‘Nobody Wants a Repeat of Jan. 6’: Officials Reportedly Considering Reinstalling Capitol Fencing Over Concerns About Upcoming Right-Wing Rally

Sarah RumpfAug 27th, 2021, 6:39 pm
 

With the upcoming anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and a right-wing rally planned for Sept. 18, officials are seriously considering reinstalling fencing and other security fortifications at the U.S. Capitol, according to a report by CNN.

“The Capitol is always a target,” CNN Capitol Hill reporter Melanie Zanona told host Jake Tapper, ” but there are heightened security concerns right now from both lawmakers and law enforcement officials ahead of this rally,” which is being planned by a former campaign staffer for former President Donald Trump to show support for the alleged insurrectionists who were jailed for charges based on the riot on Jan. 6.

The local D.C. Metropolitan Police Department would be “fully activated” that weekend, said Zanona, including civil disturbance units, and the Capitol Police were making their own preparations, expecting this event to attract far-right extremists and recognizing the “potential for violence and unrest.”

Zanona reported that “so far, only 300 people have told the event organizer that they plan to attend,” and the rally is scheduled for Saturday, when the House will be in recess, so there are hopes the event will stay peaceful, as many demonstrations have been in the past.

However, she continued, Capitol Hill was “still reeling” from both the Jan. 6 insurrection and the recent bomb scare.

“Democrats, in particular, are getting worried about the rhetoric that they are still hearing from their Republican colleagues, who continue to spread and embrace Trump’s lies about the election,” said Zanona. “They are amplifying their warnings that that type of language can really lead to more political violence.”

“The bottom line,” said Zanona, was that “no one wants to be alarmist or overly alarmist, but they are on high alert, and they are taking every precautionary step that they can, because nobody wants a repeat of January 6th.”

Watch the video above, via CNN.

Tags:
Sarah Rumpf - Contributing Editor

Sarah Rumpf joined Mediaite in 2020 and is a Contributing Editor focusing on politics, law, and the media. A native Floridian, Sarah attended the University of Florida, graduating with a double major in Political Science and German, and earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the UF College of Law. Sarah's writing has been featured at National Review, The Daily Beast, Reason, Law&Crime, Independent Journal Review, Texas Monthly, The Capitolist, Breitbart Texas, Townhall, RedState, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Austin-American Statesman, and her political commentary has led to appearances on television, radio, and podcast programs across the globe. Follow Sarah on Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky.