LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas National Guard is sending 500 soldiers and airmen to Washington to assist with security for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. The guard on Thursday said Gov. Asa Hutchinson approved the mission.
The deployment begins on January 17 and the guardsmen are set to return to Arkansas before the end of the month.
The Mississippi National Guard is also sending troops to Washington D. C. for the presidential inauguration. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves' press secretary, Bailey Martin, said the governor told the Mississippi National Guard to send troops if necessary "even before the riots at the Capitol last week."
The guard's mission will include assisting with traffic control, security and crowd management at the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, and other locations. A Mississippi National Guard press release says that troops will work to keep the event a "safe and secure environment" to allow for "a peaceful transition of authority."
The FBI has warned of armed rallies in Washington and at all 50 state capitols in the days leading up to Biden's inauguration.
The guardsmen are part of a broad contingent of National Guard soldiers from various states that will attend the ceremony.
President-elect Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated the 46th president of the United States on Jan. 20.
