Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Sunday in Hartford: Massive show of police, not protesters

  • Politics
  • by Mark Pazniokas and Dave Altimari
  • January 17, 2021
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Cloe Poisson :: CTMirror.org

A protester and counter-protester: At left, a man who identified himself using what is likely a right-wing alias, Duncan Lemp, talks with Joanna Iovino of Hartford at the State Capitol.

The first to arrive was a masked young man who used the name of a dead anarchist to identify himself. He carried a first-aid kit and tree-of-liberty flag as he trudged up the hill to the state Capitol on Sunday, the advance guard of a protest that never materialized — at least not in Hartford.

On a day when police stood on alert in every state capital, ready for protests promised in the wake of the stunning assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Hartford was quiet. No one came to cry that the election was stolen from Donald J. Trump.

Reporters and photographers outnumbered protesters, counter-protesters and onlookers. Police outnumbered them all.

In and around the Capitol complex waited 200 police officers, one dog, a National Guard contingent armed with assault rifles, and armored police and military vehicles, some painted in desert tan. One was an MRAP, a mine-resistant assault vehicle.

Cloe Poisson :: CTMirror.org

A group of Connecticut National Guardsmen patrol in front of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford in anticipation of a protest at the state Capitol Sunday, Jan. 17. The planned protest ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday never materialized.

“We believe what we were doing was appropriate based on the intel we had,” said Brian Foley, a spokesman for the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. “That being said, I’d much rather next Thursday be talking to you about over-preparation than under-preparation. And the fact that no one showed up is just fine with us.”

Next Thursday will be President-elect Joe Biden’s first full day as the 46th president of the United States. Police expect to remain watchful over government buildings and other potential targets of protest or violence. 

But if there are insurrectionists in Connecticut interested in keeping Donald J. Trump in power past Biden’s inauguration at noon on Wednesday, they did not show themselves on Sunday. 

The self-described anarchist with the tree-of-liberty flag identified himself as Duncan Lemp, 17, of Norwich. The name is an alias adopted by some right-wing groups as a nod to a 21-year-old anti-government “boogaloo boi” killed in a police raid in Maryland last year.

The young man with the flag was accompanied by an older man of uncertain years who was identified by gold stitching on his cap as a Marine:  “Once a Marine, Always a Marine.” He walked with a cane and pleasantly announced his mission: Keeping an eye on his grandson, the family anarchist.

“He’s a good boy,” said the grandfather.

Cloe Poisson :: CTMirror.org

A group of photographers take pictures of a man who identified himself as Duncan Lemp — likely an alias — of Norwich at a protest at the state Capitol Sunday, Jan. 17. The man, a self-described Libertarian/anarchist, was there to protest for gun rights and against COVID-19 restrictions and police brutality. “I want to protest for freedom,” he said.

The pair arrived before noon, the young man assuring the waiting press that more people were coming. The older man seemed skeptical. He laughed and said, “This is it?”

While the grandson used an alias, the grandfather declined to use any name. Keeping his name out of the news was a practice developed decades ago on Teamster picket lines, he said. He smiled and said, “I was a trouble-maker then.”

The younger of the pair said he learned of the protest on a bulletin board maintained online by The Tree of Liberty, which he described as generally freedom-loving and anti-government.

“What I know is from official statements from the organizers via the website, Tree of Liberty,” he said. “Its goal is anything that stands for freedom. Anybody who has any single issue with the government, whether it be taxes or legalizing marijuana, anything.”

As he chatted, Joanna Iovino of Hartford arrived with a pink bullhorn that needed batteries and a hand-written sign disapproving of Trump, the KKK and fascists. She described herself as a counter-protester and said there were others on the way, even if there was nothing to counter.

Cloe Poisson :: CTMirror.org

Joanna Iovino, of Hartford, walks along police barricades while attending a protest at the state Capitol Sunday, Jan. 17. Iovino was one of a handful of people who attended what was billed as a protest ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday. Iovino was there to protest the protestors and described herself as an anti-fascist. “I’m here to stand up against fascism,” she said.

A young anarchist using a dead man’s name did not concern her.

“Maybe there’s not enough fascists in Connecticut, you know?” Iovino said. “But yeah, we’re out here to counter-protest against fascism.”

Others drifted by. A trio of serious-looking men approached from Bushnell Park and watched. One dropped his mask and lit a cigar. He said they were just curious. He was polite but disinterested in further discussion about politics or current events with a reporter.

Cloe Poisson :: CTMirror.org

A state Capitol police officer stands guard inside a barricade in anticipation of a protest that didn’t happen.

A man with a shaggy beard strolled along the blaze-orange bicycle-rack fencing around the Capitol. As he passed the old man with the Marines cap, he said, “Thank you for your service.”

He was asked if he was press, protester or tourist.

The bearded man replied, “Just interested.”

A tall man who would only give his name as Will walked by with a bullhorn, amplifying a profane rap from his iPhone. It was “FDT” by Nipsey Hussle. “DT” stands for Donald Trump.

The Marine grandfather of the boy using a dead boogaloo’s name said he was mildly offended by the language.

When the song concluded, Will joined Iovino by the perimeter fence.

“I’m from Hartford. I have to be here. It’s basically I’m here against fascism, plain and simple, always will be,” he said. “So this is what I do. And we came up here with one or two people, even if we were surrounded, we’ve been surrounded by Trump supporters before.”

