Advertisement

U.S. Capitol reinstalls barricades as trucker convoy heads to Washington

Click to play video: 'Russia-Ukraine conflict: White House says U.S. will sanction Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov and others'
Russia-Ukraine conflict: White House says U.S. will sanction Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov and others
WATCH: Russia-Ukraine conflict: White House says U.S. will sanction Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov and others – Feb 25, 2022

Federal authorities are reinstalling fencing around the U.S. Capitol as Washington prepares for planned trucker protests inspired by demonstrations in Canada against COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, police said on Sunday.

Authorities were taking the step to protect President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech scheduled for Tuesday and to “prevent any disruption to the important work of Congress,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said.

The fencing was previously installed after supporters of former President Donald Trump rampaged through the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed effort to block Congress from formally certifying his 2020 election loss to Biden. It was removed last July.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

A group of American truckers began a cross-country trip from California to Washington last week, inspired by Canadian protests against COVID-19 restrictions that paralyzed Ottawa for three weeks.

Story continues below advertisement
Click to play video: 'Trucker protests: ‘Don’t think anyone feels there was a low bar’ to invoke Emergencies Act, Trudeau says'
Trucker protests: ‘Don’t think anyone feels there was a low bar’ to invoke Emergencies Act, Trudeau says

More than two dozen 18-wheeler trucks, along with about 50 pickups and recreational vehicles, left Adelanto, California, about 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Los Angeles, last Wednesday. This self-styled “People’s Convoy” is bound for the Beltway, a major highway encircling the U.S. capital, to demand an end to COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements.

The Pentagon previously said it approved hundreds of National Guard troops and tactical vehicles to help at traffic posts in light of the protest.

-Reporting by Joel Schectman; Editing by Will Dunham

Sponsored content

AdChoices