US CAPITOL POLICE TO BOOST SECURITY FOR NETANYAHU SPEECH

Sun 21 July 2024:

The US Capitol Police said Friday that there will be an increased law enforcement presence at the Capitol for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress next week.

Netanyahu is expected to face protests from both outside demonstrators and members of Congress, with some lawmakers vowing to boycott the speech, Axios reported.

The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights said in a statement Friday that “tens of thousands of people from across the US” will gather at the Capitol on Wednesday to demand a “citizen’s arrest” of Netanyahu.

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The Capitol Police’s plan includes “adding more officers – including from several outside agencies” and “ensuring that we have enough resources for our teams”, according to a statement from the department.

“We anticipate a large number of demonstrators to show up. We respect everyone’s First Amendment rights, however all demonstrations must be done peacefully and legally,” the statement said.

The House sergeant-at-arms said in a notice to congressional offices on Friday that “anti-scale fencing” will be erected around the Capitol, similar to this year’s State of the Union address.

There will also be security at vehicle and pedestrian access points and road closures, including to “address demonstration activity”, the notice said.

The notice encouraged staffers and lawmakers to move between House offices and the Capitol through the complex’s underground tunnels instead of going above ground.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) turned up the temperature around the speech Thursday by announcing plans to “have extra sergeants-at-arms on the floor”.

If Democrats get “out of hand” in protesting or disrupting the speech, he said, “We’re going to arrest people if we have to do it.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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