Will Biden inauguration be worse than Capitol riots? Far-right extremists calling for more violence, say experts
It seems like pro-Trump protesters are working on plans for Joe Biden’s inauguration as several far-right extremists have sworn to return to the US Capitol on January 20. In the wake of the violence in Washington DC, experts have warned that the inauguration day could experience “worse violence” before it gets better.
The happenings at the nation’s Capitol led to leading social media sites imposing a ban on Donald Trump, claiming the president could incite more violence. Another social media platform Parler, a favorite among Trump supporters, started witnessing a significant number of posts by white supremacists, who have displayed an interest in storming Washington again.
Meanwhile, experts have warned against the consequences of such action on the inauguration day. CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, told CNN, "We are seeing ... chatter from these white supremacists, from these far-right extremists. They feel emboldened in this moment. We fully expect that this violence could actually get worse before it gets better.”
Even though the riots at the Capitol on January 6 led to the death of five, including one officer with the US Capitol Police, many unaffected by its consequences are determined to put up a challenge at Biden’s inauguration.
According to CNN, a commenter on the pro-Trump online forum thedonald.win said, "Trump WILL be sworn in for a second term on January 20th!!. We must not let the communists win. Even if we have to burn DC to the ground. Tomorrow we take back DC and take back our country!!”
Many have expressed concerns over the security at the inauguration, taking into consideration what happened at the Capitol only a few days ago. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab said, “While the broader public was aghast at what happened (Wednesday) at the Capitol, in certain corners of the sort of right-wing conversation, what happened ... is viewed as a success.”
However, the Secret Service, while commenting on the security measure for the presidential inauguration said, “The inauguration of the President of the United States is a foundational element of our democracy. The safety and security of all those participating in the 59th Presidential Inauguration is of the utmost importance."
The call for more violence from the pro-Trump protesters has caused more commotion within the government as even those who were arrested after the Wednesday have reportedly sworn to return. Among them is the self-proclaimed QAnon conspiracy theorist Jake Angeli, who said he would “like” to return to DC on inauguration day.
As Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have publicly blocked Trump, his supporters are seen discussing their plans for the inauguration day on Parler. According to NPR reports, one user on Parler wrote, "Many of Us will return on January 19, 2021, carrying Our weapons, in support of Our nation's resolve, towhich [sic] the world will never forget!!! We will come in numbers that no standing army or police agency can match."
Meanwhile, after imposing a ban on Trump, Twitter wrote on its official handle, “Plans for future armed protests have already begun proliferating on and off-Twitter, including a proposed secondary attack on the US Capitol and state capitol buildings on January 17, 2021.”
