US Capitol violence highlights: Facebook, Instagram place ban on US president | World News - Hindustan Times
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US Capitol violence highlights: Facebook, Instagram place ban on US president

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Byhindustantimes.com
Jan 07, 2021 10:56 PM IST

The shooting came as dozens of Trump supporters breached security perimeters and entered the US Capitol as Congress was meeting, expected to vote and affirm Joe Biden’s presidential win.

Four people died due to skirmishes inside and outside the US Capitol building after dozens of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building and violently clashed with police, news agency Associated Press reported on Thursday.

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington.(AP)
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington.(AP)

The US Congress formally certified US president-elect Joe Biden and US-vice president elect Kamala Harris’ win on Thursday and outgoing US president Donald Trump said that the transition to the next administration will be conducted smoothly.

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The shooting came as dozens of Trump supporters breached security perimeters and entered the US Capitol as Congress was meeting, expected to vote and affirm Joe Biden’s presidential win. Trump has riled up his supporters by falsely claiming widespread voter fraud to explain his loss. Trump lost the November election to Democrat Joe Biden. He has refused to concede and has worked over the last two months to convince his supporters that widespread voter fraud prevented his own victory.

Also Read | 1 shot dead in violence at US Capitol: All you need to know

In a raucous, out-of-control scene, protesters fought past police and breached the building, shouting and waving Trump and American flags as they marched through the halls.

Also Read | ‘Disorder not dissent, borders on sedition’: Joe Biden condemns violence at US Capitol

Here are the major highlights:

10:06 pm: Facebook, Instagram place ‘indefinite’ ban on Trump

Facebook and Instagram have placed a ban on Trump on posts by US president Donald Trump. Facebook and Instagram suspended Trump on Wednesday for a day -- its first-ever block on the president -- on both Facebook and Instagram, for encouraging violent rioters who had mobbed the US Capitol.

3:20 pm: Donald Trump says transition to next government will be orderly

US President Donald Trump in a statement assured that the transition to the Biden administration will be conducted in a timely manner.

2:35 pm: US Congress formally certifies Biden-Harris win in 2020 US elections

The United States Congress formally certified Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ win in the 2020 US elections. The certification faced challenges as pro-Trump supporters mobbed the US Capitol building. The inauguration is set to be held on January 20.

1:15 pm: UK minister calls on Trump to condemn violence at US Capitol

Britain’s interior minister Priti Patel said on Thursday that the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump was “terrible beyond words” and called on Trump to condemn the violence.

“His comments directly led to the violence, and so far, he has failed to condemn that violence and that is completely wrong,” she said.

12:45 pm: Top United Nations leadership express concern over Capitol violence

“The Secretary-General is saddened by the events at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C,” on Wednesday, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said in a note to correspondents. “In such circumstances, it is important that political leaders impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence, as well as to respect democratic processes and the rule of law,” the UN chief said.

President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, tweeted that as president of the 193-member UN body, “I’m saddened & concerned by today’s developments at the Capitol in #WashingtonDC. The US is one of the world’s major democracies. I believe that peace & respect for democratic processes will prevail in our host country at this critical time.”

11:24 am: Senate rejects objections to Pennsylvania’s electoral votes

The Senate has quickly knocked down Republican objections to Pennsylvania’s electoral votes for President-elect Joe Biden. Senators voted 92-7 after midnight Thursday morning to derail the GOP attempt to overturn Pennsylvania’s support for the Democrat.

10:00 am: Four people including woman died during Capitol violence

Four people died during the Capitol violence including the woman was shot by police. Three others lost their lives to medical emergencies, police of Washington DC said.

9:45 am: Woman shot dead in US Capitol was veteran

According to media reports, the woman who was shot earlier at the Capitol violence was a veteran name Ashli Babbitt who has served in the United States Air Force. She was also a “strong supporter” of the president Trump.

9:30 am: Public emergency in Washington DC extended for 15 days

The public emergency, imposed in Washingon DC in wake of the Capitol violence, was extended for another 15 days, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced.

9:25 am : Violence triggers calls for ousting Trump

The storming of the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump on Wednesday has prompted calls by some lawmakers to remove him from office before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20.

8:54 am: Senate rejects challenge to Joe Biden’s Arizona win

The Senate rejected a challenge to Arizona’s Electoral College votes for Biden.There were 93 senators voting against the objection and six voting for it. The House must still complete its debate, though it is all but certain to turn aside the objection as well.

7:45 am: ‘America won’t back down,’ says Nancy Pelosi

Congress’ certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s election win will show the world it won’t back down, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said as the house reconvened to resume certification process of Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential elections. “Despite the shameful actions of today, we will still do so, we will be part of a history that shows the world what America is made of,” she said.

