Chaos erupted at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as a mob of supporters of President Trump stormed the building in a violent scene that’s been likened to an attempted coup or an insurrection.
Lawmakers were evacuated as the rioters breached the barricades as Congress met to certify the results of the presidential election. Thousands of protesters, waving “Don’t Tread on Me” flags and shouting “stop the steal,” flooded Capitol Hill and paraded through National Statuary Hall, creating a tense standoff with law enforcement that dissolved into violence. Tear gas was reportedly deployed in the Rotunda and shots were fired.
CNN reported that a woman was in critical condition after being shot in the chest on the Capitol grounds.
Journalists who were at the scene said police had their guns drawn as protesters banged on the doors of Congress. Video images showed the demonstrators smashing windows and climbing into the building. Igor Bobic, a reporter for HuffPost, tweeted that the president’s supporters eventually entered the chamber, with one taking the dais to yell, “Trump won that election!”
Capitol Police have asked for additional law enforcement assistance, while D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew beginning at 6 p.m.
The protesters were heeding the calls of President Trump, who has falsely claimed that the Nov. 3 presidential election was thrown to his Democratic challenger Biden by widespread voter fraud. His claims have lacked evidence and have suffered one legal setback after another.
Before the protests escalated, thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington, D.C. this week to take part in what has been billed as the Save America Rally held on the National Mall. Earlier on Wednesday, the president addressed a cheering crowd shortly before Congress met to certify the results.
“We will never give up. We will never concede,” Trump said.
Trump said that demonstrators would walk up to the Capitol to “cheer on our brave senators” who were opposing certification.
(Excerpt) Read more in: Variety