Many downtown Raleigh offices, museums closed for Inauguration Day

On Sunday, several hundred officers from numerous law enforcement agencies were guarding buildings and patrolling streets in Raleigh in anticipation of armed marches, but only a handful of people showed up and protested peacefully.

"We believed today was going to kind of give us an idea of what to expect for the rest of the week, and if that is the case, then I think we are all going to be okay, thank God," said Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker on Sunday.

More officers are expected to patrol downtown Raleigh on Wednesday as President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

"It's better to be prepared than not," said Baker.

Ahead of potential violence, downtown Raleigh museums close

As a precaution, dozens of officers surrounded downtown buildings, including the North Carolina State Capitol and the Wake County Justice Center, as early as 11 a.m. on Sunday. Officers in PERT (Prison Emergency Response Team) vests and uniforms were stationed downtown to help in the response along with a “BearCat” armored vehicle designed for military to use in armed standoff situations.

About 350 guardsmen will serve in support of local law enforcement in North Carolina, and hundreds more will be sent to Washington, D.C.

“Ongoing security concerns in Washington, D.C., and state capitals around the nation following last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol must be taken seriously, and I will deploy necessary resources to keep North Carolinians safe," Cooper said.