As she prepared to board a military aircraft bound for Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Airman Bridget Wood admitted she didn’t get a good night’s sleep.
A member of the Illinois National Air Guard, she is one of 200 guard members being sent to the nation’s capital amid concerns about the potential for violent protests surrounding President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. The mission’s historic nature and last week’s deadly riots resulted in a powerful combination of adrenaline and nerves that kept her awake.
“You’d have to be a little bit crazy if you didn’t feel nervous,” said the 20-year-old from Morton. “But I’m also excited to be going.”
CHICAGO (WLS) Illinois National Guard members departed from Peoria Thursday to play a role in the unprecedented security perimeter being placed around the Capitol Mall. We have our set of rules, and we follow those. Those don t change whether it s here in DC or in a different country, we have the same rules on use of force, what we can and can t do. And we follow those regardless of where we re at, said Jacob Moushon, a Technical Sergeant in the Illinois National Guard.
Washington, D.C. is being transformed into Fort Washington, with legions of law enforcement and thousands of soldiers encamped there. Fencing topped by razor wire is being erected to guard against what the FBI calls armed and ready radicals. Federal law enforcement is out with a new and stronger warning for all fifty states that domestic and militia violent extremists may storm state capitols.