But it is still unclear how many protesters plan to attend. And the rally will take place on a Saturday, when both houses of Congress will be in recess, meaning there will be far fewer lawmakers or staff in the area.
Who are the organizers?
Baynard said in a recent interview with CNN, “This is a completely peaceful protest” and that “we’ve told people that when they come, we don’t want to see any message about the election, we don’t want to see any messaging on T-shirts and flags or signs about candidates or anything like that “.
Meanwhile, “White Lives Matter” announces world rally commercials for Sept. 18 and has backed the Jan. 6 online uprisings, but has no DC chapter.
What do police officers expect?
Police authorities are preparing for possible clashes and riots during the rally, according to an internal note from the Capitol Police reviewed by CNN.
There has been a noticeable increase in violent rhetoric surrounding the event and there has been heated debate over Babbitt’s shooting on social media and discussion boards, according to the note. The document warns that many people may also see September 18 as a rally of “Justice for Ashli Babbitt,” which may be a cause for concern, and it is not irrational to plan violent altercations.
There have been additional discussions about the violence associated with the event, with an online chat suggesting violence against Jewish centers and liberal churches, while law enforcement is distracted that day.
About 500 people have indicated that they plan to attend, although the note notes that recent events hosted by Look Ahead America were significantly lower than expected and were peaceful.
What security steps will there be?
Fencing had been erected around the Capitol after the commotion of January 6, but it was eventually reduced and withdrawn during the summer.
In addition, Capitol police said Monday in a statement that their board had “issued a declaration of emergency, which would take effect at the time of the demonstration and allow the Department to replace external police officers as special officers.” of the United States Capitol Police “.
What do lawmakers say about security preparations?
After Manger briefed the four congressional leaders on security preparations for the rally, Nancy Pelosi, speaking in the House, told reporters that planning “looks much better.”
But Pelosi also noted that he “has nothing to compare, because we were not informed before,” in reference to the January 6 insurrection. “So it’s not like I could compare it before, but … I’m sure we’ll have ongoing communication,” he added after leaving the briefing.
Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he believes Capitol police are “well-prepared, thorough, professional, and I think they are better prepared than the people before Jan. 6.”
CNN’s Melanie Zanona, Jessica Schneider and Whitney Wild contributed to this report.