The U.S. Capitol has been locked down after pro-Trump protesters broke into the building following an incendiary speech from the president in which he vowed never to concede defeat and called on his supporters to march on Congress.
“We will never give up,” President Trump told a rapturous reception from a stage in Washington, D.C. “We will never concede.”
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After the defiant speech, thousands of rallygoers who had arrived in Washington to contest the results of the presidential election swarmed the outside of the Capitol, breaking past U.S. Capitol Police and metal fencing.
The Senate and House were adjourned, with leaders rushed off the floor by their security details as the groups breached several layers of security and gained access to the Capitol chambers. Both chambers had only just broken off to debate the election results, starting with Arizona, when the chaos began to unfold.
Staff inside the building have been ordered to shelter in place. Two adjacent House office buildings were evacuated through underground tunnels.
Pictures emerged from inside the Senate showing a protester raising a defiant fist from the seat Vice President Mike Pence had occupied only moments before. Images also showed police clashing with protesters outside the building, pepper-spraying them as they advanced, while videos also emerged showing windows being broken and scaffolding being scaled.
At least one person is in critical condition after being shot during the chaos, while at least another five people have been transported to hospital. In the House, plainclothes law enforcement officers could be seen aiming guns at the glass doors from inside the House chamber; the police guns were aimed through the gallery door windows, which were shattered by the protesters.
Lawmakers in the House chamber, and reporters observing from the gallery, were provided gas masks. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Tennessee Democrat, yelled, “Tell Trump to call your people off!”
Rep. Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat, tweeted: “I just had to evacuate my office because of a pipe bomb reported outside. Supporters of the President are trying to force their way into the Capitol and I can hear what sounds like multiple gunshots.”
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois labeled the scenes a “coup attempt.”
Amid the chaos, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she’s ordering a citywide curfew, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday.
Back at the White House, Trump appealed to the mob with two tweets, first saying: “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!”
He followed that up more than 30 minutes later, saying: “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”
He subsequently ordered he deployment of the DC National Guard. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and his Maryland counterpart Larry Hogan announced they would be doing the same thing.
Today, I'm ordering a citywide curfew for the District of Columbia from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7. pic.twitter.com/lp6Pt3DcYC
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 6, 2021
Law enforcement officials said Trump has responsibility for quieting his own protesters.
“What I want President Trump to do is shut the hell up and get the hell out of the way,” former D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey said on CNN. “Just shut up. He’s stirred them up. He got this whole thing going. This is as close as a coup attempt that this country has seen.”
Capitol Hill reporters noted the ease with which protesters breached security.
They’re in the chamber. One is up on the dais yelling “Trump won that election!” This is insane pic.twitter.com/p6CXhBDSFT
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2021
