Preparations for a planned rally at the Unites States Capitol on Saturday continued Thursday, with crews putting up fencing around the building. The video above shows the fencing installation and the final result.
A large group is expected to rally at the Capitol to protest the arrests of some 600 people in connection with a Jan. 6 riot by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
The anticipated crowd size and the intensity of the Saturday rally are unclear. However, far right extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers are expected to be in attendance.
Members and associates of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys make up just a fraction of those who have been charged so far in the riot. However, the extremist group members are facing some of the most serious charges brought so far.
Fencing around the Capitol hasn’t been seen since it was taken down in July. It had been up for more than six months following the attack.
This Isn’t the only precaution officials at the Capitol are taking ahead of the rally. On Wednesday, U.S. Capitol Police said it has asked the Pentagon to provide National Guard troops.
“The USCP has asked the Department of Defense for the ability to receive National Guard support should the need arise on September 18,” the police department statement said. No details were provided on how many National Guard troops could be deployed.
The Capitol rally comes as Washington, D.C. has seen a series of troubling one-off incidents. On Monday, Capitol Police arrested a California man who had a bayonet and machete in his pickup truck outside of Democratic National Committee headquarters.
Another arrest happened last month, when a man parked a pickup truck near the Library of Congress and said he had a bomb and detonator. Perhaps the most concerning event outside of the Capitol riot was the series of unexploded pipe bombs placed around the U.S. Capitol ahead of the attack. These bombs remain unexplained, and no one has been charged.
Four people died on the day of the riot. One was shot and killed by police. The other three died rom medical emergencies.
A Capitol Police officer died the following day. Four other officers later committed suicide.
Reuters
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