Trump supporters breached the US Capitol: Here's what you need to know
Police clear the U.S. Capitol Building with tear gas as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather outside, in Washington, U.S. January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith
KUALA LUMPUR:Thousands of President Donald Trump supporters stormed Capitol Hill on Wednesday afternoon and clashed with the police. Congress was set to confirm and certify that President-elect Joe Biden won the US election in November.
As Trump refuses to concede, in his speech at the ‘Save America’ rally on Wednesday, he said:
“We’re going to walk down the capitol and we’re going to cheer on our Republicans and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country,”
This sparked violence in the Capitol.
Members of the Proud Boys stand in front of police at a rally in support of U.S. President Donald Trump at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon, U.S. January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester
Here's what we know so far:
A mob of hundreds broke past the police, dismantling metal barricades and climbing up the steps and banging the doors to the Capitol building. They demand Congress to overturn the election.
The mob managed to enter the Senate chamber where the election results were being certified. According to reports, a rioter stepped on the dais and yelled: “Trump won that election.”
Police said at least four people died at or near the Capitol, including one woman who was shot dead.
Trump called for peace, urged his supporters to support law enforcement. At the same time, he praised the mob as “very special” people and asked them to go home, while repeating how the election was stolen.
Trump also tweeted, telling his supporters to "remember this day forever".
Twitter has since locked Trump’s account for 12 hours and threatened a longer ban, which the social media giant described as “repeated and severe violations” of its policies.
Facebook, Instagram and YouTube also took down Trump’s posts.
Biden denounced the chaos and violence and called for Trump to end the siege. He said: “Let me be very clear. The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America. Do not represent who we are. What we're seeing is a small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness. This is not dissent. It's a disorder. It's chaos. It borders on sedition. And it must end now.”
Reinforcements were called in. Washington DC mayor, Muriel Bowser, activated the national guard and issued a citywide curfew from 6 pm on Wednesday until 6 am Thursday.
Almost four hours after the breach, officials announced that the Capitol was secure. The certification of electoral college votes resumed later Wednesday night.
Vice-President Mike Pence opened the session, saying: “To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today: You did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the people’s house… Let’s get back to work.”
A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump wearing a Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat reacts upon getting detained by the police while protesting in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Former living US presidents condemn the incident
Former US president Bill Clinton said the attack on the Capitol was fuelled by over four years of "poison politics" lit by Trump.
Former US president Barack Obama urged Republican leaders to "take the first steps towards extinguishing the flames" in the wake of the riots.
"History will rightly remember today's violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonour and shame for our nation." he said.
Former US president Jimmy Carter said he and former first lady Rosalynn Carter were "troubled" by the day's events.
Meanwhile Former US President George W. Bush warned in his statement that "insurrection could do grave damage to our Nation and reputation" and pleaded for people to "let the officials elected by the people fulfil their duties and represent our voices in peace and safety."
Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump confront police at a rally in support of Trump at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon, U.S. January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester
What happens now?
As a country who continuously prides itself as the ‘King of Democracy’, Biden says: “Our democracy's under unprecedented assault. Unlike anything, we've seen in modern times. An assault on the citadel of liberty, the Capitol itself.”
Many even questioned the radically different responses from law enforcement - a white crowd acting violently was handled gently compared to peaceful protesters over black man George Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis police officer.
The DC police chief, Robert Contee, said 13 people had been arrested so far in connection to the “riot” at the US Capitol.
Trump has only 14 days in office, and many are calling for impeachment.
Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar announced that she's drawing up articles of impeachment, tweeting: "We can’t allow him to remain in office, it’s a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfil our oath."
Some of Trump’s cabinet members are also discussing invoking Article 25, which will allow the cabinet to remove Trump from office.
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