The scenes of violence that occurred during the seizure of the Capitol by Trump supporters | The State
The day in which the Congress had to certify the victory of the democrat Joe biden In the November elections, it became a day of chaos and violence in which the process that normally marks the end of the electoral cycle had to be interrupted.
Supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol on Wednesday (the headquarters of the United States Congress in Washington DC) while the process of certifying the votes of the elections of last November 3 was carried out.
The assault on the building went on for hours and left at least one fatality, a woman who was shot in the chest whose identity was not made public.
The Washington DC metropolitan police reported that they made 13 arrests and seized five firearms.
The unusual events aroused rejection reactions inside and outside the United States.
Trump asked his supporters to go home, although he insisted on his unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud.
For his part, the president-elect Biden He demanded that those who caused the disturbances immediately withdraw and allow democracy to function.
In the evening, Congress resumed session after the Capitol was vacated and secured.
At BBC Mundo we review the events of this turbulent January 6.
March to the Capitol
After a massive rally in front of the White House in which he also participated Donald trumpHundreds of protesters marched to the Capitol to denounce what they consider to be electoral fraud of which there is no evidence and which has been rejected by judges in all instances.
After confronting the police outside the building, some they got enter el enclosure, which led to suspending the sessions of legislators and blocking access to the halls of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The two houses of Congress at that time began a joint session to certify the votes cast by the Electoral College on December 14, which proclaimed Biden president-elect.
The event, which is usually a mere ceremony, had generated great excitement this year, not only because of Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat, but because of the determination of some Republican lawmakers to object to the process.
Eviction of the hemicycle
While the forces of order tried to control the situation, the legislators took refuge in their offices and the vice president Mike pence, who was chairing the certification session, was transferred to a safe place.
Videos posted by journalists on social media showed clashes between guards and protesters in the halls of the Capitol.
In images posted on the internet, extremists who supported the president could be seen inside the Senate chamber.
BREAKING: revolution in process as Trump supporters break into the Capitol building, attacking police, breaking windows, and knocking down doors
Full anarchy at this “mostly peaceful” demonstration DC
The people have pushed through & are storming to main chambers pic.twitter.com/NW6VDDNBQw
– ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) January 6, 2021
The Mayor of Washington DC announced a curfew which came into force at 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT).
What was Trump’s reaction
At first, President Trump made calls for peace through Twitter.
“Please support our Capitol Police and law enforcement. They really are on the side of our country. Keep the peace! ”He wrote.
Minutes later, he insisted on his call to respect the law, but voices emerged that asked him for a stronger condemnation or even for him to appear from the White House.
Finally, he shared a video on the same social network in which he asked the protesters to go home, not without first insisting on his idea that the elections were “a robbery.”
“I know your pain. I know they suffer, ”he is heard saying. “But they have to go home now.”
“We must have peace. We must have law and order. This was a fraudulent election, but we can’t play their game. We have to have peace ”.
Shortly after the police managed to regain control of the Capitol, Trump shared in a new tweet a video in which he addressed his followers as “great patriots” and once abounded in his false theory that the elections were stolen from him, which earned him Twitter blocking his account for 12 hours.
Twitter, YouTube and Facebook withdrew the video for incitement to violence and for fueling the theory of electoral fraud.
Before the situation turned violent, during his morning speech, Trump had lashed out at the media and big tech companies.
“We will never concede, we will never accept defeat”he defiantly stressed to a crowd that shouted “Let’s fight for Trump!”
The rejection of Biden and other figures
President-elect Joe Biden also spoke publicly about the serious events.
“Right now, our democracy is under unprecedented assault, the likes of which we have not seen in modern times,” Biden said vehemently in a televised intervention.
“An assault on a city of freedom, the Capitol itself. An assault on people’s representatives, on the Capitol police, on public servants (…). It is not a protest, it is an insurrection“, He emphasized.
For his part, Vice President Pence demanded an end to the violence with this message: “The violence and destruction taking place in the US Capitol Must Stop and Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect the law enforcement officers and immediately leave the building. “
Pence added that those responsible for criminal acts will be brought to justice.
From the Democratic and Republican ranks, an end to the violence was also demanded and there were voices that demanded the launch of a process of impeachment to remove Trump from power.
Numerous foreign leaders also sent messages of concern and solidarity and the US Department of Defense guaranteed the institution’s respect for the Constitution and democracy.
“We spoke with the Vice President, House Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Leader Mtich McConnell, Senator Schumer, and Congressman Hover about the situation on Capitol Hill,” Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher wrote in a statement. Miller.
“We have fully activated the National Guard to assist federal and local security forces as they peacefully deal with the situation. We are prepared to offer additional support if necessary and appropriate as requested by local authorities. Our staff took an oath to defend the Constitution and our democratic form of government and will act accordingly, ”he added.
Restart of the Congress session
The session interrupted by the violent events resumed late on Wednesday, with legislators ready to carry out the certification of the result of the November elections.
Addressing his colleagues in the Senate, Republican Ben Sasse held Trump accountable for the day’s unrest.
“This violence was the ugly and inevitable result of the president’s addiction to constantly stoking division,” he denounced.
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