Washington: Security heading for Biden's inauguration 4:34
(CNN) -
Demonstrations in US state capitals fell silent this weekend after warnings of armed protests.
But some officials have indicated they will remain vigilant in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.
"We are worried about the whole week, not just today," Lansing, Michigan Police Chief Daryl Green said Sunday after a crowd of protesters and counter-protesters gathered on the grounds of the state Capitol.
Few, if any, protesters were seen in other state capitals, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
The crowds that were present were just a fraction of the pro-Trump crowds that converged on Washington earlier this month, when a protest turned into a deadly riot on the US Capitol.
Many of Sunday's demonstrations were overshadowed by ranks of police who stood guard to prevent a repeat of the disturbances on Capitol Hill.
“We wanted to make sure that what happened in Washington didn't happen here in Michigan,” Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw told CNN, “so we put a lot more security outside, a lot more visible security than usual. it would be there.
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Protesters stand with their long guns Sunday near the Capitol in Lansing, Michigan.
Still, state and local leaders, as well as those in Washington, are on high alert, and security measures remain in effect until the day of inauguration, particularly in the United States capital.
Over the weekend, the streets of Washington were further fortified, surrounded by fences and members of the National Guard.
As of Sunday night, 17,000 personnel were deployed, according to National Guard spokesman Major Aaron Thacker.
Many of the capital's monuments and buildings are inaccessible, including the Washington Esplanade, which will remain closed at least until Thursday.
The iconic lawn that stretches from the Capitol to the White House, typically an observation area for presidential inaugurations, was deserted Sunday, something that National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst told CNN was " unprecedented, almost surreal. '
Members of the National Guard stand guard Sunday on a Washington street.
"But it is being done," he said, "to ensure that the constitutional mandate of a peaceful handover of power on January 20."
Protests the weekend before Biden's inauguration were quiet
Security authorities braced for possible riots this weekend after an internal FBI bulletin warned that such demonstrations were being planned in all 50 state capitals through at least Wednesday.
But the protests were largely small, with protesters, some of whom were armed, vastly outnumbered by police.
A light snow fell Sunday morning in Lansing, Michigan, but an estimated 75 protesters and 40 counter-protesters appeared in the state House of Representatives.
Some carried firearms and bulletproof vests, but protests remained peaceful, authorities said.
In Texas, about two dozen armed protesters gathered near the state Capitol in Austin, but they rallied in support of Second Amendment rights, the organizer said, not in protest of the presidential election results.
In Denver, protester Larry Woodall said he was disappointed by the low turnout for Sunday's protest.
While accepting that Biden will take office, Woodall said he wanted to show his support for Trump and suggested that he would vote for Trump in 2024 if he ran for president again.
Donald Trump is not a bad guy.
It really isn't, ”Woodall told CNN, adding that he opposed the violence that was seen this month on the US Capitol.
About a dozen people, including some who had anti-Trump posters, were at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul, which was surrounded by tall, heavy fences.
There were five gunmen dressed in camouflage and holding flags at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
They said they were anti-government libertarians who supported neither Trump nor Biden.
An agent speaks to a small group of pro-gun and anti-government protesters Sunday outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin.
At the Ohio State Congress in Columbus, a small group of protesters gathered next to a statue of William McKinley amid a large police presence and metal barriers, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.
About 40 protesters gathered in the House of Representatives in Columbia, South Carolina, for a free speech rally after social media companies suspended Trump's accounts, according to CNN affiliate WIS.
The event organizer, Shawn Laurie, told WIS that he did not tolerate the riots in the United States Capitol, but felt he was being restricted on social media, making it difficult for others to understand who he really is.
An armed protester stands in front of state police in front of the Ohio House of Representatives in Columbus Sunday.
"I am a patriot, I am a veteran, I am not a racist, I am not hateful, I am not violent," he told the station.
"I'm an American and that's it."
Washington is "like a combat zone" to protect the inauguration
The Pentagon authorized up to 25,000 National Guard soldiers for inauguration day, an unusually large number, according to retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, a CNN military analyst.
"The National Guard, or the ancestors of the National Guard, the early days of the militia, have been a part of every inauguration since George Washington," he said, "but certainly not at this level and certainly not with this kind of noise. background".
The 25,000 military deployment is roughly twice the number of National Guard members normally involved in the inauguration, Hertling said.
"It's certainly something like a combat zone," he said.
Rehearsal for the inauguration ceremony was delayed until Monday amid heightened security concerns, Acting Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli said, citing "online chats" about the rehearsal day previously scheduled for Sunday.
But he said "there are no specific credible threats."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expanded restrictions on Washington airspace, issuing an advisory to pilots restricting non-commercial and non-military flights to Dulles International Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport, and Manassas Regional Airport between 8 a.m. am and 8 pm on Inauguration Day.
The bulletin warned that the government "may use deadly force" against any aircraft determined to pose an "imminent security threat."
"I encourage you to stay home"
U.S. state leaders stepped up security around their capitol grounds in recent days, calling for support from National Guard members, erecting barriers, blocking windows, asking residents to avoid the areas, and some even shutting down the their legislative headquarters completely.
"It's pretty clear that the (US) Capitol itself is closed as strictly as possible," former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said Sunday, adding that it was hard to imagine a repeat of the Capitol riots. that took place there several days ago, given the security measures in force.
"But," he added, "we have 50 state capitals across the country that are not as protected as our national Capitol, and those are the places where I fear small pockets of this type of violence could really erupt."
Washington extreme security for inauguration 4:44
Minnesota officials told CNN they would "continue to assess potential threats" to their state Capitol, although Bruce Gordon, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said there were no current credible threats.
Protests there were quiet on Sunday, but Gordon said officials would "improve" their response and "change tactics, as necessary" in the coming days.
Texas will keep its state Capitol and grounds closed until Wednesday, officials said, adding that they were aware of "violent extremists who may attempt to exploit constitutionally protected events to carry out criminal acts."
Officials in Columbia, South Carolina, have also advised residents to stay home and stay out of downtown.
"Unless there is a need, this weekend and certainly on inauguration day, it is not better to be downtown," said Mayor Stephen Benjamin, "I encourage you to stay home."
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in connection with Biden's inauguration on Friday, allowing state officials to efficiently coordinate resources to assist local jurisdictions and nearby states.
"The state of Maryland will continue to do everything possible to secure our nation's capital," Hogan said, "and to ensure the peaceful transition of power."
- Priscilla Alvarez, Jamie Crawford, Lauren Fox, Omar Jimenez, Lucy Kafanov, Bill Kirkos, Jason Kravarik, Eric Levenson, Ross Levitt, Christina Maxouris, Artemis Moshtaghian, Jon Passantino, Conor Powell, Manu Raju, Raja Razek, Rebekah Riess, Hollie CNN's Silverman, Dan Simon, Greg Wallace and Whitney Wild contributed to this report.
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