Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Trump Voters Weigh in as Biden Begins Presidency

Matt Haines

   BATON ROUGE - Far from Washington, where Democrat Joe Biden launched
   his presidency Wednesday, a trickle of Louisianans who remain loyal to
   former President Donald Trump peacefully spoke their minds outside the
   state Capitol building in Baton Rouge.

   James Kent arrived sporting a red "Trump 2020: Keep America Great"
   T-shirt, a camouflage-printed Trump hat with the slogan "No More Bull
   S--t" written across it, and a holstered gun resting against his hip.
   For Kent, Trump remains a man to be followed and revered.

   "He kept fighting for us. He never gave up on us and we shouldn't give
   up on him," he said. "I want my voice to be heard. ... I spend all this
   time talking about my First Amendment rights, and I figured it was time
   I start using them."

   Across America, law enforcement braced for possible violence at state
   capitols two weeks after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. Kent
   traveled to Baton Rouge on Inauguration Day hoping he would find large
   numbers of like-minded people protesting the transfer of power from
   Trump to Biden.

   Arriving at the same hour that Biden took the oath of office, however,
   Kent found only one other protester, a metal barricade erected in front
   of the state Capitol's main entrance and a handful of police officers
   inside their cars.

   Several other protesters had arrived throughout the morning, but never
   more than two or three at a time on an invitingly sunny day with mild
   temperatures. Kent couldn't hide his disappointment.

   "I wanted to come out here and make noise with some people," he said.
   "I guess I missed everyone."

   Risk of violence

   "People have been saying not to come out here," said Tom Deel, from the
   suburbs of nearby New Orleans who came to protest what he believes was
   an unjust election outcome.

.