State News

Michigan National Guard Deploys to Lansing Before Sunday Protest

January 15, 2021, 10:17 AM

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Members of the 1225th Support Battalion last September. Units being deployed in Lansing aren't announced. (Photos: Michigan National Guard)

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the Michigan National Guard as the state prepares for a Sunday protest at the Capitol. 

“The Michigan State Police is leading security efforts in coordination with the Michigan National Guard and other public safety agencies,” spokesperson Tiffany Brown said in a statement. “The MSP has the governor’s full confidence in their ability to safeguard the Capitol Building, Capitol Complex, and the Greater Lansing downtown area.”

“What we are seeing play out across our country right now is deeply concerning,” said Whitmer, who has joined phone discussions this week with other Midwestern governors worried about fresh violence.

Col. Joseph Gasper of the state police said it’s unknown how many protesters could appear Sunday in response to armed marches were promoted online.

They plan to show up to protest the presidential election result and Wednesday's inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Some are likely to carry assault weapons, which are now illegal to bring into the state Capitol.

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor requested the Guard deployment on Tuesday, saying that militia groups, the Proud Boys and anti-government extremists in the “boogaloo” movement plan armed protests Sunday. "I'm a firm believer in the First Amendment right to protest at our state Capitol," he said in a media call Friday, "but let me be clear, this doesn't mean that anyone has the right to destroy Lansing's downtown." (Via tweet by Malachi Barrett of MLive.)

Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers of the state National Guard says he won't disclose how many members will be on capital streets, "but I assure you that our response is significant." (Also from MLive tweet.)

"Several hundred" others are heading to the national capital for inauguration week duty, the governor's office says.

State workers were boarding up office building windows near the Capitol on Friday morning and a fence was installed around the building:

A locally based New York Times reporter tweets:

Tensions are high in other capitals as the FBI warns of armed demonstrations nationwide by militias, right-wing activists, white supremacists and others.

Whitmer has been on conference calls with at least four other Midwestern governors this week to discuss protest security, The Washington Post says. 

In recent days, the calls — which have included the governors of Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin — have taken on a new urgency as state officials have shared information and advice about how to confront what many believe could be a dark and dangerous period of extended insurgency against state and even local governments.

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