Police prep for inauguration day violence

Protests on Sunday in Lansing were largely small and quiet, but police agencies are still on high alert following the armed insurrection of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 and threats of violence posted online.

Several dozen people affiliated with various far-right groups gathered outside the state capitol in Lansing around noon Sunday to protest what they call a “stolen” election. Some were armed. Others carried flags and signs. Most left within an hour.

Nonetheless, the Michigan State Police are prepping for the possibility of violence ahead of President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.

In Kalamazoo, police are also at the ready. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety told WWMT it wasn’t aware of any threats of violence, but are prepared should a situation arise.

KDPS is in an especially precarious position after it allowed a right-wing rally to turn violent in Kalamazoo last summer. City officials say they have learned a lot since that event.

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