Update: The U.S. Capitol Police gave the all-clear sign on Thursday afternoon, announcing in a statement that the “suspicious package” found outside the Supreme Court on Thursday morning had been dealt with.
“The suspicious package, which we assisted with, is all clear. The roads around this area should reopen shortly. Have a safe day!” Capitol Police said.
ALL CLEAR: The suspicious package, which we assisted with, is all clear. The roads around this area should reopen shortly. Have a safe day! https://t.co/yK0pQwVqNp
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) June 29, 2023
Original Story: Law enforcement cleared the area in front of the Supreme Court on Thursday due to a “suspicious package” near the courthouse.
Supreme Court Police and U.S. Capitol Police cleared protesters and others from the front of the courthouse and sidewalk. On Thursday morning, the court released its highly-anticipated opinion on a challenge to race-based admissions at universities, broadly outlawing the practice known as affirmative action to schools receiving government funding.
JUST IN — The area outside of the Supreme Court is being evacuated.
Police are responding to reports of a “suspicious package." pic.twitter.com/cEoTJJWKuX
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 29, 2023
“We are assisting the Supreme Court Police with a suspicious package. Out of an abundance of caution, we are also helping keep the area clear. We cannot provide further information about another agency’s case, but we will keep the community updated about our involvement,” the U.S. Capitol Police reported on social media. Authorities also closed down street access.
We are assisting the Supreme Court Police with a suspicious package. Out of an abundance of caution, we are also helping keep the area clear. We cannot provide further information about another agency’s case, but we will keep the community updated about our involvement.
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) June 29, 2023
Authorities did not give specifics about the “suspicious package,” though Fox News’ Chad Pergram reported that the order to evacuate the Supreme Court area was given after a protester threw “water bottle and bag over the protective fence around the Court.”
“That’s why Supreme Court/USCP swung into action. Treating this as a suspicious package,” Pergram said.
Fox is told a protester through water bottle and bag over the protective fence around the Court. That’s why Supreme Court/USCP swung into action. Treating this as a suspicious package
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) June 29, 2023
