As a precaution, state museums, government offices and other buildings were closed Wednesday for Inauguration Day, and some downtown Raleigh businesses boarded up their storefronts.
DEPUTIES SET UP A PERIMETER AROUND THE CAPITAL, AND WERE WORRIED IN CASE OF ANY PROTESTS. THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I'M JULIAN GRACE. MORE PROTEST DID NOT MATERIALIZE HERE IN RALEIGH TODAY. JOE FISHER SPENT TODAY DOWNTOWN MONITORING THE SITUATION AND MASSIVE RESPONSE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT. JOE, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW? >> Reporter: JULIAN, THERE ARE STILL A FEW OFFICERS THAT POSTED UP RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITAL. TODAY, WE SAW A MASSIVE PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT REALLY SPREAD ALL THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, FAR OUTNUMBERING THE HANDFUL OF PROTESTERS. >> Reporter: A BARRICADE AND DOZENS OF OFFICERS FORTIFIED THE CAPITAL BUILDING, WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT POSTED UP ON ROOFS, KEEPING WATCH OUTSIDE BUILDINGS, AND GUARDING THE FENCED OFF GOVERNOR'S MANSION. >> I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS EVER AT ANY STATE CAPITAL. I THINK IT IS TO BE EXPECTED THOUGH, WITH ALL OF THE STUFF THAT IS GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: OUTSIDE THE WAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, A SHOW OF FORCE. DEPUTIES SHUT DOWN SALISBURY STREET, AND KEPT AN ARMORED TRUCK ON STANDBY AFTER A WARNING FROM THE FBI ABOUT POTENTIAL ARMED PROTEST AT ALL 50 STATE CAPITALS. >> WE HAVE TO BRING IN ENOUGH MANPOWER TO BE ABLE TO COUNTER THAT, AND KEEP IT IN CONTROL. TO MAKE ARRESTS IF THAT BECOMES NECESSARY, AND TO KEEP THE PEACE. >> Reporter: ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND PROTESTED PEACEFULLY. >> A BETTER TO BE PREPARED, THEN IT NOT. >> Reporter: THOSE PREPARATIONS WILL CONTINUE AS MORE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO WEDNESDAY'S INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN. >> WE BELIEVE THIS WILL GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. IF THAT IS THE CASE I THINK WE WILL ALL BE OKAY. >> Reporter: STILL, THE SHERIFF IS ASKING PEOPLE TO AVOID DOWNTOWN UNTIL AFTER INAUGURATION DAY AS THEY CONTINUE TO MONITOR REPORTS OF POTENTIAL VIOLENCE. AHEAD OF THOSE EXPECTED PROTEST, WAKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAD IS SHUTTING DOWN ALL OF ITS DOWNTOWN OFFICES ASIDE FROM THE COURTHOUSE ON BOTH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, THE CITY OF RALEIGH IS SHUTTING DOWN ITS
