Chaos outside and inside the Capitol as Congress was certifying Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
Pro-Donald Trump protesters, upset at the outcome of the presidential election, stormed the US Capitol Wednesday as Congress met to tally the electoral votes that certify Joe Biden’s election as president.
Protesters overwhelmed US Capitol Police outside and numerous protesters breached security and entered the Capitol building, creating a scene of chaos and causing members of Congress to flee the House and Senate chambers to be safely locked down in their offices while some were evacuated elsewhere.
At around 2pm (19:00 GMT), while Senators were debating an objection to Arizona’s electoral votes raised by Republican Trump supporters, debate was halted when word came that protesters were in the hall outside of the Senate chamber.
As @SenatorLankford speaks:
“The Senate will stand in recess until the call of the chair.”
“Protesters are in the building.” pic.twitter.com/35KgJfVxHM
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 6, 2021
Protesters have breached the Capitol. They’re outside the Senate chamber pic.twitter.com/I021tKliUD
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2021
By 19:47 GMT, there were reports of guns drawn inside the House chamber:
You can see the guns drawn by some kind of Capitol security here. https://t.co/urZfaz0Muq pic.twitter.com/tI6uV9RHoZ
— Evan Hill (@evanchill) January 6, 2021
As the protests escalated, Trump first tweeted more criticism of his vice president, Mike Pence, who was presiding over the congressional vote tally, then urged his supporters to “Stay peaceful!” a request that did not seem to be heeded.
Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
Crowd now trying to break down doors to House chamber!
— John Bresnahan (@bresreports) January 6, 2021
At least one protester made it into the Senate chamber and shouted “Trump won that election” from the dais.
They’re in the chamber. One is up on the dais yelling “Trump won that election!” This is insane pic.twitter.com/p6CXhBDSFT
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2021
Trump’s former White House communications director, Alyssa Farah, pleaded with the president to condemn the protesters, saying “you are the only one they will listen to”.
Condemn this now, @realDonaldTrump – you are the only one they will listen to. For our country!
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) January 6, 2021
As overwhelmed law enforcement tried to deal with the swarms of protesters, the mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, implemented a citywide curfew for 21:00 GMT. Bowser had preemptively asked for National Guard assistance earlier this week, however, there are multiple news reports that indicate the Defense Department denied a request to deploy the National Guard to help at the US Capitol.
BREAKING: A source tells me The Defense Department has just denied a request by DC officials to deploy the National Guard to the US Capitol.
— Aaron C. Davis (@byaaroncdavis) January 6, 2021
