Just heard on C-SPAN: "The Defense Department has just denied a request by DC officials to deploy the National Guard to the US Capitol."

Source: Washington Post reporter https://twitter.com/byaaroncdavis/status/1346908166030766080

The Defense Department has just denied a request by DC officials to deploy the National Guard to the US Capitol.

I wonder how many of the current group is armed compared to past incidents were rubber bullets were used. Is it possible that there is a concern that escalating force may result in an increase in violent response? Is it like a smaller version of MAD policy, one involving guns instead of nukes. Those who have the ability to ensure MAD get different treatment than those who don't have the ability to ensure MAD.

Do you want this to escalate? This would be a bad time to start making martyrs out of these people.

Last I heard, the DC mayor requested activation of the guard, but stipulated that they not be armed nor wearing armor.

Moreover, where are AG Barr’s badgeless secret police?

> Where's the tear gas and rubber bullets?

Tear gas was deployed and live fire (not rubber bullets) exchanged within the Capitol.

But, yeah, allowing them to breach the Capitol and open fire within the building is very different than we've seen with protests with a different ideological bent. But it's consistent with how right-wing white protestors have been treated elsewhere in the country recently by law enforcement.

Well they did shoot and kill a woman, and they were totally pepper spraying people by the end.

But I agree, Capitol Police should have never let this even happen. They knew there was a big protest. They should have been 100% ready for this and they totally dropped the ball.

Good thing very few people even went in and there was little damage. Well except for that women I mentioned. Anyone even know her name yet? Wonder if there will be murals of her.

TPTB want a tragedy to happen to manufacture societal consent for giving up our right to self-defense.

DC's National Guard just activated. It took a few dozen minutes, but its a full 100% response with 1100 troops allegedly being deployed.

I think the optimists were hoping that these protesters would calm down if given the space. But at this point, its clear that they aren't calming down and need to be met with more force.

Hopefully things remain somewhat peaceful. I don't think anyone's actually been hurt yet: just lots of property damage right now.