Fence Erected Around Supreme Court Amid Abortion Protests

Fence Erected Around Supreme Court Amid Abortion Protests
A person walks past a metal barricade patrolled by U.S. Capitol Police officers around the Supreme Court in Washington on May 5, 2022 (Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

Fencing was installed around the Supreme Court in Washington overnight May 4 as protests over a leaked opinion regarding Roe v. Wade continue.

Video footage and photographs showed workers erecting the fence, which stood about eight feet high and resembles the fence the U.S. Capitol Police put up around the U.S. Capitol following the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The Supreme Court did not immediately respond to emailed questions about the new barrier, including how long it will remain in place.

The fence replaced shorter barriers that people could easily scale.

The building, which sits across First Street Southeast from the Capitol, has been closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the leaked opinion was published on Tuesday, protesters began gathering outside the building to voice their views on the looming decision.

The draft opinion indicated a majority of justices are poised to strike down Roe v. Wade, which concluded that access to abortion is a constitutional right.

Both pro-abortion and pro-life protesters have been protesting outside the Supreme Court, with most supporting abortion.

Tensions have flared during the protests. Pro-abortion protesters at one point attacked counter-protesters.

Pastor Mark Lee Dickson argues with police officers
Pastor Mark Lee Dickson argues with police officers in front of the Supreme Court on May 4, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)
supreme-court-workers
Workers move fencing to the Supreme Court in Washington late May 4, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
fence-around-court
Workers set up fencing around the Supreme Court in Washington late on May 4, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
fence-view
Law enforcement officers talk as they stand behind fencing that was erected around the Supreme Court building in Washington on May 5, 2022. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush appointee, said this week that the leak will not “undermine the integrity of our operations” and that the work of the court “will not be affected in any way.”

Roberts ordered the court’s marshal to investigate the source of the leak.

A U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that the agency’s “security posture is enhanced,” but declined to share details on what that means.

The fence being erected came after Justice Samuel Alito, a George W. Bush appointee who penned the draft opinion, canceled plans to appear at an upcoming judicial conference.

The reason for the cancellation was not clear.

Two other justices—Clarence Thomas and Roberts—are reportedly scheduled to speak at a different conference being held in Georgia on May 5 and May 6.

From The Epoch Times

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