A group of 42 House Republicans sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demanding the removal of the “militarized Capitol fence” that authorities installed following a “terrible” rebellion on January 6.
“It’s time to open the People’s House,” said Representative Ted Budd of North Carolina, who organized the letter.
Crews erected the fence to increase security after the massive breach, which left five people dead, including a Capitol policeman who was injured in the chaos, and before Inauguration Day.
“The United States Capitol is a symbol of freedom both at home and abroad,” wrote Budd in the letter. “It is a place where Americans from all walks of life can visit, learn and witness the history of the United States. Unfortunately, because of fortress-like security, this is no longer the case.”
CAPITOL FOR NBE PROTECTED BY ‘NON-SCALABLE’ FENCE THROUGH THE OPENING
On a temporary basis, fencing made sense, argues the Republican charter. But keeping it in place for a long time, they said, seems wrong.
“Understandably, certain security measures increased after that date have been implemented,” says the letter. “But it is time for Congress and its representatives to stop hiding.”
UNITED STATES – JUNE 25: Rep. Ted Budd, RN.C., gives an interview to television news outside the Capitol before the George Floyd Policing Justice vote of 2020 on Thursday, June 25 2020. (Photo by Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Even Washington’s Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser rejected the idea of permanent fencing.
“We will not accept extra troops or permanent fences as a long-term device in DC,” she said last week.
In an opinion piece on the subject that appeared on Townhall.com on Wednesday, Budd argued that the fence “is a tremendous symbolic stain in our country”.
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“It is amazing that communist China allows its citizens more freedom to visit historic sites like Tiananmen Square in its capital than it currently exists for Americans who wish to visit our Capitol in Washington, DC,” he wrote. “Americans face challenges head on and overcome them. We are not afraid. Our leaders need to lead. It is the patriotic thing to do.”