National Guard activated ahead of pro-Trump march in Washington DC

Mayor calls in troops and cites two previous pro-Trump marches for causing ‘violence and criminal activity’

Washington DC has activated the US National Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests in the capital this week.

According to reports on Monday, troops were activated in the United States’ capital two days prior to the protest, which is due to take place on Wednesday. The decision was made by mayor Muriel Bowser. 

Congress, on the same day as the pro-Trump march, will vote to confirm Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential race, and Mr Trump as the loser in the process. 

The US president, who has continued to deny his election defeat to Mr Biden despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, said last week that the protest would be “BIG”. 

It is due to take place in the President’s Park, outside the White House. 

Thousands are expected to descend on Washington DC for the event, which has been advertised by the Trump campaign as “the March to Save America Rally".

In a letter the District of Columbia’s Commanding General for the National Guard (DCNG), William J Walker, Ms Bowser cited two previous pro-Trump marches in Washington DC that turned into clashes between protesters and police. 

“As a result, District Government request DC National Guard (DCNG) to support, as these demonstrations will follow similar events on 14 November, 2020, and December 12, 2020, which resulted in a large influx of participants, violence and criminal activity,” she wrote. 

It comes after two months of false allegations of election fraud pushed by the president and his allies in the Republican party, some of whom have also refused to acknowledge Mr Biden as president-elect, while citing baseless claims of election fraud. 

At least 12 Republican senators have announced that they will vote against Mr Biden’s confirmation on Wednesday, when the march takes place, although the last-minute challenge is unlikely to stop the proceedings, which will be overseen by vice president Mike Pence.

Washington DC’s police department had already announced on Thursday that there would be street closures across the city on both Tuesday and Wednesday, as a matter of public safety. There are permits for demonstrations on both days.

Ms Bowser asked that National Guard members do not carry weapons on patrol on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Members of the National Guard are also due to patrol Washington DC during the inauguration of Mr Biden on 20 January, when thousands will police the capital.