Next weekend, one week after the nation commemorates the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, another “rally” is planned for the U.S. capital, according to reporter Chris Marquette at Roll Call [1]:
The Capitol Police department is preparing for potential violence at a Sept. 18 protest that members of Congress have been invited to attend.
The organization Look Ahead America — led by Matt Braynard, a former Trump campaign employee — requested a permit for up to 500 people to demonstrate at noon Sept. 18 in Union Square for a so-called #JusticeForJ6 rally. The event is intended to support those arrested as a result of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 and to call for justice for a rioter who was fatally shot that day. More than 570 defendants have been arrested in connection with the attack, according to the Department of Justice [2].
An intelligence evaluation from the Capitol Police said there could be violence at the rally.
Some indications are this event may extend to “rallies” beyond D.C.
The Proud Boys put out a video that encourages members of the far-right extremist group to attend the rally, and White Lives Matter is promoting a nationwide protest on Sept. 18 that includes the District of Columbia, according to Capitol Police intelligence. White Lives Matter is described [3] by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a neo-Nazi group.
…
Violence and the threat of violence has been a constant on the Capitol grounds this year. Over 140 Metropolitan Police Department and Capitol Police officers were injured in relation to the Jan. 6 riot.
Shortly after the insurrection, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died; Officer Howard Liebengood later died by suicide. In April, Officer William “Billy” Evans [4]was killed when an attacker slammed a car into him and Officer Kenny Shaver, who was injured. And in August, law enforcement arrested a man claiming to have a bomb in his truck near the Capitol after a hourslong standoff with police.
Background:
-CNN: Capitol Police memo warns of potential for violence during September 18 rally – CNNPolitics [5]
-Reuters: U.S. Capitol Police brace for potential repeat of pro-Trump rally violence | Reuters [6]
-NBC Washington: Extremists to Attend Sept. 18 Capitol Rally; New Fence Possible – NBC4 Washington (nbcwashington.com) [7]
-The Hill: Police expect Capitol fencing reinstalled for Sept. 18 rally | TheHill [8]