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January 6 United States Capitol attack

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2021 United States Capitol protests
Part of 2020–2021 United States election protests
DateJanuary 5–6, 2021
Location
Washington, D.C., United States
Caused byResistance to Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 United States presidential election
StatusOngoing
Parties
"Save America" rally protestors
Pro-Trump protestors
Casualties
Injuries1[2]
Arrested10[3]

On January 5–6, 2021, supporters of US President Donald Trump gathered in Washington, D.C. to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election, and support Trump's demand for Vice President Mike Pence and Congress to reject president-elect Joe Biden's victory.[4][5] At first, protestors gathered for the "Save America" rally, a planned event on The Ellipse where attendees heard speeches from Trump and Rudy Giuliani.

Before the speeches were over, some marched on Congress and stormed the building. Congress was in session at the time, conducting the Electoral College vote count, debating after Ted Cruz and Paul Gosar objected to the Electoral College count of Arizona's votes. Several buildings in the U.S. Capitol complex were evacuated, and protestors broke past security to enter the U.S. Capitol building, including National Statuary Hall.[3][6] All buildings in the Capitol complex were subsequently locked down.[7] There was reportedly an armed standoff at the doors to the House chambers,[8][9] and one person was reported to have been shot within the Capitol building.[2][10]

Background

The 2020 United States presidential election, held on November 3, 2020, was won by the Democratic candidate Joe Biden, who defeated the incumbent Republican president Donald Trump. Before, during and after the counting of votes, Trump and other Republicans attempted to subvert the election, falsely alleging widespread voter fraud and trying to deny and overturn results.[11]

On Thursday, December 31, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested that District of Columbia National Guard troops be deployed to support local police during the anticipated demonstrations. She wrote in her request that the guardspeople would not be armed, and that they would be primarily responsible for "crowd management" and traffic direction, allowing police to focus on security concerns. Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller approved the request on Monday, January 4.[12]

Trump had spent previous days suggesting that Vice President Pence should reject president-elect Joe Biden's victory, an act that is not within Pence's constitutional power, and he repeated this call in his speech on Wednesday morning.[13] On Wednesday afternoon, Pence released a letter to Congress in which he said he would not oppose Biden's victory.[13]

Events

"Save America" rally

Protestors began to gather in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, January 5, in advance of a planned rally the next day. On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, at least ten people were arrested.[3]

On the morning of Wednesday, January 6, protestors surrounded Washington Monument to rally. Several people gave speeches on The Ellipse, including Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani and Trump himself. Giuliani addressed the crowd, repeating conspiracy theories that voting machines used in the election were "crooked". Trump gave a speech from behind a glass barrier, attacking the media and calling for Pence to overturn the election results, something that is not within Pence's constitutional power.[13] At the rally, Trump also stated "we will never concede".[14]

Storming of the Capitol

Beginning at approximately 2:15 p.m.,[15] protestors began to attempt to storm buildings in the U.S. Capitol complex. Some buildings in the complex were evacuated, and rioters broke past security to enter the U.S. Capitol building, including National Statuary Hall.[3][6] All buildings in the complex were later locked down, with no entry or exit from the buildings allowed. Those within the building were asked to move into offices and lock their doors and windows; those outside were advised to "seek cover".[7] Members of Congress inside the House were told to put on gas masks after law enforcement began using tear gas within the building. ABC News reported that shots were fired within the Capitol building, and that there was an armed standoff at the front door of the House chambers.[8][9] A New York Times report indicated that police drew their guns inside the House of Representatives chamber.[16] One person was shot within the Capitol, under unclear circumstances.[2] Outside the building, several people broke glass windows and broke into the building.[10]

At approximately 2:31 p.m., Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a 6 p.m. curfew to go into effect that night.[17]

