Police secure Capitol after pro-Trump protestors occupy building
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Officials say that the U.S. Capitol building in Washington has been secured and cleared of demonstrators. Capitol Police and the National Guard worked to clear the building.
There was a demonstration in D.C. showing support for President Trump on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Protestors stormed the Capitol building as Congress was gathering to count the electoral votes for the 2020 Presidential election in an attempt to block the victory of former Vice-President Joe Biden.
The protestors, many of whom carried various flags and some of whom even wore costumes, stormed into the chambers where both houses of Congress meet as well as the offices of many lawmakers. Windows were vandalized and a photo surfaced of a man stealing the lectern of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House.
Capitol police fatally shot one of the protestors inside the building. The woman has yet to be identified.
This day marks the second time ever in history that the U.S. Capitol building has been stormed since British forces attacked D.C. in 1814 during the War of 1812.
President-elect Joe Biden condemned the events in the Capitol today in a speech given in Wilmington, Delaware, saying, “Our democracy is under unprecedented assault unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times.”
President Donald Trump released a taped statement on Twitter claiming that he won the election in a landslide but it was stolen from him. Despite this, the president also stated to protesters, “You have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We have to respect our great people in law and order.” This statement was taken down by Twitter because of disputed claims of election fraud. His account was later locked by the application.
