Alabama Democratic Party Chairman State Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, condemned the Capitol building mob. England went further and accused President Donald Trump and Congressman Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, of encouraging the mob.
Brooks and Trump both gave speeches to tens of thousands of pro-Trump rallygoers Wednesday morning before a large segment of the protesters left the rally and attacked the U.S. Capitol building.
“Today, during a joint session of Congress to fulfill the legal obligation to count the votes of the Electoral College, a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol building,” England said. “This mob was encouraged by Pres. Donald Trump, Rep. Mo Brooks, and others at a rally before they breached the doors of the Capitol. They disrupted the peaceful transfer of power, broke the law, and must be prosecuted for their sedition.”
“The American people voted loud and clear that Donald Trump did not deserve a second term as President of the United States, and the disorder of this lame-duck period shows clearly why,” England said. “Pres.-elect Joe Biden and Vice Pres.-elect Kamala Harris will take office on January 20, 2021, because the Constitution says they will. At that point, this sorry period of American history will be over, but our healing will just begin.”
“Citizens should note who defended the Constitution and who did not,” England said. “Politicians who would throw away America’s founding ideals do not deserve to hold office—ever. They should be rejected, and should never be part of public life again for their opposition to our shared values. Mob rule, conspiracy theory mongering, and encouragement of this siege of the Capitol are the natural consequence of years of flirtation by Republican politicians with the fringe elements of their party. As the prophet says, they “have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”
The mob attacked Capitol Police, swept them aside and broke into the Capitol building from three entrances as well as through windows. Security officers had to fall back as numerous mob members breached the building and went marauding through the halls.
They made it all the way to both the House and Senate chambers as well as to the speaker’s office. Members of Congress were barricading the doors to their chambers before they were evacuated to the basement of the building. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died from injuries sustained in the fighting. Ashli Babbitt of San Diego, a 14-year Air Force veteran, was shot and killed by Capitol Police. Three others died from medical emergencies. Two police officers had to be hospitalized for injuries. More than 50 people have been arrested.
Authorities estimate that as many as 40,000 to 45,000 people participated in the insurrection. Some members of the mob came prepared and were wearing combat helmets, elbow pads, knee pads and were carrying ropes to scale the building. Two pipe bombs were planted at the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees near the Capitol, but they were safely detonated by the Washington Metropolitan Police.
Brooks started the campaign to urge Congress to reject the Electoral College results. He represents Alabama’s 5th Congressional District.
