Online threats and plans for expected gatherings of far-right extremists are being monitored as federal and Florida security forces went on alert Sunday, the Washington Post reported.
Growing online chatter mentioning violence, coupled with statements from former President Donald Trump and his supporters, have left authorities readying for protests – or worse.
Trump is due in Miami Tuesday to be arraigned on 37 federal counts involving his retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Among the chatter being monitored is online conversations regarding a pro-Trump rally being planned outside the Miami federal courthouse that’s suspected of being organized by the right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys, the Washington Post reported.
Some leaders of the group were recently convicted of seditious conspiracy for their part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Trump, who is currently in New Jersey, is expected to fly to Miami Monday.
On a radio interview with Roger Stone Sunday, Trump called for protest – with Stone urging any protesters to remain peaceful, the Post reported.
But there have been many direct calls for violence, including a congressman who called for “an eye for an eye” and Kari Lake, who told her supporters “We’re at war, people. We’re at war.”
