BREAKING: Pro-Trump rioters breach US Capitol building, tear gas deployed
BREAKING: Pro-Trump rioters breach US Capitol building, tear gas deployed
Protests disrupted counting of Electoral votes
This is a developing story. Protesters were whipped into a frenzy by President Trump this morning and then angered by Vice President Pence’s decision not to intervene in the counting of the Electoral votes. The protest turned into a riot when members of the mob breached security at the Capitol building and broke into both the House and Senate chambers.
The riot started as Congress was debating Paul Gosar’s (R-Ariz.) objection to counting the electoral votes from Arizona. The Senate was abruptly called into recess as Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) gave his remarks.
Fox News has reported that tear gas was used against the trespassers. “Q” signs and flags have been spotted in the crowd as well.
Trump supporters have crossed the line from protesting the election to an insurrection. In contrast to the Black Lives Matter protests, the Trump protesters are attempting to overthrow the duly-elected government of the United States and install their preferred president for a second term.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger called the violence a “coup attempt” while Rep. Justin Amash called it an “insurrection.”
President Trump tweeted that people should remain peaceful and respect the law.
As I write this at 3:18 pm Eastern time, Fox News is reporting that shots have been fired. There are pictures of law enforcement officers with guns drawn inside the Capitol building. A Twitter video shows a woman reportedly shot in the neck inside the Capitol.
This incident proves that there is an anti-democratic (small “d”) faction within Trump’s base inside the GOP. While this faction does not represent all Republicans, it is large enough to be very dangerous.
The Republicans who have seconded the president’s false claims are partly to blame. The Republicans involved in the objections to the Electoral College should be ashamed of themselves for what they have wrought.
Read Jay’s commentary on Donald Trump’s incitement of the riot in which he asked, “Where do we go from here? None of us want to be Banana Republicans.”
This is a developing story.
The narrative among Trump supporters is that the riot was carried out by antifa. A Facebook friend just posted a picture of protesters inside the Capitol. One of them supposedly has a hammer and sickle tattooed on the back of his hand. There's no end to the insanity.
"Party of Law and Order" my ass. They wouldn't know law and order if it bit them. Shameful behavior from the president and his sycophants. This is only fitting, how it should end, the whole ugly mess of trump's sick follower's being thrown in prison along side the orange guy.
This is what happens when you allow blatant lies to become standard fare from so many on the right. It's on every one of them. You freaking morons own it, all of it.