Long Beach representative Alan Lowenthal was among those who barricaded themselves after Trump supporters swarmed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
Members of the Southland congressional delegation found themselves barricaded in their offices and other locations today as supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress prepared to certify the results of the Nov. 3 election.
“I am in a secure location,” Rep Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, wrote on her Twitter page as the Capitol fell under lockdown, halting congressional proceedings. “The president of the United States is inciting a coup. We will not be intimidated. We will not be deterred.”
Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-San Pedro, spoke to KNX Newsradio from her Capitol Hill office, where she was locked inside.
“We have been told on the loudspeaker that connects all the offices to lock our doors, to lock the windows, stay away from the windows, to shelter in place,” she said. “We don’t have a window from our office into the hallway so it’s hard to see when we hear somebody walking whether they’re protesters that have made their way into the House office buildings or not. It’s very scary. We’ve never seen anything like this before.”
The unrest began shortly after Trump spoke to hundreds of supporters who gathered in Washington, D.C., on the day Congress was set to certify the Nov. 3 election results and proclaim Democrat Joe Biden as the victor.
Trump has vociferously insisted that voter fraud led to his defeat in the election, though his multiple legal challenges in various states have been rejected due to lack of evidence. Officials in states across the country, including the Republican election officials in the battleground state of Georgia, have flatly denied any impropriety in the election.
As Trump supporters marched through the streets of Washington, D.C., the group made its way to the Capitol complex, clashing with Capitol Police and ultimately breaching the building, entering the seat of Democracy without any security screening. The Senate and House chambers were cleared as police tried to restore order.
Trump took to Twitter in response to the insurrection, writing, “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful,” Trump wrote.
“No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order -respect the law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”
He later posted a video message urging people to leave the Capitol building, but continued to press his unfounded claims of election fraud and that the election was stolen from him.
“You have to go home now,” he said. “We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We have to respect our great people in law and order. We don’t want anybody hurt. […] There’s never been a time like this where such a thing happened where they could take it away from all of us, from you and our country. 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. … Go home and go home in peace.”
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, was speaking to KNX when he watched tear gas being deployed in the Capitol Rotunda.
“The idea that the Capitol Police would lose control over the entry points, these are entry points that are sometimes guarded with machine guns. They take that very seriously. A decision was made to allow the breach rather than use weapons. I hope that decision turns out to be right. I think it will be.”
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, described the scene on his Twitter account.
“Got stuck in the gallery, which is above the House Floor, for some time because people were trying to get in,” he wrote. “Had to lay on the floor with about 30-50 of my colleagues. With gas mask in hand. But I’m safe.”
Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, wrote on Twitter, “I am safely sheltering in place, and am grateful to the Capitol Police for their service. Violence will not prevent a transfer of power, and cannot destroy our constitutional process.”
Afterwards Lowenthal released a statement, “This was a frightening day, for me, and for our country. Marauding rioters, who in their own words were intent on overthrowing the government, invaded and occupied the U.S. Capitol, a sacred space that belongs to every American.”
“The full force of the law should be brought against anyone who participated in this attempted coup. Everyone who tried to disrupt the democratic process, damaged property, and put lives at risk must be held accountable. That includes President Trump, whose blatant lies motivated the violence, and whose rhetoric encouraged it—even as violence raged. He must be held accountable,” Lowenthal said.
“Congress must impeach and remove the president immediately. He is an imminent danger to our country, and we cannot allow him to further damage our republic. He cannot be allowed to pardon his allies, to encourage violence, or to further disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. Even one more day in office is a risk we cannot afford.”
“I thank the men and women of the Capitol Police for their efforts, and to the brave staff, and press who did their duty under these dangerous conditions,” Lowenthal said.
Back in California, dozens of Trump supporters rallied in downtown Los Angeles outside City Hall. Holding flags and carrying signs reading “Stop the Steal,” members of the group stood along Spring Street while others circled the area in their vehicles.
Organizers of the event said 15 “patriotic organizations” were taking part in the demonstration “to demand the integrity and justice of the Nov. 3 election.”
The gathering proceeded peacefully for most of the morning, but skirmishes began erupting around midday as counter-protesters gathered nearby. Los Angeles police, who earlier reported that the protest was being held peacefully, began showing up in large numbers. Police declared an unlawful assembly, ordering the crowd to disperse. Although video from the scene showed at least two people were seen in handcuffs, police said no one had been arrested as of early afternoon.
The anti-Trump group Refuse Fascism held a protest of its own in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon, unfurling a banner over the Harbor (110) Freeway at Seventh Street, proclaiming, “Trump Lost! Fascists Get Out!”
