Through a collaborative effort of federal, state, and local public safety agencies, officials are continuing to prepare for possible protests at the Louisiana State Capitol.
No specific or substantiated threats to life or property have been identified at this time to include the State Capitol or other government buildings, but partnering agencies will continually monitor for potential security concerns and provide timely notification should this change.
Representatives from the Louisiana State Police, DPS Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal, Louisiana Attorney General's Office, Louisiana Army National Guard, Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, Baton Rouge Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, United States Attorney Office, and the Louisiana Legislative Sergeant at Arms are working closely to coordinate security protocols and ensure safety for protesters, Capitol grounds and staff, and the surrounding community.
In preparation, a multi-agency unified command center will be utilized to allow officials to monitor for any emerging threats to Louisiana. The current focus is to provide a centralized location for gathering intelligence, assessing potential threats, and providing any additional resources needed. All agencies involved will be focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals attempting to incite violence and engage in criminal activity during peaceful protests in the state, officials say.
Citizens are urged to report any suspicious and/or suspected criminal activity by utilizing:
· 911 for life threatening emergencies
· Louisiana State Analytical & Fusion Exchange (LA-SAFE) Hotline - 1-800-434-8007
· LSP Suspicious Activity Online Reporting Form: https://dpsweb.dps.louisiana.gov/suspicious.nsf/WebForm?OpenForm
· "See Something Send Something" mobile application
· Federal Bureau of Investigation online and hotline tip reporting: www.fbi.gov/tips -1-800-CALL-FBI
As indicated nationwide, any citizen with information on last week's incident at the U.S. Capitol or on upcoming protests can notify the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
"All agencies remain steadfast in our mission to protect our citizens and respect those who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights, including the right to peacefully protest," said officials. "Criminal activity, the destruction of property, and the intentional incitement of violence prevents others from peacefully expressing their First Amendment rights and will not be tolerated."
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