WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Federal authorities have reinstalled fencing around Washington’s Capitol in preparation for trucker protests imitating demonstrations against COVID-19-related restrictions. Police said this on Sunday.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger stated that authorities were taking the necessary precautions to ensure President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. He also said they wanted to prevent any interruption to the “important work of Congress”.

After Trump supporters invaded the Capitol Jan. 6, 2021 in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Congress from officially certifying Trump’s 2020 electoral loss to Biden, Trump supporters installed this fencing. It was taken down in July 2017.

An American group of truckers started a crossing-country journey from California and Washington last week. They were inspired by protests in Canada against COVID-19 restrictions, which paralyzed Ottawa for three consecutive weeks.

Last Wednesday, Adelanto was evacuated by more than 20 18-wheeler trucks and 50 pickups, as well as about 50 recreational vehicles. It is located about 80 miles (130km) north of Los Angeles. According to the self-proclaimed “People’s Convoy”, they are headed to the Beltway (a major highway that runs around the U.S. capital) to protest the removal of COVID-19 vaccinations and other masks.

In response to the protest, Pentagon officials previously indicated that they had authorized hundreds of National Guard troops as well tactical vehicles to assist at traffic points.