7:38 am: Instagram to lock Trump’s account for 24 hours

Instagram will also block Trump’s account for 24 hours over policy violations. Before this Twitter and Facebook have already restricted US President’s account.

7: 27 am: Facebook blocks Trump from posting for 24 hours

Facebook says it will block President Trump’s page from posting for 24 hours due to policy violations.

7: 25 am: Republican Senator certifies Electoral College votes for Biden

Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler certified Electoral College votes for President-elect Biden,. She was earlier planning to raise objections to Biden’s formal victory.

7: 21 am: Chief of Staff for US First Lady Melania Trump resigns

Stephanie Grisham, Chief of Staff for US First Lady Melania Trump, resigned in wake of the violent breach at US Capitol.

7: 18 am: ‘Will not be deterred,’ says Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Congress “will not be deterred” in confirming the results of the presidential election hours after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol. The Republican leader reopened the Senate late Wednesday vowing to finish confirming the Electoral College for President-elect Joe Biden.

7:14 am: Donald Trump “bears a great deal of the blame,” says Democrats’ Chuck Schumer

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says President Donald Trump “bears a great deal of the blame” for the violence at the US Capitol.

As the Senate reconvened to count electoral votes, Schumer said that January 6, 2021, will “live forever in infamy” and will be a stain on the democracy.

Schumer said the events “did not happen spontaneously.” “The president, who promoted conspiracy theories that motivated these thugs, the president, who exhorted them to come to our nation’s capital, egged them on,” he also said. He also demanded that the protesters should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

7:10 am: ‘To those who wreaked havoc today, you did not win,’ says Pence

“We condemn the violence that took place here in the strongest possible terms,” said vice-president Mike Pence as as the Senate reopened after the building was secure. “To those who wreaked havoc in our capitol today, you did not win,” he added. “Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the people’s House.”

6:58 am: ‘Deeply disturbed by the attack on democracy,’ tweets Canada PM

“Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour. Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld - and it will be,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote in a tweet.

6: 47am: Congress resumes debating process

The Senate has resumed debating the Republican challenge against Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential election victory, more than six hours after pro-Trump mobs attacked the Capitol and forced lawmakers to flee.

6:42 am: Disgraceful scenes in US Congress, says UK PM 

6:36 am: Violence at US capitol incited by Trump, says Obama

In an official statement on Twitter, former President Barack Obama said that violence at the US Capitol was incited by Trump, “who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation.”

“But we’d be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise,” he also said in the statement. 

6:30 am: Republican National Committee condemns Capitol violence

The Republican National Committee says it strongly condemns the violence at the Capitol, adding that the violent scenes “do not represent acts of patriotism, but an attack on our country and its founding principles.”

5: 58 am: Twitter locks Trump’s account for 12 hours

5: 50 am: A West Virginia lawmaker was among rioters in Capitol

Republican Del. Derrick Evans, a lawmaker from West Virginia, was among the rioters at Capitol. He took a video of himself with other supporters of Donald Trump and posted it on social video, AP reported. As per report, the video has now been deleted.

Evans can be seen rushing into the US Capitol after they breached the security perimeter. “We’re in! Keep it moving, baby!” he said in a packed doorway of the building while wearing a helmet.

5: 15 am: Counting to validate Biden’s victory to continue, confirms Nancy Pelosi

House and Senate will to resume a debate to validate Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election, House speaker Nancy Pelosi confimed in a letter to Justice Departement, the Pentagon and vice president Mike Pence.

The attack could not “deter us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden,” she said. “We always knew this responsibility would take us into the night,” Pelosi wrote in a letter. “We also knew that we would be a part of history in a positive way, today, despite ill-founded objections to the Electoral College vote. We now will be part of history, as such a shameful picture of our country was put out to the world, instigated at the highest level,” she also said

3:10 am: UK, Ireland slam Capitol unrest by Trump supporters

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday condemned the “disgraceful scenes” at the US Congress by Donald Trump supporters, as Ireland’s government attacked the outgoing president for his “assault” on democracy.

“Disgraceful scenes in US 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,” Johnson said on Twitter.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab added in his own tweet: “The US rightly takes great pride in its democracy, and there can be no justification for these violent attempts to frustrate the lawful and proper transition of power.”

Irish premier Micheal Martin, who has invited the Irish-American Biden to visit his ancestral homeland early in his presidency, tweeted his condemnation.

3:09 am: Explosive device found near Capitol amid protest

At least one explosive device has been found near the US Capitol amid a violent occupation of the building by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Law enforcement officials said the device was no longer a threat Wednesday afternoon.

