Governor Kevin Stitt announced Friday that he is activating over 75 members of the Oklahoma National Guard to assist local law enforcement should any protests at the State Capitol or other locations turn violent in the coming week.

Members of the guard will be activated from Saturday, Jan. 16 to Thursday, Jan. 21.

No specific, credible threats have been identified in Oklahoma surrounding Wednesday’s Presidential Inauguration events, but increased safety measures are being taken in a proactive response to intelligence shared by federal law enforcement regarding state capitol buildings across the country, Stitt said.

“I support the right for Oklahomans to peacefully demonstrate, but we will not tolerate violence or damage to property,” Stitt said. “At the request of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the National Guard has been authorized to provide support as needed.

“These hard-working Oklahomans are our friends and neighbors who step up in times of need. Any violence and damage to property goes against the Oklahoma Standard and is a distraction designed to keep us from uniting together.”

“The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma National Guard have trained together to be prepared for the type of events that may be happening over the next week,” DPS Commissioner John Scully said. “Cooperation with our partners is essential and we appreciate the collaboration within the law enforcement and military community. Our goal is to protect peaceful demonstrators while also protecting lives and preventing the destruction of property.”

The state National Guard maintains a National Guard Reaction Force year-round. The main purpose of the NGRF is to come to the aid of Oklahomans following a natural disaster, such as a tornado or flood.

The NGRF’s secondary mission is support to law enforcement and the force was most recently mobilized and deployed to Tulsa this past summer to assist local law enforcement when President Donald Trump held a campaign event near downtown.

Due in large part to the coordinated efforts of the OHP, the state National Guard and local law enforcement, demonstrations remained civil with no notable damage to property, loss of life or violent altercations, the governor said.

“Oklahoma’s NGRF is comprised of men and women from our communities. Their job is to protect their fellow Oklahomans, support the right to peaceful demonstration and prevent loss of life and property,” Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson, the adjutant general for Oklahoma, said.