WASHINGTON D.C. – Mid-South lawmakers and even the National Civil Rights Museum are reacting to Wednesday’s chaos at the Capitol when Trump supporters breached security and stormed the halls of Congress. They attempted to stop officials from certifying November election results.
On Thursday, the National Civil Rights Museum released the following statement regarding the events:
“The siege on Capitol Hill yesterday during the joint Congress’ ratification of the presidential election should be condemned, not coddled. What the world witnessed yesterday was not a protest, but a riotous mob and an insurrection. We need to call it what it is. The intent was to overthrow our democracy, the will of American voters and to undermine our constitutional process – not to secure an inalienable right.
It matters that, while we don’t always agree, we can be civil. We also must seek to be fair and equitable in our response to those who are true peaceful protestors.
The unpreparedness of law enforcement for an event that was both created and promoted to undermine democracy is curious at best. The peaceful protests that were interrupted last spring and summer by those who wanted to create chaos, were met with police in riot gear and, in DC, the military. We cannot deny the difference in the handling of those groups that were predominantly black and marching to protect the lives of black people, to the treatment yesterday’s rioters received.
The response yesterday poured salt on the gaping wounds of racism that persist in this country. We must not perpetuate this behavior and make excuses for it. Enough is enough! This needs to end!“
Lawmakers on the House and Senate floors were evacuated. Many protesters entered offices and other rooms.
Congressman Steve Cohen of Memphis tweeted “Gas mask on. Getting scary.” The Democrat went on to tweet, “This is now a third world country led by a tin-pot dictator.”
Republican lawmakers from the Mid-South also denounced the violence. In a message to protestors, Tennessee senator Marsha Blackburn tweeted, “You are disrupting the democratic process. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Her comments were echoed by Arkansas senator Tom Cotton who tweeted, “Violence and anarchy are unacceptable. We are a nation of laws.”
The mob was eventually cleared from the buildings but Tennessee Democratic congressman Jim Cooper believes the damage is done.
“This is one of the saddest days in American history,” he said, “This is really endangering our democracy and our enemies around the world are laughing at us.”
He and other Mid-South lawmakers now hope incoming President Joe Biden’s inauguration will be peaceful.