Thousands of supporters of the president occupied the Capitol complex as lawmakers were beginning to tally the electoral votes that will formalize President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

2:57 am: Trump tells ‘We love you’ to supporters who stormed US Capitol

President Donald Trump, in a video message, has urged supporters to “go home” but also kept up with false attacks about the presidential election.

The video was issued more than two hours after protesters began storming the Capitol on Wednesday as lawmakers convened for an extraordinary joint session to confirm the Electoral College results and President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

Trump opened his video, saying, “I know your pain. I know your hurt. But you have to go home now.”

He also went on to call the supporters “very special.” He also said, “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.”

2:56 am: US business lobby calls on Trump to ‘put an end to the chaos’

An influential US business lobbying group on Wednesday called on President Donald Trump and other politicians to act to end the occupation of the US Capitol by protesters angry at his election loss.

“The chaos unfolding in the nation’s capital is the result of unlawful efforts to overturn the legitimate results of a democratic election. The country deserves better,” the Business Roundtable said in a statement.

2:49 am: Trump tells supporters to ‘go home’ after storming of US Capitol

 

2:40 am: Biden urges Trump to go on TV to call for end to Capitol ‘siege’

Biden calls on Trump to immediately deliver speech to ‘demand an end to this siege’ at US Capitol.

2:33 am: 1,100 DC National Guard members being mobilized

The Pentagon says about 1,100 DC National Guard members are being mobilized to help support law enforcement as violent supporters of President Donald Trump breached the US Capitol.

2:30 am: Stop trampling democracy, German FM tells US protesters

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Wednesday called on supporters of President Donald Trump to “stop trampling on democracy” after they smashed into the US Congress and shut down legislative sessions.

“Trump and his supporters should finally accept the decision of American voters and stop trampling on democracy,” he tweeted.

“The enemies of democracy will be pleased to see these incredible images from Washington DC,” he added. “Inflammatory words turn into violent actions.”

2:27 am: Pelosi, Schumer call on Trump to ‘demand’ all protesters leave Capitol grounds ‘immediately’

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a joint statement on Wednesday after violent protesters stormed the Capitol. They said, “We are calling on President Trump to demand that all protestors leave the US Capitol and Capitol Grounds immediately.”

2:25 am: NATO chief labels Washington protests ‘shocking’

“Shocking scenes in Washington, DC,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg tweeted on Wednesday, as images of protesters supporting US President Donald Trump storming the US Capitol sped around the world.

“The outcome of this democratic election must be respected,” he said, referring to the US presidential election that saw Joe Biden beat Trump.

2:23 am: VP Pence calls for violence at US Capitol to ‘stop now’

2:17 am: White House says National Guard going to Capitol

The White House says National Guard troops along with other federal protective services are en route to the Capitol to help end an violent occupation by President Donald Trump’s supporters who are seeking to prevent the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

2:08 am: One person shot, wounded inside US Capitol: Reports

2:07 am: Guns and teargas in US Capitol as Trump supporters attempt to overturn his loss

Police in the US Capitol on Wednesday responded with drawn guns and tear gas on Wednesday as swarms of protesters stormed in and sought to force Congress to undo President Donald Trump’s election loss shortly after some of Trump’s fellow Republicans launched a last-ditch effort to throw out the results.

Police evacuated the House of Representatives and the Senate after pro-Trump protesters marched through the halls of Congress, forcing both chambers to suspend deliberations as they were meeting to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November 3 election.

2:01 am: Trump says ‘Stay Peaceful’ after urging supporters to protest

President Donald Trump said, “Stay peaceful,” as protesters who support him stormed the U.S. Capitol, streaming past police barricades and forcing lawmakers into a lockdown.

Trump made the comments in a tweet Wednesday after the protesters had breached the Capitol building. Trump was watching the protests on television from the White House, according to a person familiar with the matter.

1:46 am: Lawmakers evacuated from the US Capitol

Lawmakers are being evacuated from the US Capitol after protesters breached security and entered the building.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other senators were led out, escorted by staff and police on Wednesday afternoon. Members of the House were also being evacuated. Both chambers had been debating the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College.

The skirmishes came shortly after President Donald Trump addressed thousands of his supporters, riling up the crowd with his baseless claims of election fraud.

1:23 am: Washington DC Mayor orders curfew

The mayor of Washington, DC, has ordered a curfew in the nation’s capital beginning at 6 pm Wednesday after protestors seeking to overturn the election results stormed the US Capitol building.

Mayor Muriel Bowser issued the order as protestors supporting President Donald Trump breached the Capitol, where lawmakers were meeting to formally count the electors that will make Joe Biden president on January 20.

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