Gov. Phil Scott has some advice for Vermonters considering participating in armed rallies at the Statehouse: “Don’t be played.”
Scott’s comment came in response to questions at a news briefing Tuesday, a day after the FBI warned of planned armed rallies at statehouses across the country in the days leading up to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, including at the Statehouse in Montpelier.
The governor said he recognizes that people have First Amendment rights to assemble, but said these calls for armed rallies go beyond a protest.
“Don’t be used as a pawn by some of these extreme groups that are planning these protests around our nation to undermine our democracy, to overthrow the government,” he said.
He said extremists behind the armed rallies are taking advantage of people with “strong feelings” to further the insurrection.
“Those who are planning these uprisings,” Scott said, “they’re using them as pawns, they used them in Washington, and they’ll use them in the next few days.”
He then said of those considering participating, “I would just ask them to be aware of their surroundings and don’t be used.”
The FBI bulletin stated, “As of 10 January, armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitals from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17 January through 20 January.”
The warning comes less than a week after the insurrection last Wednesday by supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers, as well as Vice President Mike Pence, were certifying the results of the presidential election.
Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling, also speaking at Tuesday’s news briefing, reiterated comments he made a day earlier in response to the FBI warning.
“We’re in close coordination with federal, state and local authorities to plan for any eventuality,” he said. “At this point, there are no specific indications of disruptions anticipated in Vermont.”
Schirling echoed the governor’s comment that Vermonters shouldn’t “fall into a trap” of being used by insurrectionists.
“While we don’t script where and when folks should implement their First Amendment rights,” Schirling said, “we would ask that people think twice about whether these two days that have been identified, the 17th and the 20th, are the right days to do that.”
