COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday the Statehouse will be closed for four days around the inauguration and said the National Guard will be out in “force” in Columbus for any potential unrest.
DeWine signed a proclamation Thursday authorizing the Ohio National Guard to patrol the Statehouse. He said the state has intel that he cannot discuss indicating there is a risk of violence at the Statehouse.
“The Ohio National Guard will be out in force in Columbus,” DeWine announced. “The Guard will be there to back up local law enforcement and back up the Ohio State Highway Patrol.”
The governor said the state will not stop people from protesting, but violence will not be tolerated. The governor did not say how many Guard members will be in Columbus, but he has authorized as many Guard members as needed.
“Our First Amendment rights are sacred. We must always and will always respect rights and peaceful protesters. However, I think all Americans were horrified by what we saw just a few days ago, in our nation's capital.” DeWine said.
DeWine also announced Thursday morning he has activated an additional 500 National Guard members who will be patrolling the area around the U.S. Capitol. Earlier in the week, the governor said 200 people were headed to D.C., but since then the federal government has requested more back up.
The Statehouse will be closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and the governor announced he is closing all state office buildings in downtown Columbus for those days.
“The sad truth is there are people in our country who want to turn peaceful protests into opportunities for violence,” DeWine said. “These are violent people and their violence will not be tolerated in Ohio. Just as we respect and will protect peaceful protesters, we will also just as vigorously resist the violence.”
The governor said law enforcement and the Guard are prepared to respond to unrest in other Ohio cities if that is needed.