On Wednesday, January 6, pro-Trump rioters have stormed the US Capitol amid the Congress meeting to certify the Electoral College results of the 2020 presidential election.
How the riots started
On January 6, shortly after 1 p.m. ET, hundreds of pro-Trump protesters pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear, some calling the officers "traitors" for doing their jobs. About 90 minutes later, police said demonstrators breached the building, and the doors to the House and Senate were being locked. Shortly after, the House floor was evacuated by police. Vice President Mike Pence was also evacuated from the chamber, where he was to perform his role in the counting of electoral votes.
Donald Trump
The certification process was halted due to the on-going protests. Earlier President Trump had urged protesters to march on the Capitol after making false claims of electoral fraud, and his words 'directly led' to violence. Trump supporters smashed everything around. Congressmen and journalists were evacuated immediately.
Capitol “clean-up” operation
An armed standoff took place at the House front door at about 3 p.m. ET, and police officers had their guns drawn at someone who was trying to breach it. A woman died after being shot in the chest on the Capitol grounds. DC police confirmed the death of Trump supporter Ashley Babbitt, who served in the US Air Force for 14 years. According to her husband, Babbitt was a "great patriot." She was shot by a security guard through the door as she tried to crawl inside. Meanwhile, police Chief Robert Contee said three other people died from medical emergencies during the riot.
Multiple officers have been injured with at least one transported to the hospital. Smoke grenades were used on the Senate side of the Capitol, as police worked to clear the building of rioters.
The Senate floor was cleared of rioters as of 3:30 p.m. ET, and an officer told that they successfully squeezed them away from the Senate wing of the building and toward the Rotunda. The protesters were removed through the east and west doors of the Capitol. At least 52 people were arrested as of 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday in Washington.
The US Capitol Police worked to secure the second floor of the Capitol first and were seen just before 5 p.m. ET pushing demonstrators off the steps on the east side of the building. It took until roughly 5:40 p.m. ET for the building to once again be secured, according to the sergeant-at-arms. Reminding, that 6 p.m. ET curfew was introduced in Washington.
Lawmakers began returning to the Capitol after the building was secured and made it clear that they intended to resume their intended business -- namely, confirming Biden's win over Trump by counting the votes in the Electoral College.
The reactions of Donald Trump and Joe Biden
Trump finally called on his supporters to "go home" hours after the riot started, but spent a large amount of time in the one-minute video lamenting and lying about his election loss.
"I know your pain, I know you're hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it. Especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace," he claimed. However, later on in the evening Trump justified the mob's actions and praised them.
"These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!" he said, in a tweet that was later deleted by Twitter. In addition, Twitter soon blocked the account of US President Donald Trump for 12 hours due to "an unprecedented violent situation in Washington”.
In turn, Joe Biden issued a strong rebuke of the far-right Trump supporters' breach of the building as Congress attempted to count the Electoral College votes. He called it “an assault on most sacred of American undertakings, the doing of the people's business” and called on "President Trump to go on national television now, to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege”.
The reaction of the world leaders
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson described the unfolding protest in Washington as “disgraceful.”. “The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power,” Johnson wrote in a tweet.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed concern about the violent scenes and said he was following the situation “minute by minute.” “I think the American democratic institutions are strong, and hopefully, everything will return to normal shortly,” Trudeau told the News 1130 Vancouver radio station.
In a recorded statement, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “what happened today in Washington, D.C., is not America, definitely.” “We believe in the strength of American democracy,” he added.
Volkan Bozkir, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, wrote that he was hopeful “democratic processes will prevail.” “I’m saddened & concerned by today’s developments at the Capitol in #WashingtonDC. The US is one of the world’s major democracies,” he added.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the violence “shocking” and urged Americans to respect the outcome of the November election, a call echoed by European Parliament President David Sassoli.
Sassoli, who oversees the lawmaking party of the European Union, wrote that the scenes from the U.S. Capitol were “deeply concerning.” “Democratic votes must be respected. We are certain the U.S. will ensure that the rules of democracy are protected,” added Sassoli.
What is next?
A woman died during the siege
After clearing the building, Congress resumed the certification process.
Biden's inauguration will take place during the curfew in the US capital - the mayor of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, has announced the extension of the emergency regime in Washington for 15 days - until January 21. The inauguration of the new president is scheduled for January 20.
As was reported by "Apostrophe", the Democratic Party of the United States, led by newly elected President Joe Biden, wins the Senate election.