Law enforcement agencies around Washington, D.C, are adding extra security ahead of possible plans from QAnon on March 4th.
What We Know:
- United States Capitol Police (USCP) announced on Wednesday that they had discovered threats by militia groups to breach the Capitol on March 4th. D.C authorities state that they “have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4th.” The discussions found online included input from members of the Three Percenters, an anti-government extremist group that participated in the Capitol riots on January 6th.
- Members of the National Guard are currently assigned to patrol a fenced off perimeter, including the Capitol building and several federal buildings. U.S Capitol authorities have requested almost five thousand National Guard troops to remain in Washington D.C until at least March 12th. The request was issued ahead of speculation that a protest from the conspiracy theorist group QAnon might occur, based on online forums.
- Originally, QAnon believed March 4th to be a day in which a number of Democrats will be arrested, and Trump will be re-inaugurated. Trump hotel prices have spiked recently in light of rumors that Trump would be sworn in again as President on March 4th. A QAnon theory suggests the U.S secretly became a corporation under a law passed in 1871, which has yet to be proven to exist. This law allegedly renders every inaugurated president and constitutional amendment passed since then to be illegitimate.
- Critics of the projected QAnon protest can be found inside the conspiracy group itself, with some members calling March 4th a “false-flag.” event intended to trap the group’s supporters. According to an NBC analysis, based on one of the largest remaining QAnon forums, no official events or protests are planned.
“There is little promotion of action around March 4th.” confirmed Daniel Jones.
Jones leads a disinformation research organization called Advance Democracy. Most social media platforms have made an effort to decrease QAnon influence including Twitter, who recently removed over seven thousand accounts suspected of being apart of QAnon.
Whether QAnon plans to strike the Capitol again or not, proper preparation for the alleged threat appears to be in order.