Cloe Poisson :: CTMirror.org

A man who identified himself only as Will plays a hip-hop song by Nipsey Hussle titled “FDT” through a megaphone while attending a protest at the state Capitol Sunday, Jan. 17. Will was one of a handful of people who attended what was billed as a protest ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday. “Every person needs to be out here speaking up for their rights,” said Will. “I don’t hate Trump supporters, I just hate their ideology.”

There was no chance of being surrounded.

A tall, thin male jogger in shorts and knee-high black socks glided by, showing no sign of noticing anything amiss on a Sunday afternoon at the Connecticut Capitol.

Capitol police stood inside the perimeter. Near the north steps, a State Police truck was parked, watched by a K-9 officer. His dog lay flat, disinterested.

Overhead, a State Police helicopter circled in ever-widening orbits over the Capitol, the Legislative Office Building, the State Office Building, State Armory, Supreme Court and the neighborhoods beyond.

There was nothing to see. No marchers staging, ready to move on the Capitol.

Mark Pazniokas :: CT Mirror

The entire state Capitol complex, which includes the Legislative Office building seen here, was heavily guarded on Sunday in anticipation of a protest.

“In the wake of what we saw in the nation’s capital last week, it was important we be prepared for anything that might present this weekend,” said Luke Bronin, the mayor of Hartford, who lives a block from the Capitol.

Gov. Ned Lamont, who had hip-replacement surgery on Wednesday, was at his home in Greenwich. His spokesman, Max Reiss, echoed Bronin and Foley in saying that it was better to be over-prepared.

Authorities had no immediate estimate of the cost of having so many troopers massed around the Capitol.

“What was spent today will be tracked, coded through our fiscal people at the state separately, and we should hopefully, once it’s settled down in the coming days, have an idea of what the cost was,” Foley said. “Certainly I would say the cost is much less than having some sort of violent outbreak occur.”

He said state officials learned on a 50-state conference call Friday that every state capital was using the same template. One challenge for law enforcement was the decision by technology firms to crack down on the uses of social-media platforms by those deemed to be extremists.

It made a source of intelligence go dark, complicating efforts to judge how big a protest to expect.

“When social media started shutting down Parler and a lot of the talk and many of the advertisements about any sort of organized protests, we lost an arm of our intelligence,” Foley said. “Not all of our intelligence, but an arm of it. And the ability to estimate what was going to happen became cloudy.”

Cloe Poisson :: CTMirror.org

A Connecticut state police helicopter flies over the state Capitol Sunday, Jan. 17.

At precisely 1 p.m., the protest that never transpired was deemed a non-event. Police opened Capitol Avenue to traffic, too late for a small group of women seeking food at Emanuel Lutheran Church, across from the Armory and Legislative Office Building.

A sign at the church door said the church food bank was closed at the request of Capitol police. The women, who didn’t want to give their full names, said they come to the food bank every weekend.

“I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” a woman named Grace said. “Two cops stopped us just walking to the church. We’re just trying to get some food.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Pazniokas is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.

Dave Altimari does in-depth investigative reporting for CT Mirror. His work focuses on government accountability including financial oversight, abuse of power, corruption, safety monitoring, and compliance with law. Before joining CT Mirror Altimari spent 23 years at the Hartford Courant breaking some of the state’s biggest, most impactful investigative stories.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Ned Lamont’s year in the shadow of COVID
by Mark Pazniokas

Ned Lamont has been the face, voice, and interpreter of the COVID crisis, mourning deaths, explaining setbacks and cautiously celebrating.

With billions in federal relief on the way to CT, legislators assert their role in deciding how to spend it
by Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas

With an unusual bill, state legislators are reminding Gov. Ned Lamont they have significant role in disbursing federal coronavirus relief.

Rep. Patricia Billie Miller wins vacant Senate seat
by Mark Pazniokas

Rep. Patricia Billie Miller, D-Stamford, won a special election to the state Senate.

Final passage of ‘Crown Act’ comes on unanimous vote
by Mark Pazniokas

With a unanimous vote, Connecticut became the latest state to adopt legislation prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyles associated with race.

Senate confirms Miguel Cardona as U.S. Secretary of Education
by Adria Watson

Cardona was the youngest principal in the state of Connecticut.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The public health bill no one is talking about, but should be
by Brian Festa

On February 16,  the legislature's Public Health Committee conducted a public hearing on two bills, S.B. 568 and H.B. 6423, both of which would eliminate the religious exemption to mandatory vaccinations for Connecticut schoolchildren.  The hearing was capped at 24 hours, depriving nearly 1,500 members of the public who had registered for the hearing their opportunity to be heard.  The vast majority of those who did testify, and who submitted written testimony, opposed the bill.  The committee is expected to vote on the bill as early as  today. 

Opinion Students need more resources, fewer officers
by Tenille Bonilla

"School resource officer" is just a nice way to say cop. But what students really need is more resource and less officer.

Opinion The Board of Regents’ changes must not shortchange its students or faculty
by Carrie Andreoletti, PhD

As a university professor and a lifespan developmental psychologist, I tend to approach my work from a developmental perspective. This means I aim to foster a lifelong love of learning and to help others find a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as confidence in their ability to reach their goals. My approach to higher education is shaped by my desire to provide the best possible education for my students. This is why the recent Board of Regents’ proposed changes at the four state universities have me worried.

Opinion How to close schooling opportunity gaps created by the pandemic
by Carol Gale

We ask school district leaders to trust your public servants whose daily work life involves assessing student needs and planning or modifying instruction to meet those needs. Listen to their voices, as we have, and allocate precious resources on interventions that will offer increased opportunities for Hartford students to succeed.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO