SPRINGFIELD — In a sobering sign of the times, plywood went up over windows of the Illinois State Capitol on Friday, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker activated another 250 members of the Illinois National Guard.
Unlike the earlier Guard members that the governor activated for duty in Washington, D.C., the latest contingent will be charged with keeping the peace here in the central Illinois city where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous “House Divided” speech.
It all stems from an FBI intelligence briefing warning of armed protests planned in all 50 state capitals in a nation divided in the week leading up to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“Following the violent siege at our nation’s Capitol and reports from federal law enforcement on threats to state capitals, I am bringing all resources to bear to protect our residents and our democratic process,” Pritzker said, referring to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
No one knows for sure what — if anything — will happen in Springfield.
Local media outlets have reported a protest rally is scheduled at the state Capitol at noon Saturday.
But state officials have not been notified.
“No permit was requested or issued,” said Henry Haupt, a spokesman for Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.
And Illinois supporters of President Donald Trump are giving mixed signals.
One Facebook page that promoted an earlier “Save Our State” rally on Jan. 6 had conflicting posts. One touted a “Save Our State Protest” scheduled for Wednesday — the day of Biden’s inauguration — at the Illinois State Capitol. But another post warned demonstrators to stay away from any protests in state capitals or Washington, D.C., from Saturday through Wednesday.
That post said “no conservative groups” were hosting rallies, calling the warnings “false flags created by the paid actors of those trying to destroy us. DO NOT ATTEND THEM! THIS IS A SET UP!”
At a news conference Friday, Pritzker conceded he was not sure what, if anything was planned for Illinois, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
“We do not have a specific threat to Illinois, but as you all know we have a general threat that, you know, there are flyers that have been put around the Internet to have armed protestors show up at all 50 state capitals,” the governor told reporters. “So, we’re going to be prepared.”
Those preparations on Friday included work crews putting plywood over the windows of the ornate “new” state Capitol, built between 1868 and 1887 to replace the Old State Capitol a few blocks away where Lincoln gave his famous speech.
The surreal sight prompted some double takes.
“I was surprised to see that myself,” said state Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie, who was in Springfield on Friday and saw the crews at work.
McConchie said he was briefed on the law enforcement plans to protect the Capitol.
“You know, they’ve briefed us on it, and I have every confidence that they’re going to do, you know, a fantastic job in helping to take care of that,” he said.
Based on that briefing, McConchie said that the Capitol complex — which includes the Capitol, the Stratton building and other structures — would be “closing down” from Saturday through Wednesday.
The Republican leader told his staff to stay away from the Capitol Complex all next week “in “anticipation of any potential problems.”
Pritzker said that the “Illinois National Guard will be working closely with our State Police as well as local and federal authorities to keep our capital city safe.
“We will continue to be fully transparent with the public on any new information and the steps we are taking to respond,” the Democratic governor said.
The Illinois National Guard will not interfere with peaceful protestors and will only help local authorities to “enforce street closures and designated perimeters”, Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, said in a news release issued by the governor’s office.
Other agencies also involved in protecting the Capitol will include the Secretary of State Police, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and local law enforcement.
Springfield Police Chief Kenny Winslow said his officers were “aware of potential activities, and we’ll be prepared for anything that might arise.”
In addition to the Illinois deployment, Pritzker said he is activating another 100 Illinois National Guard members to send to Washington for Biden’s inauguration, at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense. That comes on top of 200 National Guard members Pritzker already sent to the nation’s capital.