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Washington, DC: Extreme security situation ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration

2021-01-20T11:05:43.238Z


Extreme security situation before Joe Biden's inauguration: calls for violence are circulating on the Internet, right-wing extremist gun enthusiasts show their strength in a march. Impressions from Virginia and Washington.


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Richmond, Virginia: Groups of heavily armed men pose here just two weeks after the Capitol stormed.

A parade that takes place every year in January - on so-called "Lobby Day", gun owners traditionally call for demos in Virginia.

But after the attack in Washington, DC, such martial images naturally attract a lot of attention. 

That's why Ford Fischer came here.

The journalist has been observing the left and right-wing extremist scene for years.  

Ford Fischer, journalist


"I accompany many such events, make live streams - oh, by the way: Hi everyone who is watching, thank you for being there - and I think I know every one of these men in this series." 

The men are members of the so-called »Boogaloo Bois«, a gun-fanatical militia which, by their own admission, is preparing for a second civil war and despises any state order.

Most of them are not Trump supporters.  

Unlike this right-wing radical group.  

Ford Fischer, journalist


»The so-called» Proud Boys «stand behind you.

I assume they are for Trump.

But they are not armed.

Exactly, they don't carry weapons.

Let's see what they're doing. "

Ford Fischer filmed the "Proud Boys" several times.

Among other things, on January 6th, when he documented how a mob stormed the Capitol.  

Ford Fischer, Journalist 


“I didn't go into the Capitol, I stayed outside and filmed how people fought the police and how the police were able to push people back in the end.

It was definitely one of the most violent situations I've ever seen. "

JJ Green, journalist and expert on internal security and terrorism


»I've seen something like this often abroad, in Baghdad, Kandahar in Afghanistan and Kabul and many other places in the Middle East.

I've seen fear and panic in people's eyes.

But this absolute fear that I felt here in Washington, I have never seen anything like it in this country.

« 

JJ Green works as a radio reporter in Washington, DC, and specializes in terrorism and homeland security.

The Capitol storm came as no surprise to him.

Rather the result of a continuous radicalization of the right-wing extremist scene.   

JJ Green, Journalist 


“For the past four years we landed here from the Charlottesville march.

In Charlottesville there were a little less people who caused problems and trouble.

But there were a thousand here in the Capitol - many with ropes, sledgehammers, some with weapons.

The people were prepared for battle.

It was shocking, but not a surprise either.

When I thought about our history, I realized: This is how this hatred developed. "

Fear of further assault is now deep, just hours before Joe Biden's inauguration.

The whole of Washington is like a fortress, with 25,000 soldiers guarding the city.  


Drastic security precautions, which are also necessary because President Trump did not want to distance himself from militant groups, says JJ Green. 

JJ Green, Journalist 


“President Trump has allowed these people to get into the public eye in a number of ways, and they have seized that opportunity.

Now, after the change of office, they will probably back down and act more invisibly again, as they used to.

Back in Richmond, Virginia, the militia are still seeking the attention of the assembled press here.

The danger posed by such radicalized people will not be averted under Joe Biden either.  

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-01-20

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