Virginia Governor Declares Emergency Ahead of Militia Protests

(Bloomberg) -- Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam declared a temporary state of emergency ahead of expected demonstrations in Richmond on Monday and prohibited all weapons from the state’s capitol grounds until Jan. 21.

Citing intelligence analysts, the governor’s office said in a statement on Wednesday that out-of-state militia groups were planning to attend the event that has been surrounded by credible threats of violence and white nationalist rhetoric.

“We support citizens’ rights to peacefully protest and express their views to their elected officials,” Northam said in a tweet. “But we must also keep the public, as well as those who work around Capitol Square, safe.”

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