Far-right “will be a long fight” attack mocking everywhere on Biden’s inauguration day

Tensions are rising across the United States, including Washington, DC, ahead of the inauguration ceremony of US President-elect Joe Biden (on the 20th). This is because of a warning that violence by strong supporters of President Donald Trump could recur.

According to the Washington Post on the 14th (local time), situations where far-right groups are plotting attacks across the country on the day of the inauguration ceremony are being spotted one after another. Rita Katz, managing director of SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors the social media of extremist groups, said, “The (extremely right-handed forces’) writings, which have been mainly saying’we will win,’ are turning into’it will be a long fight now’.” He said, “The forces that led the intrusion to the House of Parliament are showing their will to continue attacking.”

“There is a tremendous amount of online chats surrounding the inauguration ceremony, predicting violence,” said Chris Ray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “There is a fear that the scheduled rally not only in Washington, but also in each state across the country will spread to violence.” The state of New Mexico has already declared a state of emergency, and the state of Ohio has initiated a preemptive response, such as calling the National Guard and closing the state capitol.

Declaration of emergency in some states, convocation of National Guard

The National Mall in downtown Washington, DC, will also be closed on the day of the inauguration ceremony. The National Mall is a tourist attraction that is connected to the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the House of Parliament near the White House, and it attracts a large crowd during the presidential inauguration ceremony. City authorities plan to shut down 13 subway stations around the White House and Parliament and control roads. Delta, United, Alaska, and American Airlines also decided not to accept firearms as checked baggage on flights to Washington DC from the 16th to the 23rd.

In this regard, CNN said that on the day of the inauguration ceremony, Biden, who was originally scheduled to travel from Wilmington, Delaware to Washington, DC, by Amtrak train, revised the plan for security reasons. Biden has commuted to Amtrak for over 30 years since he was a senator.

Some say that the far-right groups that have lost their center of gravity are divided. President Trump’s Twitter messages have been like an attack order to them, but recently his account has been permanently suspended and has lost its direction.

The protest leader, which the Washington Post also called the’Million Militia Marching’, recently said, “Stay far from Washington DC and each state. It is a trap,” he reported. It means that you should not appear because you may be arrested for participating in a protest. The newspaper was concerned that, in the words of a parliamentary official, “if the protesters who did not receive Trump’s order are divided into quarters, the uncertainty could increase.”

Meanwhile, Biden’s speech to the public on the same day delivered a $1.9 trillion (about 2086 trillion won) stimulus package for Corona 19. The so-called’Bidenomics’ was launched in earnest. “Corona 19 has caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs and dignity,” said Biden. “There is no more time to waste. You have to act now.”

The economic stimulus package that Biden-elect named the “American Rescue Plan” contains the contents of supplementing and expanding the $900 billion (about 990 trillion won) stimulus package for Corona 19 passed last December. The main goal is to spend an additional $1 trillion in direct subsidies and unemployment benefits, $400 billion in combating pandemics such as vaccine payments, and $350 billion in state support.

This gives most Americans $1,400 in cash per person. When the $600 direct subsidy per person passed through the Congress last month is added, the total is $2,000 (about 2.2 million won). In addition, the unemployment benefit, which was set to pay $300 a week until March next year, also decided to increase to $400. Biden also emphasized the goal of normalizing school classes after completing 100 million vaccinations by 100 days after taking office. “I know that stimulus packages are expensive,” Biden said. “If we don’t do this, we’ll lose more.”

Biden’s first test of political power

However, in order for Biden’s plan to become a reality, the Republican wall must be overcome. Concerned about fiscal soundness, Republicans have opposed massive stimulus measures. Even last year, Democrats and Republicans passed a $900 billion stimulus package only at the end of the year after a few months of tug-of-war over the 5th Corona 19 stimulus package.

As such, there is a prospect that this stimulus plan will be the first test of the political power of Biden-elect. The New York Times said the Democrats are also considering neutralizing Republican opposition through a “budget adjustment process”. This is a system that allows only the bills on revenue and expenditures to be processed by a simple majority vote. Currently, the Democratic Party occupies a majority in the House of Representatives, and in the case of the Senate, although an equal number in the 50s and 50s, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the chairman of the Senate, has the voting rights, it is possible to exercise a casting boat.

Washington = Correspondent Pilkyu Kim, Seoul = Reporter Kyungmin Seok [email protected]