Page 8 - Turmoil in America: The 2020 Election

Following those words, hundreds of his supporters did march
to the Capitol, arriving at about one o’clock. At fi rst, they surround-
ed the building and shouted demands for Congress to reject the
Electoral College vote. But then things quickly got out of hand.

Ransacking the Capitol
The protesters were able to force their way inside the building,
overpowering the few police offi cers who had been assigned to
protect the building and its occupants that morning. Many pro-
testers broke through doors; others smashed windows. Police
offi cers were physically assaulted by the violent mob.
Within minutes hundreds of Trump supporters were roam-
ing the halls of the Capitol building. They broke into offi ces, rifl ed
through desk drawers, and generally ransacked the building. The
offi ce of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was targeted by the
demonstrators. A longtime critic of Trump, Pelosi had backed the
president’s impeachment in 2020. Pelosi’s offi ce was ransacked,
and a laptop computer was stolen from the offi ce. One protester
was photographed carrying off the lectern used by the Speaker
to preside over meetings. And one protester was photographed
sitting with his feet on the desk in Pelosi’s offi ce.

On January 6, 2021, hundreds of Trump supporters broke into the
Capitol building. Within minutes, the protesters were roaming the
halls and ransacking of ces of top members of Congress. Many
people had to barricade themselves in of ces for their safety.