Thursday, March 28, 2024

Trump’s supporters storm US Capitol; Modi distressed at ‘unlawful protests’





The United States erupted in trouble as supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday though it wasn’t limited to Washington alone. At least one person was shot and killed. 

The assault came after Trump has urged supporters to march on the seat of government during the speech outside the White House in which he alleged that the elections had been stolen from him. 

Small and mostly peaceful protests challenging the legitimacy of the 2020 election took place outside the statehouses in Arizona, California, Mississipi, Tennessee, Minnesota, Georgia, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington, Ohio, Oregon, Kansas, Hawaii, Wisconsin, and South Carolina.

Signs saying “Stop the steal” and “Four more years” were common throughout amid the president’s ongoing dispute of the election results in seven states. Only a few arrests were reported and scuffles broke out in states like Ohio and California.

At the epicenter of the protest in Washington, D.C., Air Force veteran and Trump supporter Ashli Babbit, who was among those who broke into the Capitol building, was shot and died from her injuries. The violence beyond that was not widespread and protesters were seen commingling with law enforcement inside the building. Those who left the building were not allowed to return.

In Washington state, protesters broke through a gate at the governor’s mansion and dozens of people gathered on the lawn. The State Patrol said authorities were responding and that Gov. Jay Inslee “and his family are in a safe location.”

The breach of the U.S. Capitol occurred as lawmakers debated over the objection to the counting of a slate of presidential Arizona electors for former Vice President Joe Biden. Arizona is one of seven states where Trump has challenged the outcome of the election, citing unconstitutional changes to election law and several categories of potentially illegal votes.

News of the breach of the U.S. Capitol triggered cheers at the protests in Minnesota and Arizona, where protesters exercising their second amendment rights marched at the Capitol in Phoenix.

In Georgia, Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger evacuated his offices at the Capitol after 100 protesters gathered outside, some armed with long guns

After his supporters clashed with police, social media giants Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have temporarily blocked Trump’s account for policy violations. 

While Facebook has blocked his account for 24 hours, Twitter blocked Trump for 12 hours and also threatened to impose a permanent ban on him if he continues to post conspiracy theories related to the 2020 elections. 

The company also removed certain posts made by the US President during the Capitol Hill violence last night. Instagram head Adam Mosseri also confirmed via Twitter that Trump’s account has been blocked on the photo-sharing platform too.

At a rally, Trump had urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, according to The Washington Post. He also hit out at Vice President Mike Pence for failing to overturn election results in his favor. Twitter removed three of Trump’s posts.

Global leaders The US Electoral College had last month confirmed Biden’s victory in the presidential elections, closing the doors for Trump to challenge the result. Biden is set to take charge as president on January 20.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his displeasure and tweeted, “Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. The orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests”

“Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter. 

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry released a statement Wednesday urging its citizens in the United States to avoid crowded places and confrontations.

 

 


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