WASHINGTON — Supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, marching through the building, shouting and waving Trump and American flags and forcing a halt to congressional deliberations over challenges to Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.
Demonstrators fought with Capitol Police and then forced their way into the building, not long after a huge rally near the White House.
Lawmakers had convened for a joint session to confirm the Electoral College results, but protests erupted outside the Capitol and government office buildings were being evacuated.
Vice President Mike Pence tweeted a request for protestors to leave the building.
Some lawmakers evacuated, while others sheltered in place.
Congressman Andre Carson was one of those.
“This is what happens when demagoguery goes unchecked, when you have ridiculous conspiracy theories that go unchallenged. The violence at the Capitol was without question domestic terrorism,” Carson said via an interview on Zoom Wednesday night.
Carson challenged his Republican colleagues who have supported the president in the past, to forcefully take a stand against the actions of the president’s supporters at the Capitol.
“Cowardice and not having a backbone will no longer work for your constituents. You have to stand firmly on who you are as a person and who you are as a representative of the people and do what’s right and work together as Americans and certainly as human beings,” said Carson.
Indiana’s two Republican senators tweeted condemnations in the hours after the violence.
Senator Mike Braun, who earlier vowed to reject some of the electors in battleground states, tweeted, “What we are seeing at the Capitol is wrong, hurts the cause of election integrity and needs to stop immediately. Rioting and violence are never acceptable."
As the Senate reconvened Wednesday night, Braun said he would no longer challenge the electors.
Senator Todd Young tweeted, "In America we have a right to peacefully protest, but what has occurred today goes against everything we stand for as a nation. This is not a peaceful protest-it is violence and it is reprehensible. This must stop.”
Other Indiana lawmakers condemned the attacks, including Rep. Jackie Walorski, who was also among those representatives vowing to object to some electors.
“Every American has the right to exercise their First Amendment rights, but violence and destruction are never the answer. Stop these attacks on our country now and keep the protests peaceful. Grateful to the U.S. Capitol Police for protecting everyone in our Capitol," Walorski tweeted.
Newly elected Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz tweeted, “We are a country of laws and the lawlessness in and around the U.S. Capitol today is unacceptable. The actions of those who have stormed the #Capitol, only hurt their cause. Please let the democratic process play out peacefully.“
Rep. Larry Bucshon also made a plea on Twitter.
“Supporters of the @realDonaldTrump please stand down and leave the Capitol. I do not condone any form of violence. A peaceful protest is your Constitutional right, but what is happening now, is not lawful. It is un-American,“ Bucshon wrote.
Rep. Trey Hollingsworth issued a statement, which said: “The day started with democracy at the Capitol, people debating and asserting the views of millions of Americans. But what happened this afternoon at the Capitol is not democracy and not reflective of the ideals we hold so dear. There is no space in our system of government for violence or vandalism and none should be tolerated here or anywhere in our great land.”
Rep. Jim Banks tweeted, “Peaceful protest is healthy, but what is happening at the U.S. Capitol right now is unacceptable and un-American. Those participating in lawlessness and violence must be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Former Rep. Susan Brooks and Rep. Greg Pence, both Republicans, also addressed the situation on social media.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued a statement on the violence at the Capitol Wednesday evening:
“It’s both saddening and sickening to watch a mob devolve into thinking their rules would ever replace the rule of law. I unequivocally condemn the violence at the U.S. Capitol that we are now witnessing. Passion, patriotism and love for our nation should always and only be expressed in constructive ways that seek to honor the ideals on which our nation was founded. Any means of violence runs counter to who we are and is never acceptable.”
Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) issued the following statement to 13News:
“The First Amendment enshrines the right for all Americans to peacefully protest and have their voice heard. Not all of what happened today at the U.S. Capitol was peaceful, acceptable and deteriorates from protections. Those who caused violence and destruction of property should be charged to the fullest extent of the law. There is no place in our society for those actions and it tarnishes the beacon of liberty our Capitol represents.
I pray our country finds the strength to come together.”
Stay with 13News and WTHR.com for more on this developing story.