State and local authorities Friday continued preparations for an expected demonstration at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on Sunday to protest the upcoming inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther called on people to avoid the area and not to be drawn into a confrontation with members of militia groups expected to show up, with some of them carrying weapons as they have at previous events.
Dayton native, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D- Columbus, said she is hoping security forces can prevent a repeat of what she experienced last week in the Capitol Hill riot. “We could hear breaking glass, a gun shot and we felt we were helpless,” Beatty said.
Security at the Statehouse has increased dramatically over the last few days since Gov. Mike DeWine began calling in extra Ohio Highway Patrol troopers and members of the Ohio National Guard.
The Commander of the Guard warned this week that people who plan on a violent attack often blend in with peaceful demonstrators and then when they think the timing is right, they launch their destructive plan.
The whole time the main group was unaware that the people bent on destruction were among them.
“Sometimes those groups are infiltrated by people with bad intent that can be dangerous for the Guard and for people in those groups that come here to demonstrate peacefully”, Harris said.
Miami Valley Congressman Warren Davidson, R- Troy, also urged people to stay away from rallies this weekend, fearing they may turn violent. Demonstrations of varying sizes are expected at Statehouses around the nation and at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
“The country agrees there’s a clear distinction between protesting and rioting. Things could get out of hand and at the Capitol we will have the force present to make sure no one takes control of our nation’s Capitol again,” Davidson said.