WASHINGTON: State authorities have beefed up security this weekend ahead of Democrat Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony on January 20 and out of concern over potential armed protests on Sunday.
Authorities are hoping to avoid a repeat of the deadly Capitol Hill violence by President Donald Trump’s supporters on January 6.
With the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) warning of potential violence at all state capitols, governors across the country have declared a state of emergency and closed capitols to the public.
Far-right online forums have called for “an armed march on all state capitols” on Sunday, US media reported.
President Trump continues to level unfounded allegations of election fraud and said he would not participate in Biden’s inauguration. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives impeached the outgoing president for the Capitol Hill “insurrection” that killed five people, including a police officer.
