COLUMBUS, Ohio — Editor's Note: The above video aired on January 14, 2021
On Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine authorized the activation of additional Ohio National Guard members for deployment to Washington D.C.
They will be deployed to help federal authorities ahead of the presidential inauguration on Wednesday, January 20th.
Friday's addition brings the total number of Ohio Nation Guard members activated to 1,000, including Soldiers and Airmen.
Guard members will provide extra support which was requested by the U.S. National Guard Bureau on Thursday.
"Our Ohio National Guard is part of the overall defense forces in our country and has specific skills and equipment to aid the federal government in situations such as this," said Governor DeWine. “In addition to the Citizen Soldiers and Citizen Airmen headed to our nation's capital, we have an ample number of troops who’ve been placed on state active duty to support local and state law enforcement as needed here in Ohio. Violence will not be tolerated.”
Governor DeWine signed a proclamation Thursday that officially activated several hundred Ohio National Guard members to active duty to protect Ohio and its citizens including public buildings.
"Ohio National Guard personnel assigned to this mission are trained, equipped, and prepared to assist law enforcement authorities with protecting lives and property of citizens in Ohio while ensuring people's rights to demonstrate peacefully," said Ohio Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John Harris, Jr.
Editor's note: The below video aired on December 21, 2020