A fence first erected around the U.S. Capitol in the wake of the January 6th riots will be reinstalled next week, according to The Associated Press, as law enforcement prepares for an upcoming rally organized by a former Trump campaign operative.
September 18th’s ‘Justice for J6’ demonstration seeks to highlight alleged discrimination against people jailed for their role in the riots. Matt Braynard, the former Trump campaign aide who’s organizing the event, told Buzzfeed News, “This is the modern civil rights struggle of our time.” He expects 700 people to attend.
On Wednesday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) hinted at the heightened precautions, telling reporters “We intend to have the integrity of the Capitol be intact.”
“Briefings for lawmakers, including congressional leaders, are expected in coming days,” reports the AP.
News & Guts noted earlier this week:
Several factors indicate that the ‘Justice for J6’ rally won’t provoke the type of mayhem that temporarily halted the certification of the 2020 presidential election. The event will be held on a Saturday, when Congress is not in session. In addition, extremist groups like the Proud Boys have indicated that they’ll stay away from the demonstration. “We aren’t going and you shouldn’t either because errbody going to jail. Sounds like bait,” the Proud Boys wrote in a social media message.
Yet, not all the Proud Boys appear to be on the same page. The Washington Post reports:
Randy Ireland, who recently introduced himself at a Portland, Ore., rally as president of a New York Proud Boys chapter called Hell’s Gate Bridge and co-founder of Citizens Against Political Persecution, a New York-based group that has hosted rallies, encouraged other Proud Boys to go to Washington on Sept. 18, according to videos posted last month on social media.
“We need you to show up, September the 18th in D.C. Especially the Proud Boys that are here, this is a message going out to you,” Ireland said in the video. Cara Castronuova, another co-founder of Citizens Against Political Persecution, was announced last month as the co-host of the Sept. 18 rally.
The Post adds:
Though Braynard has repeatedly said the rally will be peaceful, local law enforcement is increasing staffing ahead of the event.
D.C. police will be “fully activated” on Sept. 17 and 18, meaning all officers must work those days, spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said last week. Capitol Police have requested support from neighboring police departments in Arlington County in Virginia, and Montgomery County in Maryland on the day of the planned rally, according to those departments.
The fence surrounding the Capitol was taken down two months ago. It’s unclear who long it will stay up this time.
