DC National Guard members will respond when this week supporters of President Donald Trump protest the 2020 election results in downtown DC.
The DC National Guard will assist the Metropolitan Police Department with crowd management and traffic control, Robert Contee, acting chief of MPD, said at a news conference Monday morning. The department expects a larger crowd than at two pro-Trump events in DC last year.
“Part of our intelligence certainly suggests that it will increase the size of the people,” Contee said, adding, “There are people intending to come to our armed city.”
A U.S. defense official said members of the DC National Guard will not be armed or wearing body armor. Congress is meeting this week to certify the results of the Electoral College and Trump has refused to concede himself while supporting the protests.
Anyone carrying a weapon at a protest or less than 1,000 yards from a protest will be arrested, according to DC law, the acting police chief said. Police have posted posters this weekend in Freedom Plaza, where protests are expected, warning about the law.
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Law enforcement will work to maintain order in the demonstrations, Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
“We will not allow people to incite violence, intimidate our residents or cause destruction in our city,” he said.
Officials will assess whether a curfew will be needed, Bowser said.
Police will increase their presence around churches after protesters previously destroyed Black Lives Matter posters outside.
In a message on Sunday, the mayor asked people to stay away from the demonstrations and the city center.
“I ask Washingtonians and those living in the region to stay out of the city center on Tuesday and Wednesday and not commit to protesters coming to our city looking for confrontation, and we will do what is necessary for everyone attendees remain peaceful, “Bowser said in a statement.
Federal law prohibits the carrying of weapons on U.S. Capitol grounds and in service areas in the national park, such as Freedom Plaza, the Ellipse and the National Mall, Bowser’s office said Sunday. It is illegal to open firearms in DC, and DC has no reciprocity with hidden gun licenses from other states.
“Unless a person has been granted a concealed gun license by the District of Columbia, he cannot hide carrying a firearm in the city,” the mayor said.
The president said on Sunday on Twitter that he plans to attend the rally. Contee said Monday he had no additional information.
Black Lives Matter organizers called on the mayor and police chief to protect churches and enforce regulations related to masks and social distancing.
Many downtown streets will remain closed to parking on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There will also be street closures.
Because DC has no governor, the designated commander of the city’s National Guard is Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. All DC requests for Guard deployments must be approved by him.
The defense official said there will be no active-duty military troops in the city and that the U.S. military will not provide any aircraft or intelligence information. The DC Guard will provide specialized equipment that will be prepared to respond to any chemical or biological incident. But the official said there will be no members of the DC Guard at the National Mall or the U.S. Capitol.
Stay tuned to NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.