On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 6, 2021, thousands of supporters of former U.S President Donald Trump were in Washington, D.C. to protest against the results of the 2020 presidential election. They went in to support Trump's demand for Vice President Mike Pence and Congress to reject President-elect Joe Biden's victory. The protests soon became riots as thousands of Trump supporters broke into the United States Capitol, damaging the building. The presidential historian Michael Beschloss called the attacks an attempted coup d'etat by the President. The attack of the United States Capitol building was the worst at that location since the War of 1812.

Rally
A planned rally on the Ellipse first occurred. There, Rudy Giuliani called for "trial by combat", while Donald Trump told his supporters to march to the United States Capitol "to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard today", while also asking them to "show strength" and to "fight like hell" for Republicans to "take back our country".</blockquote>

Storming of the Capitol
The supporters broke into the Capitol. Congress was in session at the time and all congressmen, news reporters and Vice President Mike Pence were evacuated to a secure location.

A Trump-supporting female rioter was shot by Capitol Police during the storming, when she climbed through a barricaded door near the entrance to the hall for the House of Representatives; she died later that day. Three people also died from medical emergencies that day, said the Washington D.C. police. The New York Times said that attackers beat a police officer to death with a fire extinguisher, but that was later proven false.

The attack on the Capitol has been seen and called as domestic terrorism.

During the attack, several rioters carried Confederate battle flags or Nazi symbols. For the first time in U.S. history, a Confederate battle flag was displayed inside the U.S. Capitol building.

Aftermath
5 people died during or shortly after the event: four rioters and one police officer. Fifteen police officers were sent to hospital, and more than 50 injured. Members of the mob hit Capitol Police officers in the head with lead pipes and other weapons, including flag poles. Howard Liebengood was a Capitol Police officer on duty during the attack. He died by suicide three days later. Jeffrey Smith defended the capitol as part of the Metro Police Department. He killed himself soon after.

Reactions
Trump was impeached for a second time because of what happened. Some people even wanted Vice President Pence to use the twenty-fifth amendment to remove Trump from office.

Trump responded to the storming by releasing messages on Twitter. In a video, he told protesters: "This was a fraudulent election, but we can’t play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You’re very special. You’ve seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home in peace." In another message, he wrote: "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long". He continued: "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!".

Prison sentence for protesters 

"More than 535 people have been charged with [or are under indictment for] taking part in the attack", media said in July.

On July 20, 2021, one protester was sentenced to 8 months in prison; the trial was held in federal court.

One protester was sentenced to 3 years and 5 months in prison; Jake Angeli also got a 3 years 5 months sentence.

One protester was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison.

References

2021 crimes in the United States
2020 United States presidential election
2020s riots
2020s in Washington, D.C.
Attacks on buildings and structures in 2021
Attacks on buildings and structures in the United States
Crime in Washington, D.C.
Donald Trump
January 2021 events
Joe Biden
Riots in the United States