TRENTON, N.J. (WCBS 880) — Gov. Phil Murphy is deploying New Jersey State Police and members of the National Guard to Washington, D.C. "to protect our democracy and facilitate the peaceful transition of power" in the wake of the deadly riots that rocked the Capitol.
State police said are sending 50 troopers to the nation's capital.
Murphy said Thursday he is authorizing the deployment of 500 members of the New Jersey National Guard at the request of the United States National Guard Bureau.
"Our republic is built on the principles of democracy, peace, and the right of the American people to freely choose their leaders. The brave men and women of our National Guard will be deployed in order to preserve these sacred principles. May God Bless America and our brave men and women in uniform," Murphy said.
The New Jersey National Guard members will join others from New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland who have been activated for up to 30 days to secure the Capitol through President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration scheduled for Jan. 20.
Related
The Defense Department formally activated 6,200 National Guard members to support Capitol Police and other law enforcement.
A source told the Associated Press the Guard won't be armed, but will have riot gear and protective clothing.
On Wednesday, a mob of violent Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, forcing Congress members to flee the Housand and Senate Chambers, delaying the certification of Biden's election victory.
Four people died in the chaos, including a woman who was shot by police, as well as three others who suffered "medical emergencies."
Before dawn Thursday, Congress certified the results putting Biden in the White House.
Murphy declared what happened in the capital was not a protest but an act of domestic terrorism spurred on by President Donald Trump and "his minions."
"The scene that unfolded yesterday in the Capitol building will go down as one of the darkest days in our nation's history," Murphy said. "Every insurrectionist who tried to overthrow the free and fair election of President-elect Biden should be identified, arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law for desecrating the cradle of American democracy."