Hundreds of supporters of outgoing Pres. Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday, breaking through windows and forcing their way through doors as members of Congress held sessions to debate and confirm the Electoral College votes cast in the 2020 presidential election.
One woman was shot and killed during the violent overtaking of the building that forced Congressional leaders and their staff to evacuate or shelter in place wearing gas masks and lying under their desks on the House and Senate floors and galleries.
Trump had spoken for more than an hour to the crowd of thousands of supporters, far-right activists and white nationalists, including members of the Proud Boys, immediately before the march to the Capitol, telling them he’d “march with them,” but returning immediately to the White House.
100 Days in Appalachia’s Chris Jones, our Report for America corps member covering domestic extremism, was on the ground as the crowds swarmed.
Capitol Police officers fire pepper spray pellets from a balcony into the crowd of Trump supporters and other extreme right-wing groups rioting on the steps of the Capitol building. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaA Trump supporter with a helmet and goggles taunts Capitol Police at a barricade before attacking the officers and storming the building. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaTrump supporters and other far right extremists shout threats at Capitol Police on the eastern side of the Capitol building before attacking the officers and violently storming the Capitol. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaTrump supporters attack Capitol Police officers with mace and tear gas on the eastern steps of the Capitol building. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaTrump supporters shout threats before attacking Capitol Police officers on the eastern steps of the Capitol Building. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaA Trump supporter wielding an axe handle alongside other far right groups battle Capitol Police officers in a cloud of tear gas on the eastern side of the United States Capitol building. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaOutnumbered Capitol Police attempt to hold back the mob of Trump supporters wearing helmets and gas masks on the eastern side of the Capitol building during the January 6 attack. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaTrump supporters react to tear gas and pepper spray used by Capitol Police officers attempting to stop them from breaking into the Capitol building. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaTrump supporters attack Capitol Police and journalists with a large steel pipe on the eastern steps of the Capitol building. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaRight wing extremists and other Trump supporters shout from scaffolding on the United States Capitol building encouraging others to join them in attacking the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaTrump supporters and other far right insurgent groups pour into an eastern entrance of the US Capitol building as others encourage more members of the mob to attack the building on January 6th, 2021. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaA Capitol Police Lieutenant wearing a MAGA hat pushes through a violent mob on the western side of the US Capitol building while guiding embattled Capitol Police officers out of the building. The officer was suspended for wearing the hat against regulations, despite appearing to use it as a ruse to distract the mob as he twice extracted fellow officers to safety, while enabling the remaining police to successfully close the entrance breached by the rioters behind him. [Editor’s Note: The officer has been tentatively identified in media reports as Lt. Tarik Khalid Johnson] Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaA Capitol Police officer in riot gear being led through the mob of Trump supporters attacking the entrance to the Capitol building by a MAGA hat-clad Capitol Police lieutenant who twice escorted officers to safety outside. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaCapitol Police officers seen through a western entrance to the Capitol building as they barricade and hold the door closed against a violent mob of Trump supporters and other far right insurgents after a Capitol Police lieutenant pushed the crowd back from the door while escorting other officers out of the building. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaA riot-gear-clad Capitol Police officer pushes through a mob of Trump supporters and other right-wing extremists as outnumbered officers attempt to close one of the entrances to the United States Capitol building on January 6th, 2020. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaOne of the men who attacked the US Capitol building is seen on the western steps holding a Capitol Police riot shield. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in AppalachiaPolice push Trump supporters back from the US Capitol building in the evening after they and other groups of right-wing extremists stormed the Capitol to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 Presidential Electoral College results. Photo: Chris Jones/100 Days in Appalachia
Chris Jones is a Report for America corps member covering domestic extremism for 100 Days in Appalachia. Click here to help support his investigative reporting through the Ground Truth Project.
