Angry Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to disrupt Biden’s certification [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Trump supporters gathered at Capitol Hill as they turned violent and forced themselves inside the building, causing total chaos and disruption of the joint session.
• Biden asked Trump to urge the rioters to stand down, which the president did despite continuously claiming a ‘fraudulent’ election.
• GOP leaders Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) upheld the election results in their speeches.

January 6, 2021 ━ the day both Senate and House of Representatives were set to officially tally the Electoral College results and certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory ━ was met with chaos as hundreds of President Donald Trump’s supporters flocked at Capitol Hill and disrupted the joint session.

Police were visibly overwhelmed as protesters went into a frenzy, forcing their way to enter the Capitol as they echoed Trump’s baseless accusations of massive voter fraud on Election Day.

According to a law enforcement official, the incident caused legislators to initially shelter themselves under their desks and eventually got forced to evacuate the building to move to Fort McNair.

Police and violent demonstrators scrambled as authorities had to use their weapons to curb the influx of crowds who were able to penetrate the Capitol. Shots were fired and the riot resulted in the death of a woman.

Prior to the chaos, Trump addressed his supporters on Wednesday morning as he pleaded to continue fighting against the election results and go straight to the Capitol.

Biden made his own remarks following the riot as he asked Trump to urge the violent protesters to stand down. “This is not dissent. This is disorder. It’s chaos. Borders on sedition and it must end now.”

Trump followed suit as he uploaded a video on Twitter, asking the protesters to stay calm but he continuously reiterated his stand that the election “was stolen” from him and his supporters.

“We have to have peace, so go home. We love you. You’re very special,” he said.

Later, Twitter opted to take down Trump’s video, arguing that it could fuel more rage on the rioters. The social media platform locked the president’s Twitter account for 12 hours.

Prior to the intrusion, Vice President Mike Pence started the session by issuing a letter, dismissing himself from making any move that would contest the election results. 

In response to Pence’s statement, the president tweeted that he did not “have the courage to do what should have been done.”

Later on, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) addressed the lawmakers, saying that any effort to flip over the results would enable the nation’s democracy to succumb to a “death spiral.”

Legislators were appalled at how rioters successfully entered the Capitol, as they pointed to the undermanned police.

“I think they didn’t plan enough… There should have been an overwhelming display of force,” Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX.) said.

On their way out of the Capitol, parliamentary personnel took the boxes obtaining the Electoral College certificates and had them secured.

Source: Wall Street Journal