The former commander of the Washington D.C. National Guard, House Sergeant-at-Arms William Walker announced on Sunday evening that the Capitol Police Board had issued an “emergency declaration” in response to the arrival of the anti-vaccine, pro-Trump “People’s Convoy.”
Walker’s letter addressed to all members of Congress and their staff states, “The Capitol Police Board has issued an emergency declaration to ensure that the US Capitol police are able to operate and respond, as necessary.” CNN reported that Walker advised members to use “public transportation” and “consider telework options” should they have to come to the Capitol.
For the second day in a row, the convoy has done a 64-mile (102.9km) loop of the Capital Beltway to show their opposition to any public health measures aimed at combating the spread of the coronavirus, which purportedly still continues to kill on average, more than 1,500 people each day in the United States. The convoy avoided entering Washington D.C.
During a mass meeting Monday morning, co-organiser of the convoy and Republican operative Brian Brase acted as a voice for the crowd, expressing some of the many concerns they have. He is quoted as saying, “I’m fearful … of them trying to do to us what they did to those involved on January 6. It is our belief that they will try to do that.”
Around 750 participants have been charged for their actions in the attack on the Capitol, but other high-level collaborators as well as former president Donald Trump have not been charged – around 14 months after the attempt to block certification of the election and overthrow the Constitution to keep Trump in the White House.
Brase said, “So with that said, we are making diplomatic moves. That means that we are not, at this time, meaning today and tomorrow, we are not and will not, go into D.C. proper.”
While the convoy remains outside Washington D.C., Brase tweeted, “Just got word Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) has officially confirmed meeting with us and he’s working with Ted Cruz.”
Cruz was among the seven Republican senators who voted in an attempt to overturn the election of Biden after the January 6th attack on the Capitol.
Meetings are also said to be set between Republican representatives Matt Gaetz (Florida), Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia) and the convoy on Tuesday.
