On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., interrupting a joint session of Congress convened to formally certify the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden.
The attack led the House and Senate to abruptly recess and prompted D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to order a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. that evening until 6 a.m. the next morning.
The demonstration began with a “Save America March” rally on the Ellipse, where President Trump addressed the crowd, urging them to protest what he falsely claimed was a rigged election before marching toward the Capitol. Speakers, including the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., used angry rhetoric, telling the crowd, “We can’t back down.”
The supporters pushed past security barriers onto the Capitol grounds, with some chanting “Whose Capitol? Our Capitol” and “1776!”. Protesters quickly overwhelmed the outnumbered U.S. Capitol Police, climbing scaffolding and breaching the building. Security forces deployed bursts of what appeared to be gas canisters as they rushed to tackle intruders. Groups like the Proud Boys were noted among those marching to the Capitol.
Despite the riot and vandalism inside the building, Congress resumed the count later that evening and completed the certification of the election results for Joe Biden in the early hours of January 7, 2021.
Key Statistics and Aftermath (According to Subsequent Investigations):
The attack resulted in significant casualties and legal consequences:
- Deaths: Five people died within 36 hours of the attack. This included one rioter who was shot by Capitol Police while attempting to breach the Speaker’s Lobby, one rioter who died of a drug overdose, and three others who died of natural causes (one of whom was a police officer who died of a stroke the day after being assaulted). Four officers who responded to the attack later died by suicide within seven months.
- Injuries: At least 174 police officers were injured, with at least 15 requiring hospitalization.
- Arrests and Charges: The FBI estimates between 2,000–2,500 people entered the Capitol building. In the ensuing years, over 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the event.
- Of those charged, over 1,000 have pleaded guilty, and over 1,060 have been sentenced, with 64% of those receiving jail time.
- Financial Damage: Property damage caused by the attackers exceeded $2.7 million, with over $30 million required for total repairs and enhanced security measures.
