This afternoon Trump supporters invade Congress as Biden’s win was certified. As members of congress were holding a meeting to certify that presidential candidate Joe Biden indeed won the presidency.
As a result, the city of D.C. was put under a 6 p.m. citywide curfew. Congress is currently still on lockdown after being evacuated and put in recess. Members of the House and Senate are said to be protected in an undisclosed location as law enforcement works to secure Congress.
In an effort to combat the rioters the District of Columbia’s entire National Guard was activated with 1,100 groups and the governor of Virginia has also dispatched 200 State Troopers along with part of Virginia’s National Guard (NYTimes). Even local police from Montgomery County, Maryland have arrived at D.C. to help defend the Capitol.
Said protestors have entered the Senate floor and vandalized parts of Congress including shattering windows and ransacking Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi’s office. Multiple police officers and civilians have been injured by the mob violence and have been transported to the hospital. Thankfully, according to Senator Jeff Merkley senate staff members had obtained the ballots before any of the rioters had reached the floor.
President Trump is currently under extreme criticism for his lack of involvement in disabling the mobs of riots who are there waving his flags to support him. Many people politicians included are holding Trump responsible for these riots because they believe “he stirred them up and got the whole thing going” (Charles Ramsey, CNN). Only after facing mass criticism did Trump tweet out to his audience.
“I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”
As of now, the White House advisor claims that President Trump has no desire to continue attempting to calm his rioters. However, Vice President Pence did make a statement to the rioters on Twitter urging them to disarm and leave the Capitol building.
“Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building.”
President-elect Joe Biden spoke on the matters at the capitol on live TV urging Donald Trump to take responsibility and have his supporters stand down calling the riots “an assault on the rule of law” to which Donald Trump shortly after released a 62-second video clip that some would say is continuing to encourage the rioters. Trump makes false claims in this clip calling the election a “landslide” and assuring his viewers that he knows their “pain” and “hurt” over the “stolen election”. He ends his clip with a statement to his supporters at the capital.
“Go home. We love you, you’re very special, you’ve seen what happens, you see the way others are treated, that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel but go home and go home in peace”
This message is loud and clear while on paper Trump is technically telling his rioters to go home peacefully he continues to encourage them when he adds proven lies in his message. Even Twitter has restricted the President’s video from the engagement due to “a risk of violence”.
Political leaders from across the globe have made statements as well including the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, European Parliament President David Sassoli, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg all making similar remarks of how “unbelievable” and “shocking” the riots at the Capitol are calling the scenes “unacceptable” and “disgraceful”.
As the world has begun to react to these protest reporters state that similar riots held by more Trump supporters are also occurring. These events are taking place in a few cities such as Atlanta and Denver.
