United States.- A handful of armed protesters affiliated with right-wing militias began gathering outside the Michigan State House in Lansing Sunday, according to reports.
About 20 protesters, including members of the anti-government boogaloo movement, began gathering outside the state capitol shortly after noon, and the crowd was expected to grow, the Detroit Free Press reported.
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The rally planned to protest the defeat of President Donald Trump’s re-election comes amid a sharp rise in security in Lansing following the January 6 harassment at the U.S. Capitol.
The FBI has warned of possible attacks on 50 state capitals when former Vice President Joe Biden takes office on Wednesday.
A member of the Boogaloo Bois, an anti-government group, speaks to members of the press in front of the Capitol building. AFP
Michigan capital police said it is ready to handle crowds of up to 5,000 protesters, the Free Press said.
We want to make this a safe environment for people to come here to express their constitutional rights, Michigan State Police Lieutenant Brian Oleksyk told the newspaper.
“But we are prepared to protect this building as well as the people who are here,” Oleksyk said.
Armed protesters protest in front of the Michigan State Capitol building. AFP
We will not tolerate any kind of violence, any kind of destruction of property, any assault on police (or) other people here expressing their constitutional rights, as well as the media.
Authorities said a local militia group called Southeast Michigan Militia had announced its intentions to protest Sunday, but then withdrew, the newspaper said.