It was like a crime scene. The police swarmed the Loussac Library in a show of force never before seen at an Anchorage Assembly meeting.
The Assembly had at least 15 Anchorage Police officers stationed in and around the building during the Jan. 12 regular meeting, which takes place on the ground floor.
Some observers said it was over 20 police officers who were called in to keep control, in the apparent expectation that a large and unruly crowd would make trouble, possibly like protesters did when they swarmed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Six of the officers were inside the Assembly chamber itself, where the Assembly was extending emergency powers of the mayor through April and condemning Trump supporters who went to Washington, D.C. to protest the certification of the Electoral College.
Four more officers were guarding lobby, and several were outside, including parked at the Natural Pantry parking lot across the street. The normal security guards were also present.
About three dozen members of the public were inside the chamber as well to attend the meeting and register their unhappiness with the Assembly and acting mayor. Some members of the public were herded into a spillover room, as Chairman Rivera decided to further limit people allowed in the room.
Just five Assembly members were actually present in the chambers — Assembly Chairman Felix Rivera, and Assembly members Meg Zalatel, Suzanne LaFrance, John Weddleton, and Jamie Allard.
Other than the usual vigorous testimony from opponents of the business-killing shutdowns, only one person was physically escorted from the chambers, after she yelled at the Assembly.
Must Read Alaska has learned from law enforcement sources that typically only 26 officers are on duty at any given time in Anchorage, which means most of them were assigned to the Assembly meeting for several hours.
As far as the need for the police, it was a nothing-burger. This was pretty much a normal meeting for the year 2021 in Anchorage.
Some officers left after a resolution was voted on that condemned Trump supporters for what happened at the nation’s Capitol on Jan. 6. That was also about the time the mayor also exited the meeting, having given her mayor’s report.
There were but two protesters outside the building and they held “Save Anchorage” signs, walking back and forth to keep warm while the meeting continued indoors.
Late Thursday afternoon, two days after the meeting, Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson sent a memo to all municipal employees saying there are no credible threats of political violence in Anchorage, according to law enforcement sources.
