Home WebMail Saturday, November 2, 2024, 08:26 AM | Calgary | -3.9°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Posted: 2021-01-12T00:04:39Z | Updated: 2021-01-12T13:53:05Z

As the nation grapples with the aftermath of a violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol, a new threat is emerging: the possibility of similarly volatile and even violent demonstrations at state capitols and government buildings nationwide.

Even before Wednesdays riot in the nations capital, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned state officials that they should prepare for potentially violent right-wing protests in state capitals across the country, Yahoo News reported Monday . A Dec. 29 FBI document obtained by Yahoo News specifically cited protests planned in Michigan, Minnesota and other states by the Boogaloos, an extremist right-wing movement, on Jan. 17.

ABC News also reported that armed protests have been planned in all 50 state capitals and in Washington before the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden (D). ABCs report cited an internal FBI document that linked the planned demonstrations to the conspiracy theory-based anger over Trumps loss in Novembers elections and Congress refusal to overturn the results that drove Wednesdays riots in Washington.

This has heightened worries among lawmakers, law enforcement officials and public security experts about the increasing threat of violent insurrections at the state level, where many public buildings may be even more vulnerable to attack. Authorities in states and localities across the country have said they are aware of the FBIs warnings and continuing to monitor potential threats, Law & Crime reported .

Theres significant concern, Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D) told HuffPost on Monday. You see what occurred in Washington, you see eight different states where their capitals had [protests] on Wednesday, you see the pictures of the noose outside the U.S. Capitol. You start putting the pieces together, and you think, This all was dangerous, and this all remains dangerous.