Wake courts to close in advance of inauguration
Wake County courts will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday to keep workers out of downtown Raleigh in the event of a protest tied to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.
District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said essential court functions will operate remotely.
County officials said last week that they would close downtown Raleigh offices in four buildings, including the old courthouse and the Wake County Justice Center, as a precaution. At that time, Freeman said courts would remain open.
"In an abundance of caution and to avoid confusion based on all other government offices closing, we will be closing," she said in a text message Monday evening.
County offices also were closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
Raleigh officials said they plan to close downtown offices on Wednesday.
Empty buildings are bad for business at Sono Sushi on Fayetteville Street, where general manager Miko Nishio says sales are already down 25 percent because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Our lunch is based on the business downtown [and] all the government buildings,” Nishio said. "As a business, I hope they are open so we can get some business, but as far as safety of people, I can totally understand."
Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker said he’s working with other agencies to quickly analyze any threats as they become known.
"When you look at what the intel is showing in terms of what could happen, I do believe it's in one’s interest to avoid downtown,” Baker said, adding that it’s better to be prepared for the worst rather than being caught off guard.
Law enforcement authorities prepared for a possible armed protest in Raleigh on Sunday as part of a nationwide push by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump, but it never materialized.
Only a handful of protesters showed up at the State Capitol, and the 350 members of the North Carolina National Guard who were activated last week to be ready to respond to any violence never had to be deployed.
LTC Matt DeVivo said the guardsmen remain on standby.
“They’ve linked up with Capitol Police. They’ve done their site surveys,” DeVivo said, noting that National Guard forces could be deployed anywhere across the state.
"They are ready. Hopefully, they won’t need to be called out, and local law enforcement can handle the situation," he said. "They know, if they need us, we are there.”
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, local Lutheran churches and the United Church of Christ have all asked congregations to be vigilant, warning about potential threats against “liberal” churches on Inauguration Day.
