Armed Protesters Leave MI Capitol After Short Protest, No Arrests

LANSING, MI — A small group of armed protesters gathered outside the Michigan Capitol Sunday morning and left by the early afternoon, with no arrests or major incidents reported.

A strong police and military presence abounded in Lansing over the weekend, in anticipation of protests ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration Wednesday and in the aftermath of the siege at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

According to The Detroit Free Press, the estimated crowd of 100 people included just 10-20 demonstrators, outnumbered by members of the media and law enforcement. By 1:15 p.m., no protesters remained on the grounds.

One of the protesters told reporters his name was Duncan Lemp — a 21-year-old man who died in Maryland in March and has been touted as a martyr for the anti-government "boogaloo" movement.

"The majority of the movement just wants peace. When people act out, it proves to the media what they are trying to push on us," the man said to reporters while carrying a rifle and pistol.

"Our No. 1 goal is to protect the Capitol and make sure that people are allowed to air their grievances safely," Mike Shaw, a spokesman for the Michigan State Police, told The Detroit News. "Our concern becomes when somebody crosses that line. If you decide that you're going to damage the building, assault somebody, either a police officer or a media person or a person who doesn't have exactly the same views as you, that takes you from a First Amendment protester to a criminal."

Read More: 7 Michigan Residents Among Those Arrested Amid Capitol Hill Riots

FOX 2 reported Thursday that the Southeast Michigan Militia plan to be armed, but that the group does not expect any trouble unless they feel they have to defend themselves or if their rights are violated.

"It depends on how we are pushed," Mike Lackomar, the group's leader, told the TV station. "If we are forced to defend ourselves, we will defend ourselves. If our rights are violated, we will resist that violation with whatever level we need to."

However, Lansing City Pulse later reported that the group told its members to avoid Lansing on Sunday.

The FBI and Michigan State Police told Patch in emails Tuesday that they were aware of potential protests at capitols around the nation. In response, security at Michigan's Capitol was boosted Sunday.

Security measures at the Capitol are expected to remain in place until mid-February. In addition to boosting the number of uniformed officers at and near the Capitol, other safety measures — such as a fence surrounding the Capitol grounds — also have been put in place.

This wouldn't be the first time armed protesters converged on the Michigan Capitol. In April, hundreds of protesters — many armed with long rifles, fixed with bulletproof vests and some with more expansive gear — walked into the Capitol building with little resistance.

Whitmer received requests from the Lansing City Council and Lansing Mayor Andy Schorr to deploy the Michigan National Guard as an extra layer of security and announced Friday morning that she would do so.

Joey Oliver and Lucas Combos contributed to this report.