People with guns, bats and bullhorns gathered at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus Sunday as part of a nationwide armed march planned at statehouses across the country. Ohio was the only one in the Tri-State to see people gather in an effort the FBI had warned was being organized by far-right extremist groups.
According to tweets from reporters stationed at the Statehouses of Ohio's Tri-State neighbors of Kentucky and Indiana, scenes there were quiet, with no rally-goers, only police.
Lots Of Police And Media, But No Demonstration Yet At Kentucky Capitol https://t.co/vIWod4OF5j
— 89.3 WFPL News (@WFPLNews) January 17, 2021
Saying "violence will not be tolerated in Ohio," Gov. Mike DeWine earlier in the week called in the highway patrol and the Ohio National Guard to back up Columbus police. He also ordered the closure of Ohio's Statehouse and all state office buildings starting Sunday through Joe Biden's Inauguration Day on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
As such, nearby businesses took preparations as well, boarding up storefronts.
Some in attendance on Sunday identified themselves as "Ohio Boogaloo Bois," which according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, is often "presented as a race-blind call for armed insurrection against government tyranny."
Boogaloo Bois starting at the #OhioStatehouse Asking for a peaceful demonstration @917wvxu pic.twitter.com/eQWxQqn8fy
— Jason Whitman (@Jason_Whitman) January 17, 2021
They set off for the Statehouse shortly before noon Sunday.
A few claiming to support President Donald Trump did show up, with one carrying a sign that read, "Impeach Gonzalez," a reference to Northeast Ohio GOP Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, who on Jan. 14 broke with his party and voted to impeach Trump for inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Reports indicate there were around 100 people in attendance of the rally, including a very small number of counter-protesters.
Roughly two hours after the first group approached the Statehouse, the crowd started to thin out. No violence had taken place.
