Capitol Police have requested military support in Washington, DC, in preparation for a planned rally on Saturday supporting the people who were charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot.
Government officials are ensuring they won't be blindsided by chaos and violence this weekend like they were on January 6.
When the deadly Capitol riot took place the DC National Guard had just 40 troops on call to help with crowd control.
A source familiar with the request told CNN that this time around the Department of Defense has a 'much more deliberative process'.
At a briefing on Wednesday Pentagon press secretary John Kirby (pictured) said the officers asked the Department of Defense 'for the ability to receive National Guard support should the need arise on September 18'
When asked how many personnel were needed at the rally - dubbed Justice for J6 - Kirby replied that 'it's not a particularly large size or major capability'. He added: 'I think it's really more in the form of some manpower support'
Images from the January 6 violence feature MAGA hats and Trump 2020 flags
The US Capitol Police board has also approved the department's request to reinstall temporary fencing around the Capitol days ahead of the event, as rumors of violence happening at the rally has begun to circulate online.
At a briefing on Wednesday, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the officers asked the Department of Defense 'for the ability to receive National Guard support should the need arise on September 18'.
He added: 'I'm not going to detail the specific request. We're doing the analysis, we are in receipt of it, we're analyzing it and if it can be validated and supported, we'll do that and we'll look at the sourcing inside the department as to what's most appropriate.'
When asked how many personnel were needed at the rally - dubbed Justice for J6 - Kirby replied that 'it's not a particularly large size or major capability'.
'I think it's really more in the form of some manpower support,' he added.
The Justice For J6 rally is being organized by former Trump campaign staffer Matt Braynard, who has asked attendees not to wear clothing in support of the former or current president.
'Anyone not honoring this request will be assumed to be an infiltrator and we will take your picture, find out who you are, and make you famous,' he wrote.
Justice For J6 is taking place at noon on Saturday, when both chambers of congress will be on recess and far fewer politicians and staff will be in the area than usual.
Based off a prediction by an official at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) roughly 700 people are expected to attend, as reported by Yahoo News.
If 'everything goes well' the fence will be taken down 'very soon after' Saturday's event, Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a briefing on Monday.
The Justice For J6 rally is being organized by former Trump campaign staffer Matt Braynard (pictured), who has asked attendees not to wear clothing in support of the former or current President
Justice For J6 is taking place at noon on Saturday, when both chambers of congress will be on recess and far fewer politicians and staff will be in the area than usual
The Capitol Police told CNN they cannot provide any more specifics about how they plan to prevent another Capitol riot.
'We have have talked to the military and we have multiple agencies assisting. We cannot provide specifics as we do not want to give away security sensitive info,' they added.
Memories of the January 6 violence - when Trump supporters stormed Congress, leaving five people dead and 140 police officers injured - have put Washington, DC, on edge.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also wrote to lawmakers saying security officials would be better prepared this time.
'The leadership of the Congress, on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, has been briefed by the Capitol Police Board on the nature of the threat and the unprecedented preparations to address another attempt to defile our national purpose,' she wrote.
Images from January 6 show rioters wearing MAGA hats and waving Trump flags as they stormed the US Capitol. The events of that triggered President Trump's second impeachment
The rally aims to support the individuals charged in the Capitol riot and demand justice for Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot during the riot.
Braynard told DailyMail.com he was also asking participants not to wear Biden-themed merchandise. 'This rally is about protesting the treatment of these political prisoners. That has nothing to do with any candidate, nothing to do with the election,' he said.
'It's not a pro-Trump rally, an anti-Trump rally.
'It's not a pro or anti-Biden rally.
'It's not political in that way and we don't anything to distract from that,' he added.
More than 600 people have been charged for their involvement in the riot, with one rioter, the so-called 'QAnon Shaman' Jacob Anthony Chansley, 33, facing up to five years in prison. His sentencing will take place on November 17.
The Capitol riot took place as Congress certified the 2020 Presidential election results in favor of President Joe Biden.
Babbitt, 36, was shot dead by a Capitol cop as the air-force veteran climbed through a broken window in a door to the Speaker’s Lobby.
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