Malinda Zaldivar
The proposal to build a permanent fence around parliament building is becoming a topic of controversy in both American public and political arena.
The call to build a fence to protect the parliament building was made by police chief of the US police force Yogananda Pittman after the Capitol Hill riots on January 6.
Security barriers were erected around the US congressional building in Washington on January 14 Photo: AFP.
However, this proposal immediately faced many objections.
Norton rejected the proposal, arguing that building a barricade cannot address core security, but only makes the apparent parliament building "look safer".
Several other lawmakers have expressed similar views to her.
Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss emphasized that "turning the symbol of democracy into a fortress is definitely a mistake".
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has said it will "never accept" the construction of a permanent, permanent fence in the capital.
