Police brace for pro-Trump demonstrations when Congress meets Jan. 6 to formalize Bidens win

A city accustomed to mass protests is gearing up for especially intense ones over what should be the most mundane of political events: the counting of Electoral College votes during a special joint session of Congress.

At the urging of President Donald Trump, however, die-hard supporters are planning to descend on the nation's capital Jan. 6, to pressure Republican lawmakers into aligning themselves with the doomed effort to overturn Joe Biden's electoral victory.

Knife fights, shouting matches, and verbal harassment of Trump opponents accompanied previous demonstrations following Biden's election win in November. Now federal and local law enforcement are bracing for what may be the most intense Trump protest yet as Congress is poised to formally declare Biden president-elect.

Various Trump groups are promoting the demonstrations online. One called "#StopTheSteal" operates the website "WildProtest.com," which proclaims that "PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS YOU IN DC JANUARY 6."

"Be there, will be wild," says one flier.

The event has been co-signed by incoming members of Congress Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

The National Park Service has received three different permit applications for protests to be scheduled around the electoral vote count.

Women for America First, a conservative women's group which helped organize November's "Million MAGA March," requested a permit for a protest of about 5,000 in Freedom Plaza.

A group called the Eighty Percent Coalition also requested a permit for 10,000 protestors in the same area. The group, whose name is a reference to the approximately 80% of Trump voters who do not believe Biden won the election fairly, have titled their event the "Rally to Save America."

Another smaller protest titled "The Silent Majority" is organized by the South Carolina conservative activist James Epley. It will lead several hundred protestors in a march from the National Mall to the Capitol.

The United States Park Police confirmed that the permits had all been approved but not yet issued. It did not comment on specific security measures it will take to keep the peace.

"The Park Police is committed to working with its partners to protect the public and National Park Service resources by ensuring that safety protocols are in place for permitted events and other First Amendment activities," the agency said in a statement.

On the social media app Parler and far-right message boards, members of the group "Proud Boys" have discussed organizing in Washington D.C. and a leader of the group, Enrique Tarrio, suggested they will be incognito.

"The Proud Boys will turn out in record numbers on Jan 6th but this time with a twist," Tarrio said on Parler.

"We will not be wearing our traditional Black and Yellow. We will be incognito and we will spread across downtown DC in smaller teams," he wrote.

Tarrio also posited that the group may dress in all-black gear at night, a style similar to the black bloc clothing tactic used by Antifa groups who often combat the Proud Boys.

Other groups are planning to demonstrate at the Capitol itself as the House and Senate count Electoral College votes.

At least 140 sitting and incoming members of the House of Representatives will also challenge Congress' official count of the Electoral College vote.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., then said Wednesday he'll contest the election results, ensuring that Congress will be forced to debate the issue when lawmakers convene for the joint session.

It could all add up to a political circus on Jan. 6, from the House and Senate chambers to the streets of Washington, D.C.

More:Sen. Hawley will object to Electoral College results, ensuring a doomed fight to overturn Biden's win

More:Live politics updates: Trump to return to DC early, GOP senator says he's 'playing with fire' in contesting election

While local and federal law enforcement agencies did not detail their security strategies, they said they will be prepared as they have been for previous protests.

"While we do not discuss the means, methods, or specific resources used to carry out our protective responsibilities, the United States Capitol Police has comprehensive security plans in place and we continuously monitor and assess new and emerging threats, with the overall goal of keeping those within the Capitol Complex safe and secure," the US Capitol Police said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Supporters of President Donald Trump attend a rally at Freedom Plaza, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Washington.

Many restaurants and office buildings in downtown Washington, D.C., are already boarded up, just as they were for demonstrations in the summer regarding racial justice and, more recently, the presidential election.

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