About a dozen armed demonstrators affiliated with right-wing militia gathered outside the Michigan statehouse in Lansing.
Michigan State Police troopers and National Guard members stepped up its visibility at the Lansing Capitol when protesters carrying AR-15 rifles joined a small group of other demonstrators at about noon.
While law enforcement officials said they are prepared for “the worst” to occur, the protest remains peaceful.
“It has all stayed peaceful. Everything has been calm,” said Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, adding that most of the crowd had dissipated at about 3pm Sunday.
Lansing Police Chief Daryl Green estimated that about 150 people went to the demonstration, and said that there had been no arrests and no incidents of violence.
Timothy Teagan, 22, from Plymouth, was among the protesters who arrived Sunday, and identified himself as a “boogaloo boy.”
“The government and media have published stories that today the boogaloo has planned assaults on all 50 state capitals, so it is even more necessary for us to be out here to disprove their claims,” said Teagan.
The event comes after the US Capitol in Washington was sieged by supporters of President Donald Trump, during when Congress met to count electoral votes.
Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to probe the insurrection, where two individuals died in clashes and 3 died from medical emergencies.
Michigan State Police spokesperson Mike Shaw said that they wanted to be “over-prepared” for the demonstration.
“Our No. 1 goal is to protect the Capitol and make sure that people are allowed to air their grievances safely,” said Shaw.
“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,” he added.