Inslee activating National Guard to provide security at state capitol

OLYMPIA, Wash.-- After unrest in the wake of Wednesday's deadly protests at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced Friday that he is implementing increase protections for legislators, employees, and the building at the Capitol Campus in Olympia.

The 2021 session of the state's Legislature convenes on Monday, January 11, 2021.

“As legislators begin their work on behalf of the people of the state of Washington, we must do whatever we can to ensure that they can do that work without fear, intimidation or harassment. The actions we saw in both Washington, D.C. and Olympia earlier this week were completely unacceptable and will not be repeated in our state capital again," Inslee said in a statement Friday.

Those actions Inslee refers to include protests that took place Wednesday both at the Capitol Campus in Olympia and at the Governor's mansion.

The plans calls for a designated area for demonstrators "to exercise their First Amendment rights on the Capitol Campus". 

There will also be areas where access is restricted and accessible only to legislators and staff. Capitol Security will be on hand, along with up to 750 members of the Washington State National Guard, in coordination with the Washington State Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies.

The 2021 Legislative Session is scheduled to end on April 25, 2021.