SALT LAKE CITY — As expected due to a large law enforcement presence, few protesters showed up at the Utah State Capitol on inauguration day Wednesday.
The plaza in front of the Capitol building was virtually empty, save for a handful of people, including one man who was holding an upside-down American flag with a Confederate flag on the other side.
Another man showed up with a gun and a flag.
A group of National Guard troops stood on the steps of the building as the protesters milled about, talking to one another.
One Trump supporter told FOX 13 he showed up to share his beliefs that Americans are having their rights taken away, especially those connected to the 2nd Amendment.
Gov. Spencer Cox issued a state of emergency last week that closed the grounds of the capitol building through Thursday. Over the weekend, National Guard troops and police vastly outnumbered those who gathered outside the perimeter of the Capitol.
The lack of protests in Utah Wednesday echoed the scene in Washington, D.C. as Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Because of the threat of violence and COVID-19 issues, attendance at the ceremony was limited to invited guests.
Officials also closed off the National Mall to visitors due to the security threat following the deadly protests at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
