By: Maria Giovanna Jumper
January 6, 2021 was supposed to go differently. Congress would begin session for an important and ceremonious aspect of our election process. Although today was supposed to go differently, it was never meant to include violence and a siege of the Capitol building.
Some Senate and House Republicans were set to object the certification of the electoral college vote, which would have been, mostly, an act of protest, as they did not have the votes to open a commission for further investigation.
Instead, protestors climbed the walls of the Capitol building’s exterior and pushed their way all the way to the House Chamber, where proceedings were taking place. It has now been reported by ABC News that protestors used chemical weapons on police officers in order to get hold of the Capitol building.
Notably, President Donald Trump said this morning, prior to the unrest at the Capitol, “We will not be intimidated into accepting the hoaxes and lies fed to us over the last few weeks,” at the “Save America March.”
Trump continued to say, “All of us here do not want to see our election victory stolen by emboldened, left, radical Democrats. That’s what they’ve done and what they’re doing… We will never concede. This was not a close election.”
He then called for his supporters to “show strength” and to “fight” for him. While saying to move protests to the Capitol building.
As protestors moved on the capitol building the movement changed to that of riot and siege. People moved on the Capitol building and congress-members were evacuated. Later shots were fired on the chamber floor and a woman was shot and has since died. Rioters touted that the election was stolen and that they would not allow democracy to be ruined, but then spewed violence on our Capitol.
As the events unfolded, President Trump tweeted, “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly and unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever!”
A much different reaction than his previous call of “when the looting happens the shooting happens” over the summer.
President-elect Joseph Biden has a very different tone. Biden called this a siege on the Capitol. He said, “This is not dissent. It’s disorder. It’s chaos. It borders on sedition and it must end now. I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward.”
Even Vice President Mike Pence, someone who has usually stood loyal to the President, has called for an end to this violence and the prosecution to the fullest extent of the law for anyone a part of this mob.
So, did this change anything? It seems the only change this made was deterring some of those above-mentioned Republicans from objecting the certification of the electoral college votes and renewed calls for impeachment of Trump and his removal from office. Others have called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked. This would mean the cabinet and Vice President would have to agree that Trump is unable to do his job as President and would remove him from office making Vice President Mike Pence the president until January 20th. Many are asking for the President to be held accountable for his constant rhetoric of an unfair and “stolen” election.
As the day comes to an end Congress has begun their voting process again. We must hope for a peaceful transfer of power from now-on and healing for our country and people.
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