Gov. Cooper Mobilizes 550 NC National Guard Ahead Of Protests

NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper mobilized 550 members of the state's National Guard Wednesday to deploy to Washington, D.C. and Raleigh ahead of President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration next week.

The deployment is expected to last up to eight days and comes amid threats of large-scale armed protests in Washington, as well as all 50 state capitals.

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Of those deployed, 350 will remain in North Carolina to support local authorities and to "protect the well-being of residents, property, and the right to peacefully assemble and protest," the governor's office said. The remaining 200 guardsmen will assist civil authorities and local law enforcement in Washington during the Jan. 20 Presidential Inauguration.

“Ongoing security concerns in Washington, DC and state capitals around the nation following last week’s attack on the US Capitol must be taken seriously, and I will deploy necessary resources to keep North Carolinians safe," Cooper said. "I have spoken with state and federal authorities and thank the men and women of the North Carolina National Guard for their continued service to our state and nation.”

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