Reactions

Trump tweeted at 2:38 p.m., "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!" He had spent previous weeks promoting the Saving America rally.[18] Minutes earlier, he had denounced Pence and accused his deputy of failing to "do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution."[19] Laura Trevelyan argued that the events were "not what a peaceful transfer of power looks like".[20] Ralph Northam, governor of Virginia tweeted "My team and I are working closely with @MayorBowser, @SpeakerPelosi, and @SenSchumer to respond to the situation in Washington, D.C. Per the Mayor's request, I am sending members of the Virginia National Guard along with 200 Virginia State Troopers." [21] Terry Gainer described the protests as unprecedented in law enforcement, declaring that "this is a much more hateful crowd incited by the president, himself. It’s definitely something new in our business.” [22]

At 2:37 p.m., police officers successfully cleared protesters away from the Senate wing of the building and towards the Rotunda, and they are removing them out the East and West doors of the Capitol. [23]

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ a b c Hermann, Peter; Leonnig, Carol D. (January 6, 2021). "Person shot inside U.S. Capitol as chaos unfolds". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 6, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b c d McEvoy, Jemima (January 6, 2021). "DC Protests Live Coverage: Entire Capitol Now On Lockdown As Protesters Enter The Building". Forbes. Retrieved January 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Peñaloza, Marisa (January 6, 2021). "Trump Supporters Clash With Capitol Police At Protest". National Public Radio. Retrieved January 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Amenabar, Teddy; Zauzmer, Julie; Davies, Emily; Brice-Saddler, Michael; Ruane, Michael E.; et al. (January 6, 2021). "Live updates: Hundreds storm Capitol barricades; two nearby buildings briefly evacuated; Trump falsely tells thousands he won". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b Lang, Brent; Littleton, Cynthia (January 6, 2021). "U.S. Capitol on Lockdown, Pro-Trump Protestors Breach Police Lines". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b "Watch Live: Protesters Swarm US Capitol Steps as Congress Counts Electoral Votes". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Berge, Clint (January 6, 2021). "HAPPENING NOW: Armed standoff inside US Capitol, shots fired". WQOW. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  9. ^ a b News, A. B. C. "Updates: Capitol breached by protesters, shots reported fired inside". ABC News. Retrieved January 6, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ a b Moneymaker, Anna (January 6, 2021). "In Photos: Angry protesters and broken windows inside Statuary Hall". The New York Times. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Multiple sources:
  12. ^ CNN, Alex Marquardt, Barbara Starr, Alison Main and Devan Cole. "Pentagon approves DC mayor's request to deploy National Guard for upcoming demonstrations". CNN. Retrieved January 6, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b c Nickeas, Peter (January 6, 2021). "Pro-Trump supporters have flooded DC to protest president's election loss". CNN. Retrieved January 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Haberman, Maggie (January 6, 2021). "Trump, speaking to protesters, declares 'we will never concede.'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  15. ^ Fandos, Nicholas; Cochrane, Emily; Sullivan, Eileen; Thrush, Glenn; Kanno-Youngs, Zolan (January 6, 2021). "Pence and lawmakers evacuated as protesters storm the Capitol, halting Congress's counting of electoral votes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  16. ^ "Police draw guns inside the Capitol". The New York Times. January 6, 2021. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  17. ^ "DC Mayor Issues 6 p.m. Curfew Following Protests Wednesday". CBS Baltimore. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Edmondson, Catie (January 6, 2021). "Live Updates: Pro-Trump Protesters Storm the Capitol". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  19. ^ Conradis, Brandon (January 6, 2021). "Trump attacks Pence as protesters force their way into Capitol". TheHill. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  20. ^ "Pro-Trump protesters storm US Capitol and halt election debate". BBC News. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  21. ^ Northam, Ralph. "Ralph Northam on Twitter". Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  22. ^ "Pence evacuated, Capitol locked down as protesters push through fence, breach building". USA Today. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  23. ^ "Rioters breach Capitol as Congress certifies Biden's win". January 6, 2021.
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