Nation on fire: What the Capitol riots mean for Florida state authorities
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In the aftermath of the recent, deadly Capitol Hill attack, state officials have prepared for civil unrest leading up to President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Thousands of Trump supporters protested President-Elect Biden’s certification outside of the Capitol building with some breaching the Senate building on Jan. 6. Five people, including Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, were killed and dozens more were injured in the Stop-The-Steal demonstrations.
Following the insurrection, the FBI issued an ominous warning that armed protests are planned in Washington D.C and across all 50 state capitols before and during Biden‘s inauguration on Jan. 20.
Florida, despite being won by President Trump in the 2020 General Election, was not safe from threatening murmurs emanating from various online sources. According to the Tampa Bay Times, an unidentified social media group circulated a call for the “storming” of government buildings if Trump is “ousted by lawmakers.”
While there have not been any specific calls to march on Tallahassee or in any other city in the state of Florida, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has planned to continue to monitor the national situation in collaboration with Capitol Police.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not know of any threats made to his office, he assured that they would have “reinforcements” available after activating the National Guard in preparation for any unrest.
“I don’t want to see that, but if anything is disorderly, we are going to act very quickly. Don’t worry about that. I don’t care why you’re doing it. You’re not doing it here,” said Governor DeSantis on Jan. 12.
Senate President Wilton Simpson warned senators in a memo to work from home and avoid traveling to the Florida Capitol Complex out of an “abundance of caution.”
Even though the 2021 legislative session has not commenced yet, Florida Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Damien Kelly oversaw improvements to the physical security of the Senate Chambers in response to the potential threats of violence.
In addition to the tension caused by the possibility of marches or unruly demonstrations, there have also been a reverberation of consequences for Florida residents who participated in the Capitol Hill riot.
Adam Christian Johnson, a 36-year-old native of Parrish, gained internet infamy and notoriety as the man pictured carrying a lectern through the halls of the Capitol with a wide grin splashed across his face. All told, more than 80 Florida residents have been arrested in connection with the riot.
Randy Ross, the Orange County Trump Campaign chairperson in 2016, urged supporters to avoid any demonstrations in Tallahassee on Inauguration Day.
“My request and advice to our great Trump volunteers and supporters is to stay home with your families. Nothing good is going to come by charging on the steps of government buildings. Standing down, right now, is the best recommendation for our Trump-supporting patriots,” said Ross.
