COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Statehouse and other state buildings in downtown Columbus will be closed
through Inauguration Day as police officers, National Guard members and state troopers provide security
and authorities prepare for possible protests by supporters of President Donald Trump, Gov. Mike DeWine
said Thursday.
"The sad truth is that there are people in our country who want to turn peaceful protests into an
opportunity for violence," said DeWine, a Republican, at a news briefing. "These are violent
people, and their violence will not be tolerated in Ohio."
The governor was joined by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, a Democrat, and leaders of the state’s highway
patrol and National Guard forces to announce further restrictions after a violent mob loyal to Trump
stormed the U.S. Capitol last week, forcing congressional members to take cover and resulting in the
death of five people, including a Capitol Police officer.
DeWine had authorized National Guard members from Jan. 14 to Jan. 21 to conduct training and be prepared
in case called upon to police armed protests authorities say are planned at the U.S. Capitol and the
Ohio Statehouse leading up to the Inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.
More than 700 National Guard members in Ohio will be sent to Washington. Inauguration Day is Wednesday,
Jan. 20.
DeWine and state and local officials took it a step further Thursday, calling for the closure of the Ohio
Statehouse and all state buildings in downtown Columbus from Sunday to Thursday next week.
But the governor and other state and local officials did not disclose any details about the anticipated
size of the protests or how they have determined there will be any.
Many online platforms the groups used to share information have been banned in recent days, and it’s
unclear what might happen in coming days.
Regardless, Adj. Gen. John Harris, the head of the Ohio Guard, said the force is prepared to handle
whatever comes its way.
"We’re the fifth-largest National Guard in the country, so we have a significant set of capabilities
available to us and to the governor," Harris said during the briefing.
The Statehouse has seen several protests in the past year related to the coronavirus pandemic and
concerns over racism and police brutality.
In mid-April, protesters angered by the governor’s coronavirus shutdown orders converged on the
Statehouse, pounding on windows and leading the governor to shift a media center for pandemic questions
to a windowless area on the first floor.
In late May, people protesting the death of George Floyd smashed 28 Statehouse windows; damaged doors,
light poles and flags; and dumped several garbage cans. One person briefly entered an office through a
broken window but retreated before troopers within the building could catch him.
In June, the Statehouse was defaced with red handprints and the phrase "hands up, don’t shoot"
in protest of police brutality.
No change in Statehouse weapons policy will be made, unlike in Michigan, which banned the open carrying
of weapons in its capitol. Ohio already bans weapons in the Statehouse except for law enforcement
officers with proper permission.
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Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to
report on undercovered issues.