitter.com/QpOaWNsPbH
— Tom McClintock (@RepMcClintock) January 13, 2021
“If we had prosecuted BLM and Antifa rioters across the country with the same determination these last six months, this incident may not have happened at all,” McClintock said.
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