Page 2 - aruba-today-20210107

A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 7 January 2021
the blessing of the presi- under their seats for cover
dent and also because and put on gas masks af-
of the underlying goal of ter tear gas was used in
overturning the results of a the Capitol Rotunda. Some
lawful presidential election. House lawmakers tweet-
The chaotic protests halted ed they were sheltering in
Congress' constitutionally place in their offices.
mandated counting of the Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif.,
Electoral College results, told reporters he was in
in which Biden defeated the House chamber when
Trump, 306-232. Republican protesters began storming
Senate Majority Leader it. Security officers "made
Mitch McConnell had tried us all get down, you could
to steer Congress away see that they were fend-
from Wednesday's formal ing off some sort of as-
protest of those results, and sault, it looked like. They
he said at the start of pro- had a piece of furniture up
ceedings that Trump had against the door, the door,
clearly lost. the entry to the floor from
Wednesday's ordinar- the Rotunda, and they had
ily mundane procedure of guns pulled," Peters said.
Congress certifying a new "And they just told us to
People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. president was always go- take our pins off," he add-
Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. ing to be extraordinary, ed, referring to lapel pins
Associated Press with Republican support- members wear so Capitol
ers of Trump vowing to Police can quickly identify
It was Vice President Mike Biden said that democracy by people whose pas- protest election results that them. Then the lawmakers
Pence, not Trump, who was "under unprecedent- sions have been inflamed have been certified by the were evacuated.
spoke with senior defense ed assault," a sentiment by falsehoods and false states. But even the unusu- A clerk helped grabbed
leaders about calling up echoed by many in Con- hopes. Insurrection could al deliberations, which in- the boxes of Electoral Col-
the National Guard. gress, including some Re- do grave damage to our cluded Vice President Mike lege votes as the evacua-
President-elect Biden, two publicans. Nation and reputation." Pence and Senate Majority tion took place. Otherwis,
weeks away from being in- Former President George Even for a Capitol building Leader McConnell defy- said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-
augurated, had declared W. Bush said in a state- that has seen centuries of ing Trump's demands, were Ore., the ballots likely would
in Wilmington, Delaware: "I ment, 'This is how election protests and even violence quickly overtaken by the have been destroyed by
call on President Trump to results are disputed in a — including a 1954 shoot- chaos. the protesters.
go on national television banana republic – not our ing involving Puerto Rican In a raucous, out-of-control Trump supporters posting
now to fulfill his oath and democratic republic." With- nationalists — Wednesday's scene, protesters fought on internet forums popu-
defend the Constitution out actually naming Trump, events were astounding past police and breached lar with far-right fringe el-
and demand an end to this he said the assault on the because they appeared to the building, shouting and ements celebrated the
siege," Capitol "was undertaken unfold at least initially with waving Trump and Ameri- chaos. Messages posted
can flags as they marched on one turned from pro-
through the halls. One per- fane frustration over the
son was reported shot at content of Trump's speech
the Capitol, according to a to glee when supporters
person familiar with the situ- stormed the building. At
ation. That person's condi- least one leading figure
tion was unknown. At least was livestreaming video
one explosive device was from inside the Capitol dur-
found but law enforce- ing the siege.
ment said it did not pose a The Pentagon said about
threat. 1,100 District of Columbia
More than a dozen people National Guard members
were arrested. were being mobilized to
As darkness began to set in, help support law enforce-
law enforcement officials ment at the Capitol.
worked their way toward Pence was closely
the protesters, using per- watched as he stepped
cussion grenades to try to onto the dais to preside
clear the area around the over the joint session in the
Capitol. Big clouds of tear House chamber.
gas were visible. Police in Pence had a largely cer-
full riot gear moved down emonial role, opening the
the steps, clashing with sealed envelopes from the
demonstrators. states after they are carried
It added up a frightening in mahogany boxes used
scene for lawmakers, who for the occasion, and read-
were directed to take ex- ing the results aloud. But he
traordinary action for their was under growing pres-
own safety. The protesters sure from Trump to overturn
abruptly interrupted the the will of the voters and tip
congressional proceed- the results in the president's
ings in an eerie scene that favor, despite having no
featured official warnings legal power to affect the
directing people to duck outcome.q