Rep. Al Green
Alexander (Al) N. GreenBiden pledges support for Texas amid recovery from winter storm Biden turns focus into winter storm with trip to Texas LIVE COVERAGE: Senate opens second Trump impeachment trial MORE (D-Texas) is sending a message to QAnon and threats from right-wing extremists sitting on Capitol steps on Thursday, the date on which authorities warned that militia groups were potentially planning another violation of the building.
“I want to make a statement to let people know, those who threaten those of us who value this freedom that we have here, that we refuse to allow these threats to deny our freedom,” he told The Hill.
Capitol Police and the FBI have warned that militia groups that participated in the deadly Capitol insurrection on January 6 – when a group of Trump supporters tried to interrupt the certification of votes from the Electoral College – outlined plans for a second attack on 4 January. March.
Some conspiracy theorists have spread the idea that President Trump
Donald TrumpHouse approves voting rights and DEA electoral reform bill places agent seen outside Capitol Hill during leave of absence Georgia governor Kemp says he would “absolutely” support Trump as nominated for 2024 MORE will open on that date, despite losing the November presidential election.
Green’s decision to protest peacefully came after Congress canceled the vote on Thursday. House Democrats hastened approval of a police reform bill late on Wednesday due to news of credible threats emerging.
“I love my country and I believe that freedom is not free,” he tweeted. “Others have made great sacrifices for the freedoms I enjoy. I refuse to surrender our nation’s Capitol to those who restrict my freedom. Consequently, as a matter of personal principle, I will be at the Capitol complex today.”
I love my country and I believe that freedom is not free. Others have made great sacrifices for the freedoms I enjoy. I refuse to surrender our nation’s Capitol to those who would restrict my freedom. So, as a matter of personal principle, I will be at the Capitol complex today.
– Congressman Al Green (@RepAlGreen) March 4, 2021
Green said he feels he needs to take a stand against protesters to send a message that his antics will not upset democracy, adding that people have lost their lives fighting for freedom in America and it needs to be protected.
“I want to send a message to those who want to reduce our rights – I want them to know that I refuse to allow them to prevent me from enjoying this freedom that I have, that I will not renounce the freedom that I have. That means a lot to me, just sitting here and talking to several officers who came by, I see the fence with the barbed wire on top, there are troops all over the perimeter, ”he told Hill, noting the increase in security precautions since the January 6 attack.
The Texas Democrat said he saw the impact of discrimination and did not want to see the country regress, arguing that the former president’s rhetoric increased the division of the country.
“If you tolerate hate, you perpetuate it – anyone who tolerates hate perpetuates you,” he said. “If people get into it, it doesn’t crawl back under a rock.”
Lawmakers continue to struggle to find out how to best increase security after the January 6 attack, and Congress must continue to investigate how the building breach happened.
Capitol Police have requested that the National Guard’s presence on the Capitol campus be extended for another two months amid continuing security concerns.