Hundreds of Trump supporters overturned barricades and clashed with police on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol where Congress abruptly recessed a meeting to certify Biden’s electoral win.
WOW—footage of the very moment the US Capitol building was breached. pic.twitter.com/yzIScvldUN
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— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 6, 2021
Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier addressed thousands of supporters, including members of far-right groups, at a rally in Washington protesting Wednesday’s meeting of Congress to confirm his election loss to President-elect Joe Biden in November.
Middle East media covering the storming of US Capitol makes you feel some type of way pic.twitter.com/Pc0oJhuuuR
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— kos_data (@kos_data) January 6, 2021
A short walk from the rally, hundreds of Trump supporters overturned barricades and clashed with police on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol where Congress was meeting, clambering onto the structures erected for Biden’s inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20 to unfurl Trump flags and gathering on the Capitol steps. Police used teargas and pepper spray on some of the protesters.
Trump, who has spent much of his time since the Nov. 3 election trying to overturn the results, falsely said he won as he spoke on an outdoor stage framing the White House, which Biden is due to move into in two weeks.
Crowds gathered at the “Save America March” wore Trump-approved red baseball caps and cheered as Trump repeated the groundless conspiracy theories that have consumed his final days in office — a period in which coronavirus infections have surged throughout the United States as the pandemic worsens.
“You don’t concede when there’s theft involved,” Trump, a Republican, said after taking the stage following a playlist blasted over loudspeakers of power ballads by Elton John and Phil Collins. “Our country has had enough and we will not take it any more.”
Curfew in Washington
Washington, DC, will be under a 6:00 p.m. curfew tonight, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced in a tweeted statement. It will remain in effect until 6:00 a.m. Thursday.
The Electoral College certification vote has been paused after protesters incited by Trump breached the Capitol building.
“During the hours of the curfew, no person, other than persons designated by the Mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand, or motor by car or other mode of transport” within the district, the statement said.
The US House and Senate were forced into emergency recess on Wednesday after protesters supportive of outgoing President Donald Trump breached security cordons and entered the Capitol building after clashing with police.
“Without objection the chair declares the House in recess,” congressman Jim McGovern said, banging down the gavel as loud shouts and disturbances could be heard in the public galleries in the chamber.