Attacks on US Capitol Wednesday are without precedent, professor says

The riotous protest Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump that sent lawmakers scrambling for safety and left a woman dead are unlike anything seen before in the nation’s history, said Michael Green, an associate professor of history at UNLV.

The only similar breach of the Capitol came during the War of 1812, when invading British troops set fire to Washington landmarks, including the Capitol and President’s Mansion. But the “Burning of Washington” was a foreign attack — not like Wednesday’s acts of domestic terrorism.

Protesters to the constitutionally mandated process to affirm Joe Biden’s presidential election victory over Trump tore down metal barricades at the bottom of the Capitol’s steps and were met by outnumbered Capitol Police officers in riot gear.

Hundreds of protesters pushed past the officers and

the subsequent refusal of elected officials to overturn the results, which he continues to call election fraud.

Twitter and Facebook later deleted both posts, calling them an incitement to violence. Twitter also took the unprecedented step Wednesday evening of suspending Trump’s feed for 12 hours for “repeated and severe” violations of its policies. It also threatened to ban Trump if he continued to violate Twitter’s policies.

Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, both Democrats, condemned the rioters’ actions.

“The events at the U.S.

Capitol are un-american and unacceptable,” Cortez Masto posted, adding that she appreciated the Capitol Police for keeping lawmakers safe.

Rosen ments.

“The violent attacks we are seeing on our democracy today are reprehensible,” Rosen posted on Twitter. “It’s time for us as a nation to come together and denounce hate and violence. Together, we will overcome and rebuild our nation.”

Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, whose district covers much of North Las Vegas and a large portion of the echoed

Cortez

Masto’s comstate’s rural area, released a statement after he and his staff were evacuated. He called the chaos a “direct result of the call to arms by President Trump and his allies who organized and incited today’s events.”

“This is deeply concerning, unacceptable and there must be full accountability for all those involved,” Horsford added in a statement. “While there are some forces who want to destroy our democracy and deny the results of the election, make no mistake: I remain resolved to perform my duty, certify the election results and defend free and fair elections.”

Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, whose district includes much of Henderson and other areas of southern Clark County, called the events “violent extremism aimed at the very heart of our democracy.”

“This is more than protesting. This is more than rioting. This is violent extremism aimed at the very heart of our democracy. It needs to stop,” she posted on Twitter. “(Trump), you have a responsibility to stop this. You need to unequivocally call for an end to this violence. Now.”