US Capitol violence sparks reactions closer to home
Members of Congress sheltered in place as extremists loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, broke windows and entered offices. One person was shot. (Shutterstock photo by Michael Slavin)
A violent uprising at the US Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, took place while legislators were inside attempting to confirm the results of the Electoral College vote.
Following a rally in front of the White House, where Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Mo Brooks, and President Trump were all speaking, a large group headed to the Capitol and, upon their arrival, things took an ominous turn.
Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past five days, you have seen ample coverage in the media of the happenings that day. The Mirror’s job is not to re-hash those events but to cover the local backlash from the rally and what subsequently happened in the following hours.
As of Thursday, six Michigan residents from across the state, ranging in age from 25 to 65, had been arrested in connection with the insurgence, according to the Detroit News. The FBI is still soliciting tips to help identify those involved in the violence. According to WWMT (Kalamazoo), five of the Michigan arrests were related to curfew violations.
In addition, a 48-year-old man from Charlotte was arrested at his home on Thursday on suspicion of calling in a bomb threat to the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. The Capitol was closed to lawmakers and staff for about two hours Thursday due to the threat. The Capitol already was closed to the public, and remains so, because of COVID-19 precautions; the Michigan Legislature was not due to be in session at the time.
Local lawmakers weighed in on Wednesday’s events.
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), although he joined with many other House Republicans who voted against accepting the results of the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral counts, even after the insurrection interrupted debate on the House and Senate floors and forced lawmakers to evacuate the building for several hours, issued a press release on Wednesday night calling the actions of the crowd “violent and destructive.”
“Everyone who illegally breached U.S. Capitol grounds should be held fully accountable for their lawlessness,” he stated. “In a free society, we must debate our differences peacefully and through legal channels, just as was taking place on the floor of the House—never resorting to threats of violence.”
On Thursday, Walberg followed with a second release, which contradicted his actions on Wednesday, saying, in part, “This vote was never about overturning election results. Safeguarding the ballot box is bigger than one candidate and one election. It was about ensuring free, fair, and legal elections are an unquestionable certainty in the future. Moving forward, we must settle these unanswered constitutional questions in order to prevent future irregularities and restore Americans’ confidence in the process. With this vote complete, we also must ensure a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the Constitution.”
Also on Wednesday, State Sen. Lana Theis, (R-Brighton), released the following statement in response to violent protestors disrupting the joint session of Congress:
“Our founding fathers gave us a country with a free government of, by and for the people,” Theis stated. “Today, the attack on our republic by those storming the U.S. Capitol undermines the very foundation of our nation envisioned by the founders in the Constitution. There is no defense for these acts of violence, and they need to stop immediately. I am grateful for the thin blue line, standing in the gap to preserve our republic and protect our nation’s Capitol against violence.”
State Rep. Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township), recently elected Democratic Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives, addressed Jason Wentworth, Speaker of the House in a letter condemning the “violence and chaos” as well as the state capitol bomb threat. Saying that Wednesday would “stand as one of the darkest days in U.S. political history,” she noted that several Michigan lawmakers “bear responsibility for stoking and fomenting the disgraceful actions we have witnessed. Like President Trump, they have helped create an atmosphere where violence, harassment, and intimidation has become normalized.
“Most recently, some Republicans in the Michigan House of Representatives wrote a letter to Vice President Mike Pence asking him to delay finalization of the November 3 election results, delaying by 10 days so lawmakers could, ‘meet, investigate, and as a body vote on certification or decertification of the election.”
Lasinski called on Wentworth to ensure that the 18 legislators disavow their actions or face “immediate, appropriate action to discipline (them) under your authority as Speaker.”
“I urge you to consider the disturbing message it would send to the people of Michigan and future generations, if these lawmakers are allowed to advocate for the subversion of our democracy one day and then be allowed to make decisions on behalf of the people of Michigan the next,” Lasinksi concluded.
Lasinski also joined two other Democratic representatives on Friday, in issuing a statement calling on the Michigan Capitol Commission to address Capitol safety before the new legislative term begins, starting with banning guns at the State Capitol.
“Since armed protesters stormed Michigan’s Capitol last April, House Democrats have repeatedly called on the Capitol Commission to take swift and meaningful action to ensure the safety of every member, staffer and visitor that walks through those doors,” Lasinski said. “To this date, they have done nothing — even as the building was locked down again due to a credible bomb threat just this morning.”
The State Legislature is scheduled to return to session on January 13.
Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, each issued press releases on Thursday condemning the actions of the riotous crowds on the previous day.
“These events went against the very values upon which our country was founded,” Peters said in his statement. “The President’s continued refusal to accept the election results and efforts to stoke violence demonstrates his complete absence of leadership and character. His words and actions incited domestic terrorists who endangered democratically elected leaders, staff and law enforcement.
“It was horrific that as members carried out their constitutional duty, they were disrupted and threatened by armed rioters in a desperate attempt to keep President Trump in power.”
Peters concluded by saying, “We cannot allow these events to deter us from doing the important work ahead of us. I have faith that we can emerge more united, but only if we come all together.”
Stabenow’s release, in its entirety, said, “A day that began with a brazen and dangerous attack on our democracy has ended with a sign of its endurance: Congress returned to work and validated the election of Joe Biden as our next president and Kamala Harris as our next vice president. Michigan’s votes were counted and voices were heard. I am grateful to law enforcement officers who keep us safe every day and ensured that we could fulfill our constitutional duty.”
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