Biden inauguration: Fortified US statehouses see scattered protests

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image caption A heavy presence of police officers and troops stood watch outside statehouses across the US on Sunday

Small groups of protesters - some of them armed - have gathered at statehouses in the US, where tensions are high after the deadly riots at the Capitol in Washington.

Protests are being held outside capitol buildings in Texas, Oregon, Michigan, Ohio and elsewhere.

But many other statehouses were quiet on Sunday, amid a ramping up of security across US legislatures.

The FBI has warned of armed protests ahead of Wednesday's inauguration.

President-elect Joe Biden will take office two weeks after pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol in Washington DC on 6 January, leaving five dead, including a police officer.

Many cities prepared for potentially violent protests over the weekend, erecting barriers and deploying thousands of National Guard troops.

Posts on pro-Trump and far-right online networks had called for armed demonstrations on Sunday in particular, but some militias told their followers not to attend, citing heavy security or claiming the planned events were police traps.

So far, only small crowds of protesters numbering in the dozens have gathered in some cities, leaving the streets surrounding many statehouses largely empty.

image copyright Reuters
image caption Members of the the Boogaloo Bois were seen outside the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing

The New York Times reported about 25 members of the Boogaloo Bois movement were among heavily-armed protesters who gathered at the statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. But the men - who are part of a loosely organised extremist group that wants to overthrow the US government - said they were there for a long-planned gun rights rally.

Meanwhile in Michigan, about two dozen people - some carrying rifles - protested outside the statehouse in Lansing, as police watched on.

"I am not here to be violent and I hope no one shows up to be violent," one protester told Reuters news agency.

A similarly small group of about a dozen protesters, a few armed with rifles, stood outside the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Outside Pennsylvania's capitol in Harrisburg, one Trump supporter noted the poor turn-out, telling Reuters: "There's nothing going on."

More protests are expected on Wednesday, when Mr Biden will officially be sworn into office, replacing Mr Trump as president.

Mr Biden will issue executive orders to reverse President Trump's travel bans and re-join the Paris climate accord on his first day in the White House.

The president-elect is also expected to focus on reuniting families separated at the US-Mexico border, and to issue mandates on Covid-19 and mask-wearing.

media caption The US Capitol is on high alert ahead of Biden's inauguration

Much of Washington DC has been locked down ahead of the inauguration, which will be protected by a huge deployment of National Guard troops.

The National Mall, which is usually thronged with thousands of people for inaugurations, has been shut at the request of the Secret Service.

The Biden team had already asked Americans to avoid travelling to the nation's capital for the inauguration because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Local officials said people should watch the event remotely.

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