Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – A “non-scalable” fence was erected around the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday night in response to protests that erupted after a leaked draft of an opinion indicated the justices were planning to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Workers began installing the eight-foot fencing panels on the south side of the Supreme Court building, which is located directly across from the U.S. Capitol, on May 4, NBC News reported.
The new fence replaced bike racks that had blocked the building earlier in the day.
Police who were there described the fence as “non-scalable” and similar to what was erected around the U.S. Capitol complex after the Capitol riot, NBC News reported.
The fence built around the Capitol after the Jan. 6, 2021 riot has been put up and taken down several times since, including most recently when a trucker convoy planned to block city streets in the nation’s capital.
Heavy-duty fencing has been put up around the US Supreme Court following protests & threats of violence by the left over abortion. The same type of fencing was put up around the Portland federal courthouse due to #Antifa attacks in 2020. It remains today. pic.twitter.com/a2hIve2Tu7
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) May 5, 2022
Protests erupted in front of the nation’s highest court on Monday after someone leaked a draft opinion in a controversial Mississippi abortion rights case.
The draft ruling indicated that a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court justices were planning to vote to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling established in 1973, NBC News reported.
The Supreme Court was expected to issue its ruling in the Mississippi case in June or July.
Earlier this week, pro-life and pro-choice activists clashed during protests in front of the court and more demonstrations are planned, the Daily Mail reported.
One group called “Ruth Sent Us” published the home addresses of conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts.
Protesters have planned a demonstration at the justices’ homes on May 11, the Daily Mail reported.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would provide additional protection for the justices, including the addition of a 24/7 security detail.
“It’s not just an attack against the independence of the judiciary. This risks violence against members of the Supreme Court and their families,” Cornyn said.
“I introduced a piece of legislation to enhance the authorities of the Supreme Court law enforcement agencies to provide protective details for the judges and their families, who’ve already been threatened with violence,” the senator continued in a statement. “’Because we deal in these matters on a daily basis, to make that kind of threat to the Supreme Court is an attempt to intimidate the Justices and a threat to judicial independence.”
Holly Matkin
