Because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. “And we’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them. “And after this, we’re going to walk down there, and I’ll be there with you, we’re going to walk down…to the Capitol and we are going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women,” he said. At the rally held in Ellipse park, lawmakers and critics have pointed out, the president directed his followers to head to Capitol Hill. Several lawmakers, including members of the Republican Party, have blamed Trump for the violence that broke out in and around the Capitol. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Why is Trump being blamed for the violence? Police on Capitol Hill responded with drawn guns and teargas as hundreds of protesters stormed the building and sought to force Congress to undo President Trump’s election defeat /cKdUy8cvohįrom the NYT | A mob and the breach of democracy: The violent end of the Trump era Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the West wall of the the US Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. After one demonstrator managed to break a window and another the main doors that led up to the House Chamber, the crowd began entering the building in huge numbers.
Police attempted to retaliate with tear gas, but were heavily outnumbered and overwhelmed by the mob. Some Trump supporters were chanting, “We took over the Capitol.” But when some of the demonstrators began sparring with the police and climbing the walls around the Capitol building, officials ordered the evacuation of the Library of Congress, Madison Building and Cannon House Office Building.ĬHAOS ON CAPITOL HILL: A massive crowd of protestors forced a lockdown as members of Congress inside debated over Republican challenges to Joe Biden’s presidential victory. Meanwhile, lawmakers had begun to gather for a joint session in the House of Representatives to count the electoral votes. Trump spoke for around an hour, following which thousands began marching towards the Capitol. Many had even camped out overnight to catch a glimpse of President Trump and his top advisors and family members at the ‘Save America Rally’ that took place on Wednesday at the Ellipse, a park near the White House. Hours before the rioters stormed the US Capitol, huge crowds of Trump supporters had already filled the streets to protest against the certification of Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. According to Washington DC police, another woman and two men died in separate medical emergencies.Īlso in Explained | What is the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution that could be used to remove Trump? But what were the incidents that led up to the siege? (AP/PTI Photo)Īt least four people died in the attack, including one woman who was shot in the chest and killed inside the Capitol building, CNN reported. Police keep a watch on demonstrators who tried to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. Senators were escorted back into the Senate chamber to complete the certification of electoral college votes.
Videos show people breaking windows and pushing past barricades to forcefully enter rooms and offices in the Capitol.įour hours after the breach, officials announced that the demonstrators had been cleared out of the building and the Capitol was secure. The Trump supporters stopped to take photographs and film themselves as they made their way around the building. Lawmaker says staff were able to remove electoral ballots before rioters breached the Senate floor /hDIt7zjx2C But the lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives had already been evacuated. The protesters roamed through the halls freely, some even entering and looting the offices used by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers. In pictures | 25 photos that show the horror of Trump supporters storming Capitol Hill According to the Guardian, one of the rioters was seen climbing up on the dias and yelling, “Trump won that election.” The mob managed to get past the guards and enter the Senate chamber, where just moments earlier the election results were being certified. James Lankford: “Protesters are in the building.” /GNOCrtpAuNĪ raucous group of demonstrators - many of whom were waving ‘Trump 2020’ flags and wearing T-shirts and hats with the president’s signature ‘Keep America Great’ tagline printed - entered the second-floor lobby of the building right outside the Senate chamber, the doors of which were being guarded by law enforcement officials. #BREAKING: Senators pause Electoral College debate amid Capitol Hill protests.Īide to Sen.
The Capitol in Washington DC was placed under lockdown Wednesday after hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the historic building and wreaked havoc in an attempt to stall the certification of the election results.