Vermont to send 100 National Guard troops to Washington

COLCHESTER, Vt. — The Vermont National Guard will send about 100 infantry soldiers to Washington to help provide security for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. “I am grateful to the brave men and women of the Vermont National Guard for their service and doing their part during this deployment to protect our republic and the democratic values we hold dear.” The Vermont soldiers will be among nearly 20,000 National Guard soldiers being called upon to provide security after last week’s assault on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of insurrectionists. Police said the Vermont State Police, Montpelier Police Department, Capitol Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department are planning for any eventuality. State officials say they recognize the rights of people to protest, but they also “encourage the public to consider, in light of recent events and in the interest of personal responsibility and safety, when the best time is to exercise these rights.” Also Thursday, the Vermont Troopers Association and the Vermont State Employees’ Association called on any protesters “to conduct a peaceful demonstration, obey the law, leave property undamaged and, most important, respect the men and women who will be called upon to be on-the-job, performing the public service they were hired to do for the State of Vermont and its citizens.”