A press release did not explain the motivations for the closures in detail, but Scene confirmed that they were driven primarily by the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and ongoing concerns about additional unrest, including statewide actions planned in conjunction with the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced earlier Thursday that the statehouse building and all state buildings in downtown Columbus would be closed this weekend on similar grounds. The U.S. National Guard will also be stationed there, in preparation for a planned “armed march” by those who maintain the delusion that the November election was stolen from Donald Trump.
In Cleveland, the city said that local police and their partners at the state and federal levels are working to ensure the public’s safety throughout the weekend and are monitoring the activities of planned protests throughout the state.
City employees have Monday, Martin Luther King Day, off, but are being told to work remotely Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday to keep business operations open, even though buildings will be closed.. First responders will still be reporting to work daily.
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This article appears in Jan 13-26, 2021.
