What began as a constitutional gathering descended into an evening of chaos. The nation’s senators and representatives were civilly counting the electoral votes when suddenly a group of Trump supporters trespassed into the nation’s Capital. What began as a protest against the electoral count escalated into violence and a riot.
President Donald Trump had been promoting a protest against the election results via Twitter since Jan.1.
The rioters damaged windows and doors and clashed with law enforcement to enter the building. Members of Congress immediately evacuated the Senate chamber and the Capital building was under lockdown. Law enforcement was seen at the scene attempting to control the crowd, but they were outnumbered.
Many images provided by Getty Images, Associated Press, NBC, CNN, and other news sources exemplify the madness occurring at the Capital building. Rioters are seen wearing clothing and holding flags associated with right-wing ideologies such as pro-trump paraphernalia, blue lives matter flags, MAGA flags, and even the U.S. confederate flag many associate with white supremacy.
Rioters were seen sitting on House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk and left a warning note that states, “We will not back down.” In an attempt to stop the rioters, law enforcement was seen spraying pepper spray at them. Tear gas was thrown, but it is still unknown whether law enforcement or the rioters deployed it. An armed standoff occurred at the House front door and inside the Senate chamber, according to news reports.
According to White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, President Donald Trump has ordered the National Guard and other federal defense services to Washington D.C. and was approved by the Pentagon. A pike bomb at the Capital building was found and detonated. It is still unknown whether the bomb was real or a hoax, but other pike bombs were found throughout Washington D.C., according to CNN. Many individuals were injured and one was shot. A woman who successfully entered the Capital building along with the mob was fatally shot by law enforcement trying to prevent the rioters from entering, the Washington Post reports.
This act of rioting against the Capital and constitutional electoral votes has sparked outrage. Many are addressing President Trump as to how poorly he addressed this situation. Following the protests and riots of the Black Lives Matter Movement in June, President Trump stated in a tweet, “Anarchists, Agitators or protesters who vandalize or damage our Federal Courthouse in Portland, or any Federal Buildings in any of our cities or States, will be prosecuted under our recently re-enacted Statues & Monuments act. Minimum of 10 years in prison. Don’t do it!”
Many politicians and Americans who are in support of the BLM movement are in a state of confusion and anger as to why President Trump has not addressed this situation in the same manner. Right-wing supporters are also calling for action to put an end to the chaos at the Capitol building.
President-Elect, Joe Biden was initially intending on presenting a speech about the nation’s economy, but, instead, addressed the violent protest and called it, “an unprecedented assault, unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times.”
He also addressed President Trump by stating, “I call on President Trump to go on national television now, to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege.”
President Trump did eventually address the rioters and demanded that they “go home.” He also called for the National Guard but the debates of this exemplifying white privilege and white supremacy due to the rioters not being treated as the BLM protestors and rioters has sparked outrage throughout all social media platforms among the citizens and residents of America and also those of other countries.