Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said Friday that he is activating the National Guard in Ohio to help deal with potential protests ahead of the inauguration.
DeWine also said that the Ohio State Highway Patrol will be “out in force” in the state’s capital of Columbus.
“The Ohio National Guard will be out in force in Columbus,” DeWine said during a news conference. “A guard will be there to back up local law enforcement and to back up the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Both will have a significant presence in Columbus.” (RELATED: GOP Reps Deliver Pizza To National Guard Troops Tasked With Protecting The Capitol)
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine activates the National Guard ahead of potential protests in Ohio pic.twitter.com/ZnEKAp8NYG
— The Hill (@thehill) January 15, 2021
The National Guard and the Highway Patrol will also be available to assist in other areas of the state “where trouble may arise,” the governor added.
“We have a strong relationship with our mayors, as we demonstrated, I think, this past summer,” DeWine continued. “And when the patrol or the National Guard is needed to back up local police, they will be there and we will respond quickly.”
The governor signed a proclamation that officially mobilized the Guard and authorized them to be deployed to any place in the state as needed.
The National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C. following the riot that took place Jan. 6 at the Capitol Building. A mob of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building in protest of the certification of the Electoral College votes, which was set to take place that same day. Lawmakers were forced to evacuate and continued the vote later that day.
At least 10,000 National Guard troops are set to be deployed to Washington D.C. in preparation for president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration Jan. 20.