Preparing For Protests: National Guard, WSP Arrive At Capitol

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State National Guard and Washington State Patrol will be guarding the Capitol Campus Monday, when legislators meet for the start of the 2021 legislative session.

On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee activated up to 750 members of Washington State National Guard to assist WSP in guarding the Capitol. Guard members and troopers arrived Sunday and began their work securing the Capitol Campus.

However, the breach raised significant security questions — questions that needed to be answered quickly, especially considering that an armed, far-right militia had already announced their intent to invade and occupy Washington's Legislative Building starting Sunday night. Protest organizers with Washington Three Percent and Liberty, At All Hazards have since called off their "Legislative Lockout" protest, but admit that it's likely that someone will probably try to breach the Legislative Building regardless. Those stragglers won't be alone — Washington State Patrol says they're aware of several other groups that have announced their intention to protest during the start of the session Monday. One protest was held Sunday, but passed without any violence.

Monday remains the bigger concern, however. Though the remainder of the legislative session is expected to be held remotely, lawmakers will be on the Capitol Campus Monday only to vote in-person to approve the remote session.

The governor did not specifically cite the Three Percenters in his announcement — the protest that breached the mansion was not organized by Washington Three Percent, and there have been a variety of groups protesting at the capitol over the recent months and weeks. Instead, Inslee kept his statements broad, saying only that the guard has been mobilized to prevent any lingering threats to Washington's legislators and state employees during their brief stint at the capitol.

“As legislators begin their work on behalf of the people of the state of Washington, we must do whatever we can to ensure that they can do that work without fear, intimidation or harassment," Inslee said. "The actions we saw in both Washington, D.C. and Olympia earlier this week were completely unacceptable and will not be repeated in our state capital again."

The governor says peaceful protest will still be allowed on the Capitol Campus, but portions of the campus will be restricted only to legislators and their staff. Those areas will be protected by extra fencing and security. Guard members could be seen installing new fencing around the capitol Sunday.

"Any illegal intrusion of the Capitol, state buildings or restricted areas will not be tolerated and strictly enforced," Inslee said.

A number of important issues are on the docket for the 2021 session, including the governor's $57.6 billion biennial budget proposal, which would impose a new capital gains tax and sets aside hundreds of millions to address equity and police accountability, and green energy to combat climate change.

More: Washington's 2021 Legislative Session: Here's What To Expect

Also under consideration and tangentially related to guard's mobilization — a proposal that would ban demonstrators from openly carrying firearms at protests and on the capitol.

But the big issue, as far as the militia's protest was concerned, is the remote session itself. Washington Three Percent claim that the proposed remote sessions are unconstitutional, a claim lawmakers deny. Now that the group has canceled its Legislative Lockout protest, organizers have said they intend to continue with other, more traditional protests that do not occupy the Legislative Building.

“We sincerely hope for peaceful actions but if that does not happen, we will be prepared,” Inslee said.