On Thursday, the Mississippi National Guard announced that they will be sending service members to Washington D.C. as additional security for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The announcement comes in the wake of the United States Capitol being attacked by pro-Trump supporters last Wednesday, January 6. The riots, which came shortly after an invoking speech from President Donald Trump, resulted in the deaths of five people.
In a press release, MSNG officials stated that their mission is to provide military and strategic support to law enforcement in order to implement a safe and secure environment during the inauguration on January 20.
“The MSNG remains vigilant and ready to respond in support of our local, state, and national communities,” Lt. Col. Deidre D. Smith said. “Our troops are trained to protect life, preserve prosperity, and ensure the integrity of a peaceful transition during the 59th Presidential Inauguration.”
This comes after the state’s top Democrats in Senate Minority Leader Derrick T. Simmons and House Minority Leader Robert Johnson recently called on Governor Tate Reeves to deploy Mississippi guardsmen to D.C.
