Extra security measures are being put in place around the U.S. Capitol ahead of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address set for March 1 in anticipation of a trucker protest inspired by the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, Ontario, coming to Washington.
Capitol Police released a statement Friday, roughly two weeks before Biden’s address to a joint session of Congress, discussing plans for the event to which all 535 members of Congress have been invited. This follows the Metropolitan Police Department saying it will deploy civil disturbance units a week ahead of the speech.
“Law enforcement agencies across the National Capital Region are aware of plans for a series of truck convoys arriving in Washington, DC around the time of the State of the Union. As with any demonstration, the USCP will facilitate lawful First Amendment activity,” Capitol Police said in the statement. “The USCP is closely coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including DC’s Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Park Police, the United States Secret Service and other allied agencies to include the DC National Guard.”
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The convoy, protesting COVID-19 rules, has sketched out five different routes, including ones that start in Ohio and California, before they merge in Washington by March 6. Organizers of the convoy expect to meet with a congressional welcoming committee to discuss policy changes related to the pandemic, according to Fox News.
Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said the threat of the convoy is not certain. However, law enforcement is prepared for anything that could happen in the capital city.
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“As for all of our First Amendment demonstrations that happen here in the city, we have to be in a posture of preparedness for the information that we know,” Contee said at a press conference. “Obviously, we follow the trends around the country. When we see trends that may impact us here in Washington, D.C., we prepare for them. I want to make sure that the resources that we have right now are prepared or anything that may come here to the District of Columbia.”
The Capitol was the site of a riot on Jan. 6 of last year that disrupted the process of certifying Biden’s 2020 election victory.
