Virginia Governor: Violence Has No Place In Richmond Nor DC

VIRGINIA — Violence has no place in Richmond nor in the U.S. Capitol, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday, as state and federal law enforcement agencies prepared for a possible flood of right-wing extremists descending on the state capital and in Washington, D.C. for the presidential inauguration.

"It you're planning to come here or up to Washington with ill intent in your heart, you need to turn around right now and go home," Northam said, during a Thursday afternoon news conference. "You're not welcome here and you're not welcome in our nation's capital. And if you come here and act out, Virginia will be ready."

Although Northam did not have any exact numbers of the demonstrators expected, he has heard the same intelligence as others that "all 50 capitals are potentially under attack this weekend and during the inauguration." He added that he takes such threats seriously.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said plans were already in the works to beef up security in anticipation of Lobby Day 2021, an annual pro-gun rights demonstration by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, which is scheduled to take place on Monday. In addition, a state of emergency was declared earlier this week for the city.

"Our goal is the same as it's always been and that is respect and protect the right to peacefully demonstrate, regardless of your viewpoint, and to safeguard the public health and safety of Richmond's residents and their property," Stoney said, during the news conference.

While the mayor acknowledged the right of everyone to be heard, he also said people had the right to be safe and free from fear and intimidation. A violent insurrection and assault on democracy and its institutions as was seen Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol would not be tolerated in Richmond.

"I don't care who you are, we will protect this city, this capital, this commonwealth and the lives and property of all the law-abiding people who live here," Stoney said.

The Division of the U.S. Capitol Police, Richmond City Police, the Virginia Department of General Services, Virginia Commonwealth University, the FBI, and the Virginia State Police have established a unified command to manage enhanced security on Monday of Capitol Square, the Science Museum, and adjoining streets. Capitol Square is currently closed and will remain so through next Thursday.

Brian Moran, Virginia's secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, said approximately 20,000 protesters flooded Richmond streets during last year's Lobby Day. Despite the presence of numerous firearms, the event went off without incident.

"The Virginia National Guard will have personnel on standby to assist law enforcement," Moran said."Like last year, the public can expect to see an abundance of local and state law enforcement personnel posted stationary points and patrolling throughout the city."

Since last year's largely peaceful Lobby Day demonstrations in Richmond, the Virginia Legislature has passed a number of new laws, one of which prohibiting firearms in public buildings and city parks, as well as public gatherings and events.

"Signs where this ordinance is enforced will be posted and we expect those who come to Richmond to comply with our laws," he said.

Roads in the downtown area will be closed temporarily on Monday and Stoney asked residents to avoid the area if possible.

To help bolster the security around the 59th Presidential Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Jan. 20, Virginia has sent state troopers and more than 2,400 members of the Virginia National Guard to D.C.

"I do not want these brave men and women to be in danger," he said. "We want them back home safe and need them back to help with vaccinations and a lot of other duties we have in our commonwealth. But when they get home is dependent on those who would put them in danger by coming to our state capital or Washington with violent plans."

Intelligence shows as many as 10,000 Trump supporters have active plans to form a perimeter around the Capitol, the White House and the Supreme Court as Biden takes the oath. The reported plot, which surfaced on an encrypted communications app Telegram, also includes an assassination plot, according to intelligence reports.

Information shared on the app included instructions on making, concealing and using homemade guns and bombs, NBC News reported. Content on white supremacy has been freely shared for months on the app created by a Dubai-based messaging service, NBC reported, but chatter picked up significantly after the Capitol siege.

On Wednesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and her advisors updated District residents on security plans for the Jan. 20 inauguration. At her request, President Trump declared a pre-Emergency Declaration in D.C. This will help to expedite direct federal assistance to the District to prepare for the inauguration.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has agreed to extend the National Special Security Event period, so that it would begin on Wednesday, Jan. 13 instead of on Jan 19, as originally planned.

"The events of Jan. 6, the insurrection of the Capitol, those protests did not fall into a National Special Security Event category," Bowser said. "The inauguration of the president does. That puts in place an entirely different command and control structure within the federal government. We are very confident about that type of coordination as we have been with other National Special Security Events."

The U.S. Secret Service will oversee and coordinate security for the inauguration with other federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and the U.S. Capitol Police.

Chief Robert Contee of the Metropolitan Police Department estimated that more than 20,000 guardsman, including 2,400-plus from Virginia, will be on hand to provide added security during the inauguration period.

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