On Wednesday, supporters of President Donald Trump rallied outside of the U.S. Capitol building in hopes of getting Congress to not certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Those outside felt as though Trump was the rightful winner of the election, buying into the president’s voter fraud allegations that have yet to be proven.
Some at the event turned aggressive and violent. There was blood shed by protesters and U.S. Capitol police. Some people broke into the U.S. Capitol building — some of which were armed — and caused some destruction. Four people died, including one supporter of President Trump shot and killed by police. As of Thursday morning, the causes of the other three deaths were unknown. There were also 52 arrests and 14 police officers injured at the event. Additionally, members of Congress had to evacuate the building.
Here is a look what prominent figures in Massachusetts politics had to say about the matter:
Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons (via press release)
All Americans must stand together for our Constitution, for our representative form of government, and for our laws and law enforcement officers.
As chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, I unequivocally condemn any attempt to disrupt our precious and irreplaceable Constitutional order. Sadly, we are witnessing a breach of lawful order on Capitol Hill that is completely indefensible under any circumstances.
We must join together to reaffirm our deep and abiding respect for our nation’s laws, as our Pledge of Allegiance to the flag so gloriously proclaims our fidelity “to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”
Bristol County Republican Sheriff Tom Hodgson (via Twitter)
Such behavior undermines not only the virtues and values we hold dear, but does little to advance any legitimacy of their grievance that the presidential election was not fair.
The violent protestors should leave the Capitol at once and remain peaceful.
The fastest way to end the ongoing debate over elections issues and the deep divide in our country is to have an audit prior to Jan. 20 so both Democrats and Republicans can be assured they can continue to have faith in our elections. End the violence now!
Massachusetts Republican Governor Charlie Baker (via Twitter)
The chaos now unfolding is the sad but predictable outcome of weeks of attacks perpetrated by President Trump and his supporters against the democratic process that makes America the greatest nation on earth. These baseless challenges to President-elect Biden’s victory must stop.
Former Massachusetts Republican Governor Jane Swift (via Twitter)
GOP has earned the right to be the minority party at the federal level. Prove they can handle that important role responsibly & maybe sane voters will someday return them to power. Luke 9:25 for those who are religious.
[Note: Luke 9:25 in the The King James Bible says, “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”]
Nothing is going to stop me from walking back into the House chamber to certify the election. I’ll put on my old body armor if I need to.
U.S. Representative Bill Keating (D-Bourne) (via Twitter)
These domestic terrorists have one goal: to grind our democracy to a halt. They will not be successful. Congress will reconvene to do our jobs.
U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Dorchester) (via Twitter)
Donald J. Trump should immediately be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate as soon as Congress reconvenes. This is dangerous & unacceptable.
U.S. Representative Richard Neal (D-Springfield) (via Twitter)
The President incited an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol today. The 25th amendment should be invoked, and he should be removed from office. What we witnessed in Washington today was an assault on the citadel of democracy.
U.S. Representative Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) (via Twitter)
Every Republican who believes in freedom and democracy needs to call for the president’s resignation or removal. Now.
Former U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy III (D-Newton) (via Twitter)
Remove Donald Trump. Now.
U.S. Representative Lori Trahan (D-Westford) (via Twitter)
Donald Trump is directly responsible for the attack. His constant lying about the 2002 election inspired those who attempted to prevent us from upholding our duty. He is unfit to serve another second as President of the United States, and he should never be able to hold office again.
U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) (via Twitter)
It is even more important now to certify President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris TONIGHT to send a clear message to Trump’s henchmen that Congress remains undaunted, that the votes of the American people will be counted and our Democracy is alive and well.
U.S. Representative Seth Moulton (D-Salem) (via Twitter)
The security nightmare that unfolded this afternoon at the U.S. Capitol will continue to unfold for months as we try to determine what sensitive or classified information was compromised. It would be naive to assume no foreign agents among these domestic terrorists.
While Capitol Police struggled — unsuccessfully — to keep the mob out of the Capitol Building, our offices were left without any protection whatsoever. The relatively few law enforcement here had more than they could handle, obviously.
Quiet word is that some Republicans are trying to convince their lawless colleagues to back off their challenge to the Electoral College vote — their challenge to the will of the American people.
It’s lawless Republican lawmakers inside the Capitol who inspired the domestic terrorists who stormed the building. Both should be held accountable to the law.
U.S. Representative Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) (via Twitter)
. @Twitter : Temporarily locking Donald Trump’s account is not enough. He must be removed.
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) (via Twitter)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Cabinet should stop hiding behind anonymous leaks to reporters and do what the Constitution demands they do: invoke the 25th Amendment and remove this President from office.
