COLUMBUS, Ohio — After a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to halt the vote count that would certify Joe Biden as president-elect, security is being stepped up in Columbus and other state capitals ahead of his inauguration.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that potentially armed protesters are expected to demonstrate during the weekend and in the days leading to the inauguration Wednesday.

Speaking along with Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, city Police Chief Thomas Quinlan and Ohio National Guard Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., DeWine said while protesters’ First Amendments rights will be respected, precautions are in place should violence erupt.

“The sad truth is that there are people in our country who want to turn peaceful protests into opportunities for violence. These are violent people, and their violence will not be tolerated in Ohio. It will not be tolerated anywhere,” DeWine said.

In Columbus, physical security around the Ohio Statehouse is the responsibility of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. In a separate interview, patrol Staff Lt. Craig Cvetan said for safety reasons he could not discuss specific security measures or personnel used.

“As far as the public, throughout the remainder of this week they will see a lot of the preparations being made around the Statehouse. A lot of them are going to be things that you see, whether it be fencing, lighting, things like that that we’re putting up in expectation of people gathering at the Statehouse this weekend to exercise their constitutional rights, and really what we want is to do is create a safe environment for the event so that people can gather there.”

He said he had no information he could share about the number of protesters expected or any possible ill intent.

“These things are very fluid and changing constantly, so at this point I don’t really have any information I can give … so far as the number of protesters we’re expecting, or even if there are certain groups that are attending. We’re always looking for information so that we can be better prepared.”

DeWine signed a proclamation mobilizing the Ohio National Guard to be ready in Columbus or anywhere else in the state where needed. He said 700 members of the guard will be deployed.

The Statehouse itself will be closed Sunday through Wednesday. All state office buildings in downtown Columbus will also be closed.

DeWine and Ginther called for unity during the transfer of power.

“What we saw (during the certification) in the Capitol is not who we are as a country. It is unacceptable,” Ginther said. “It was a vile demonstration of the worst elements of our society that we cannot ignore and we must root out and guard against. … We will not allow hate, violence and destruction to be part of our city.”

“What hate groups want is confrontation to give them a platform and to amplify their message,” Ginther said. “Be aware of your surroundings and your situation. Leave if you do not feel safe. Seek help if you see something suspicious. If you see something, say something, to make sure we protect our neighbors.”

“Anytime that there’s protests at the Statehouse or anybody gathering at the Statehouse it can cause traffic problems downtown. This is a Sunday, so typically there’s a little less traffic on a Sunday. It’s not in a residential area where it’s going to affect residents. Certainly if you don’t want to be a part of any of that, you should try and avoid the downtown area around Capitol Square,” Cvetan said.

Protesters are advised to take precautions and be aware of bad actors who may be infiltrating their groups.

“We’re there to make sure that everybody stays safe, and certainly anybody that’s coming to the protest or wanting to voice their opinion and be heard, we’re just asking they do it peacefully and respect the other people around them,” Cvetan said.

Due to concern about the potential spread of COVID-19, protesters are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Locally, Chief Deputy James Zusack of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department said deputies have not been approached to provide additional security in the state capital. He said no issues are anticipated around Belmont County. Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland and St. Clairsville Police Chief Matt Arbenz said they have not been notified of any threats locally and they hope for business as usual in the days ahead.